SPLA-IO Accused of Detaining Civilian Boats, Demanding $4,000 Along Sobat River ‎

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‎ Boat ferrying civilians  Nasir, Upper Nile State  ‎Authorities in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, have accused forces loyal to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army In Opposition (SPLA-IO) of detaining civilian riverboats and demanding ransom-like payments of up to $4,000 from traders and passengers along the Sobat River. ‎ ‎According to Nasir County Commissioner James Gatwech Joak, several boats traveling from Matar in Nasir County to Malakal were intercepted by SPLA-IO soldiers in Yakuach, an area in Nyirol County, Jonglei State. ‎ ‎“Our traders paid local taxes to SPLA-IO in Mandeng before setting off. But on reaching Yakuach, they were detained again and told to pay an additional four thousand U.S. dollars,” Commissioner Gatwech said. ‎ ‎He explained that the detained boat operators and traders were reportedly held for four days while armed men demanded more payments.  ‎ Some of the passengers were women, children, and patients traveling for medical treatment in Malaka...
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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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