Mvolo County Commissioner dumps SPLM-IO for SPLM
Under the 2018 peace agreement, Western Equatoria State was allocated to the SPLM-IO, which once controlled three counties. But the tide has turned sharply this year
By Emmanuel Mandella
The political tide in Western Equatoria State has shifted further in favor of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) after the Commissioner of Mvolo County, Hon. Rubben Amaai Majok, announced his resignation from the SPLM-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) and officially rejoined the SPLM, under the leadership of President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
Speaking on Friday, August 8, 2025, during a ceremony in Yambio attended by top SPLM officials, Hon. Amaai declared his resignation “with immediate effect” and vowed to align his leadership with the SPLM’s vision and programs.
“I have officially declared my resignation from the SPLM-IO with effect from today. I have rejoined the mother party of the Republic of South Sudan the SPLM,” he announced, accusing the SPLM-IO of being “a confused, problematic, and tribalistic party.”
The defection comes under the stewardship of Acting Governor Badagbu, who is also the SPLM-IG Chairperson in the state.
Welcoming Hon. Amaai, Rimbasa described the move as a “bold commitment” and a sign of the SPLM’s growing momentum ahead of the upcoming elections.
“Today, I stand before you with great pride and optimism. The SPLM is steadily advancing across Western Equatoria State, carrying with it the strength of its vision and mission, a vision we are determined to fulfill for our people,” Rimbasa said.
“Just yesterday, we received remarkable news from Nzara County that it is now fully SPLM. And only a week ago, 73 members of the SPLM-IO in Mvolo publicly declared their allegiance to the SPLM-IG. Our unity is our strength. It is the path toward lasting peace and development.”
Meanwhile, Manase Doboyi Agoli, the State SPLM-IG Secretary, also hailed Amaai’s return as a sign of “political maturity and commitment to the country’s stability,” urging other leaders in the opposition to follow suit.
Under the 2018 peace agreement, Western Equatoria State was allocated to the SPLM-IO, which once controlled three counties. But the tide has turned sharply this year. Two of those counties Nzara and Mvolo have now defected to the SPLM-IG.
The wave of defections intensified following the February removal of former SPLM-IO Governor Alfred Futuyo Karaba and the recent appointment by President Salva Kiir of an SPLM-IG governor.
The situation worsened for the opposition after the house arrest of the SPLM-IO’s chairman, who is also the First Vice President of South Sudan.
Since then, thousands of SPLM-IO members across the state have switched allegiance to the SPLM-IG. Some of the opposition soldiers (allied to SPLA-IO) have also joined the national army, SSPDF.
With general elections looming, political analysts believe the SPLM-IO’s future in Western Equatoria hangs in the balance. Once considered a stronghold, the opposition’s influence has dwindled in the region in recent months, raising questions about its viability in the lead-up to the elections.
For the SPLM-IG, the string of high-profile defections could bolster its campaign machinery, solidify grassroots support, and set the stage for a decisive electoral advantage in Western Equatoria.
“The SPLM is the foundation of this nation, it fought for over 21 years to free our people from marginalization and oppression. Today, we continue building a functioning system of governance and together, we will deliver the future our people deserve” Rimbasa declared.
However, some civil society leaders have viewed the leadership changes in the state as a renegation from the 2018 peace agreement, especially following the switching of gubernatorial positions from the opposition party SPLM-IO to government allied SPLM.
