Oyet extends amnesty to rival fighters following SPLA-IO clashes in Unity State

JUBA – South Sudan opposition leader Oyet Nathaniel Pierino has declared a general amnesty for officers and fighters who broke ranks with his leadership, calling on them to return to their military units following deadly clashes between rival factions of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) in Unity State.

The announcement, issued on Thursday by Col. Wayi Godwill Edward, military spokesperson of the SPLA-IO faction loyal to Oyet, covers officers, non-commissioned officers and other armed personnel in Unity, Upper Nile and Central Equatoria states.

“The Acting Chairman and Commander-in-Chief, the Rt. Hon. Nathaniel Oyet Pierino, declares and extends a general amnesty for all misled officers, NCOs, and armed men currently at large in Unity State, Upper Nile, and Central Equatoria to report to their respective units without delay,” Edward said in a statement.

The announcement comes a day after forces loyal to Oyet captured Adok Port in Unity State’s Leer County following two days of fighting against troops aligned with rival opposition leader Regina Joseph Kaba.

Between 10 and 15 fighters were reportedly killed on both sides during the clashes, according to local sources who spoke to Sudans Post on Wednesday. The fighting began on Tuesday evening and intensified the following morning before Oyet’s forces took control of the strategic river port.

Two local youths separately confirmed the capture of Adok Port, with one telling Sudans Post that he was speaking from the area after Oyet’s forces had established control.

The amnesty appears aimed at encouraging fighters who have aligned themselves with rival commanders to return to Oyet’s military command, although Thursday’s statement did not explicitly identify Kaba’s faction or specify whether the offer applies to personnel involved in the latest clashes.

It was not immediately clear whether the amnesty would extend to senior commanders who have openly challenged Oyet’s authority or whether any conditions would be imposed on returning personnel.

The SPLA-IO, the military wing of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), has been divided since late August following a leadership dispute between Oyet and Kaba, who have issued competing suspension orders and claimed authority over the movement.

The dispute began when Oyet suspended Kaba and seven other senior officials, accusing them of undermining the movement’s leadership and establishing parallel structures. Kaba subsequently rejected the decision, announced Oyet’s suspension and asserted her own leadership authority.

The divisions have since extended into the movement’s military structures, with rival commanders and political officials backing competing leadership camps.

In September, Oyet appointed Maj. Gen. John Turuk Khor as the SPLA-IO’s military governor of Unity State, replacing Dhoal Koryom Lingling, whose position was supported by Kaba’s faction. The competing appointments further deepened uncertainty over the movement’s command structure in the state.

The latest violence has also raised concerns about civilian safety in opposition-held areas.

On Wednesday, prominent South Sudanese civil society activist Edmund Yakani warned that continued fighting between rival SPLA-IO factions could endanger civilians and called on the opposing sides to resolve their differences peacefully.

Yakani, executive director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), said the violence and growing tensions in Unity State and Central Equatoria threatened to undermine security in communities already affected by years of conflict.

Oyet’s amnesty announcement is the latest development in efforts by his faction to consolidate its authority over opposition forces, but it remains unclear whether fighters aligned with Kaba will respond to the call or continue to recognize her leadership.

The SPLM-IO has been struggling with internal divisions since its longtime chairman, Riek Machar, was placed under house arrest in March 2025, leaving senior officials divided over the movement’s leadership and military command.