South Sudan’s political landscape is facing a potential shake-up after veteran politician Nhial Deng Nhial announced the formation of a new opposition group, the South Sudan Salvation Movement (SSSM) a move that has prompted civil society to sound the alarm over deepening political divisions.
Mr. Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), has warned that Nhial’s defection from the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) could mark the beginning of a dangerous political fragmentation if dialogue is not urgently embraced by national leaders.
“This move reflects what our early warning systems have been showing that South Sudan risks disintegrating into politically conflicting camps if we continue resolving disagreements through power struggles instead of dialogue,” Yakani told reporters in Juba.
Yakani said while the formation of the SSSM signals the growing demand for political reform and inclusivity, it also exposes the failure of South Sudan’s leadership to manage dissent peacefully.
“We have repeatedly urged the leadership to stop using military approaches to address political differences, what we are seeing now is the result of ignoring dialogue a society sliding toward competing political blocs and instability,” he said.
Nhial Deng Nhial, one of South Sudan’s most experienced politicians and former Foreign Minister, announced on Wednesday that he was freezing his SPLM membership and establishing the SSSM as a “temporary vehicle for reform” within the ruling party.
In his 18-page declaration, Nhial accused President Salva Kiir’s administration of corruption, insecurity, and delaying elections, describing the SPLM as “comatose” and warning that South Sudan was “teetering on the brink of collapse.”
“The SSSM is not an end in itself, it is a device to steer fundamental reforms within the SPLM and bring about its total renaissance,” Nhial wrote.
The veteran politician also confirmed that his new movement will operate under the United People’s Alliance (UPA), a coalition of opposition figures led by Pagan Amum, which has been in talks with the government under Kenya’s Tumaini Initiative.
Political analysts say Nhial’s move is one of the most significant internal breaks in the SPLM since independence, potentially shifting the balance of political alliances ahead of the country’s long-delayed elections.
Yakani, however, cautioned that the development reflects deeper systemic problems.
“We are witnessing the consequences of allowing profiteers of violence and spoilers of peace to dominate our politics,” he said. “South Sudan must learn from its neighbors and stop repeating the same mistakes that lead to national disunity.”
He appealed to national leaders to urgently convene an inclusive political dialogue to rebuild consensus and avert further fragmentation.
“The opportunity is still there, let us embrace dialogue and recommit to a national political pledge to transition this country from violence to peace,” Yakani stressed.
Nhial’s defection, coupled with CEPO’s warning, has reignited public debate about the future of the SPLM and the country’s ability to deliver genuine democratic transition under the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement whose implementation remains far behind schedule.
As South Sudan edges closer to another election deadline, voices like Yakani’s are echoing louder: without dialogue and political maturity, reform movements may multiply and so might the risks of renewed instability.
