By The City Review

A lawmaker in Jonglei State has warned that the recent decision by the SPLA-IO to wage armed confrontation across the country could further complicate the legal and political situation of the opposition leader, Dr. Riek Machar, who remains in detention in Juba.

Speaking to The City Review, Wany Bum Makhor urged the SPLM-IO interim leader, Gen. Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, and senior commanders to abandon military action and instead pursue constitutional and legal channels to secure Machar’s release.

“If they truly want Dr. Riek Machar released, violence against the government will only further implicate him,” Makhor said.

The Jonglei legislator called for calm and restraint, particularly among armed youth in the state, urging them to cease hostilities and allow political and legal processes to take their course.

He emphasized that continued violence risks undermining peace efforts and worsening instability in the country.

Bum dismissed claims that armed youth from the Lou Nuer community can overthrow the government, describing the ongoing fighting in parts of Jonglei as reckless.

He said attempts by supporters of opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar to challenge the government through violence were misguided and dangerous.

The lawmaker stressed that no single section of a community, including the Lou Nuer, has the capacity to defeat the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF).

“It is unwise for supporters of Dr. Riek Machar to believe that a section of a community can defeat the SSPDF,” Bum stated.

He compared the situation in the Lou Nuer areas with that of the Dok Nuer community, which he identified as Dr. Machar’s home area, noting that residents there were living peacefully and coexisting with government forces in Adok Port.

“The Dok Nuer, Dr. Riek Machar’s own community, are peacefully going about their daily business and freely mingling with SSPDF forces in Adok Port.” 

According to him, the fighting involving the Lou Nuer White Army lacks a clear vision and risks further destabilising Jonglei State.

He called on armed youth to withdraw from occupied areas and return to their villages, cattle camps, and fishing grounds.

Bum urged the White Army to vacate military positions they reportedly seized from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLM), allowing government forces to reassert control.

On the issue of foreign involvement, he defended the government’s right to engage in international military cooperation, saying such decisions fall within the sovereign authority of the state under the leadership of President Salva Kiir.

“No community, including the Lou Nuer, has a monopoly of power to defeat the government,” he said.