SPLM-IO Youth League slams Nuer politicians for shielding ethnic violence
JUBA – The SPLM-IO National Youth League has strongly condemned a group of senior Nuer politicians serving in South Sudan’s unity government, accusing them of attempting to cover up alleged ethnic targeting and violence against Nuer civilians in the country.
In a statement dated May 28, the opposition youth wing reacted to a press statement issued a day earlier by eleven senior Nuer politicians in the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU), who dismissed reports alleging that the government was targeting members of the Nuer community.
The politicians had described findings by the U.S. Department of State and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) as “false and inflammatory,” warning against what they called efforts to portray the conflict through an ethnic lens.
However, Gattiek Wichar, the SPLM-IO National Youth League Chairperson for Information and Communication, rejected the claims and accused the politicians of “distorting well-documented violations” and silencing victims.
“The SPLM-IO National Youth League condemns in the strongest terms the press statement issued on May 27, 2026, by individuals purporting to represent ‘Nuer Executive Caucus Leaders’ in the RTGoNU,” Wichar said.
“This statement is a deliberate attempt to distort well-documented violations, silence victims, discredit credible international reports, and shield those responsible for violence against innocent civilians,” he added.
The youth league further accused the politicians of prioritising political interests over the suffering of civilians.
“By dismissing U.S. Department of State and MSF findings as false and inflammatory, the so-called ‘Nuer Leaders in RTGoNU’ are choosing political protection over the lives and dignity of Nuer and South Sudanese people in general,” the statement said.
The remarks come amid heightened political tensions and growing concerns from rights groups over violence in parts of Upper Nile, Jonglei, and other conflict-affected areas.
Wichar alleged that members of the Nuer community were being targeted by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and allied foreign fighters, describing the situation as “an open secret.”
“The ethnic targeting of Nuer in their areas by SSPDF and its allied foreign mercenaries is an open secret, and denying it while violence continues is nothing short of dishonesty and mockery to the victims,” he stated.
The SPLM-IO youth body said denial of the allegations undermines public trust and threatens ongoing peace efforts under the revitalised agreement.
“It erodes public trust and undermines the peace process. A just and honourable peace means accepting independent investigations, protecting civilians, and holding perpetrators accountable — not issuing statements that bastardise reality,” the statement added.
The group called on the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union (AU), and the wider international community to support independent investigations into the reported abuses.
It also urged South Sudanese youth “not to be used to defend a failed regime whose aim is to inflict suffering on innocent civilians.”
“Our future depends on confronting the truth, not burying it,” the statement concluded.
The latest exchange reflects widening divisions within the Nuer political elite over how to address allegations of ethnic violence and accountability as South Sudan continues to struggle with insecurity and delays in implementing key provisions of the 2018 peace agreement.