Last week’s split within Dr Riek Machar’s led SPLM-IO which threatened the peace deal has prompted the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to explore a solution to the matter.

In a press release on Sunday, August 7, Dr Mariam Alsadig Almahdi (pictured), Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of IGAD Council of Ministers, called for the meeting to be held on Monday, August 9 virtually. The meeting press release revealed that the meeting would focus on solving the SPLM-IO differences that culminated in violence in Magenis on Saturday.

“The IGAD presents its compliments to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of its Members States and has the honour to inform the latter that H. E Minster of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Sudan, Dr Mariam Alsadig Almahdi, do hereby calls for a sitting of an Emergency extra-ordinary meeting of Council to be held on Monday 9th August 2021.

“The agenda for this Emergency Council meeting will be to discuss the current political situation in South Sudan that requires urgent attention of the Council,” partly read the statement.

Last week, forces loyal to former SPLM-IO Lt. Gen. Simon GAtwech Dual and Dr Machar’s clashed in an apparent returning of South Sudan to war following the deposed of the latter as the Chair and Commander in Chief of the SPLM-IO.

In a statement extended to the City Review on August 6, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, SPLM-IO Acting Chief of General Staff and Co-Chair of the Joint Defense Board, claimed the ongoing internal political tension within the movement was sponsored by a peace partner.

Dozens of soldiers sustained injuries while two generals allied to Dr Machar also died in the shootout. There were also casualties from Gen. Gatwech’s camp.