Aug. 30, 2025 – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-in Opposition (SPLM/SPLA-IO) has officially reinstated Lt. Gen. Alfred Futuyo Karaba as the Governor of Western Equatoria State, reversing his earlier dismissal and reaffirming his leadership role in the state.
In a decree dated August 30, 2025, and referenced SPLM/SPLA-IO/018/2025, the Acting Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the SPLM/SPLA-IO, Rt. Hon. Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, announced the decision. The statement cited multiple legal and political instruments, including provisions of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), the SPLM-IO Constitution of 2015, and resolutions from key SPLM-IO conferences.
The reinstatement, according to Oyet, was made in line with Article 1.3 of the R-ARCSS on the composition of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU), and Articles 1.5–1.16, which govern power-sharing, state structures, and appointment procedures. He also referred to the Local Government Act of 2009 (as amended), underscoring the legal foundation of the decision.
“By the powers vested in me under Articles 29.1.3 and 28.1 of the SPLM-IO Constitution, and guided by the resolutions of the 2014 Pagak National Conference, the 2016 Khartoum Political Bureau, and the 6th National Conference of December 2020, I hereby reverse the dismissal and reinstate H.E. Lt. Gen. Alfred Futuyo Karaba as Governor of Western Equatoria State with effect from today,” Oyet declared in the order.
Lt. Gen. Futuyo, a prominent military and political figure, has been a key player in Western Equatoria’s administration since the implementation of the power-sharing arrangement under the 2018 peace agreement. His reinstatement signals the SPLM-IO’s intent to maintain cohesion in its leadership ranks at the state level, amid rising political tensions and ongoing negotiations within the transitional government.
The announcement comes at a sensitive time as South Sudan’s peace partners continue to face challenges in implementing the R-ARCSS, particularly around power-sharing and security arrangements in the states. Observers note that the reinstatement could stabilize local governance in Western Equatoria, while also highlighting the SPLM-IO’s internal balancing act.
The order was signed by Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, the Acting Chairman and Commander-In-Chief, SPLM/A, who also served as First Deputy Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly before his dismissal by President, Kiir earlier this month.
