[South Sudan] Strategic developments: Change to group/activity

Change to armed group: Around 2 April 2025 (week of), at least 1100 SPLM/A-IO members and senior officials, mainly armed personnel, from several areas, including Western Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Central Equatoria, Jonglei and Bahr el Ghazal states, announced their defection to the government side/SSPDF (location coded to Juba, the country's capital, in Juba County, Central Equatoria State). Some of the defectors cited tribalism, nepotism, and a lack of clear intentions towards peace under the opposition SPLM/A-IO, as reasons for switching allegiance. The NSS confirmed the defections, which follow recent political tensions, including the arrest of SPLM/A-IO's leader and First Vice President, Riek Machar, and other opposition members, and clashes between the government and the opposition.

Severity

LOW

Occurred

2025-04-02

Country

South Sudan

Event type

strategic

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