Video Showing Over 1,000 SPLA-IO Fighters Defect to SSPDF in Ayod County

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Ayod County, Jonglei State More than one thousand armed youth affiliated with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) have defected to the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) in Ayod County, Jonglei State. Machar’s Defense Declares Juba Special Court Illegal: Court Mandate Expired, Demands His Immediate Release The defectors, who publicly declared their allegiance to the national army over the weekend, were officially received by Ayod County Commissioner James Chuol Jiek alongside senior heads of organized forces in the area. Commissioner Chuol praised the group’s decision, describing it as a “bold step toward lasting peace and unity” in the county.  Two Rebel Grounds and RSF Unites:  Rebel Forces and RSF Forces Regroup Near Sudan Border, South Sudan Officials Warn ‎ He assured the returnees of full government protection and urged other holdout groups to lay down their arms and join peace efforts. Local authorities say the integration of the defected...
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Eastern Equatoria Government Moves to Block Former Minister from Illegally Claiming Office

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Former Eastern Equatoria State Minister of Legal and Parliamentary Affair, Mr. Joseph Opio Wilson Okullo


‎Date: October 10, 2025

‎Location: Torit, Eastern Equatoria, South Sudan

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‎The government of Eastern Equatoria state has formally announced legal proceedings against former Minister of Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Joseph Opio Wilson Okullo, who is accused of continuing to assert ministerial authority despite having been impeached nearly three years ago. 

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‎Impeachment and Ongoing Dispute

‎In December 2022, the state’s transitional legislative assembly removed Okullo from his position over allegations that he had unauthorizedly sold a ministry vehicle. 


He was succeeded by Peter Gumbo, who like Okullo is affiliated with the Other Political Party (OPP). 

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‎Yet, according to Elia John Ahaji, the current state Minister of Information, Okullo has persistently represented himself to foreign missions, private institutions, and the media as though he still holds ministerial powers a move the government deems “illegal.” 

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‎Government’s Warning to Institutions

‎Ahaji issued a warning to diplomatic and governmental bodies, declaring that:

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  • ‎Okullo no longer holds any official position.
  • ‎He has no authority to speak or act on behalf of the Eastern Equatoria government. 
  • ‎Any interactions with him should be strictly in a personal capacity, as dealing with him under false pretenses would be done at one’s own risk. 

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‎The state government made it clear it would not bear responsibility for any “inconveniences resulting from dealings with such a ghost subject minister.” 

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‎Broader Political Context

‎South Sudan currently operates under a transitional coalition government established by the 2018 peace agreement, which aims to balance power among former warring parties at both national and state levels.  

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The OPP is one of the signatories to that agreement, though implementation of many provisions continues to stall. 

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‎This latest development in Eastern Equatoria raises concerns about state-level governance stability, the enforcement of legal mandates, and the integrity of public office in the transitional era.

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