General information
Current Name: SPLM/A - IO
Current Name full English: Sudan People´s Liberation Army/Movement in Opposition
Current Name full native language: Sudan People´s Liberation Army/Movement in Opposition
Original Name: SPLM/A - IO
Original Name full English: Sudan People´s Liberation Army/Movement in Opposition
Original Name full native language: Sudan People´s Liberation Army/Movement in Opposition
Actor Chronology
This section contains information about (if applicable) group splinters, name changes, and alliances according to the UCDP definitions of these concepts.
UCDP has not recorded any Chronology Activities involving this group.
Conflict issues
Government of South Sudan - SPLM/A - IO
Conflict Goal Issues: The Southern People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) emerged as a rebel group fighting against the sitting government of South Sudan, the SPLM/A, following the ousting of vice President Riek Machar in 2013 which caused a split in the original group. The group was largely, but not entirely, made up of people of the Nuer ethnicity, whereas the government’s remaining supporters and members, as well as the President Salva Kiir, were mostly made up of people of Dinka ethnicity. Apart from a shared ethnicity, members of the group also shared the goal of ousting President Kiir from power and establishing a democratic structure. As the SPLM/A split, and the SPLM/A-IO emerged as a rebel group in 2013, the group released several statements pertaining to conflict goal issues. The group’s leader Riek Machar called for the ousting of the President following allegations of corruption and mismanagement. The group also expressed the intent to establish a democratic system through constitutional reform once Salva Kiir had been ousted.
As the conflict progressed, these four issues would be continuously and frequently mentioned by the group, but the SPLM/A-IO would also raise several other issues. Throughout the conflict the group criticized the government’s proposed ‘28 states order’, which aimed at dividing South Sudan into 28 small regions. The group did, conversely, call for a federal system to be implemented, although this was focused on giving power back to regional powers than to divide the country up further. The SPLM/A-IO also called for the restructuring of army, security, and police forces, aiming to reduce the impunity with which those forces had acted under. Finally, while emphasis of seizing governmental control was for the most part aimed at President Salva Kiir, the group did once call for the removal of “the authoritarian and facist [sic!] regime of Salva Kiir”. In singular instances the group also called for public services and basic needs to be provided for people, for freedom of expression to be promoted, for economic reforms to reduce inequality, and for rule of law to be established.
The main issues expressed by the SPLM/A-IO pertaining to conflict goal were the ousting of President Salva Kiir, the establishment of a democratic system, and the calling for constitutional amendments and reforms. All these issues were continuously stated and frequently received heavy emphasis in communications from the group and its leaders. Accusations of corruption were also frequent, although these were generally used to justify the implementation of the group’s other main issues, rather than as a main issue itself.
Conflict Dynamics Issues: During the year of the SPLM/A-IO’s split from the government, the group released two statements pertaining to conflict dynamics issues. First, they called upon the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to take actions to reduce the ability of the Ugandan government from sending military forces to the South Sudanese government. Second, the group also called for the release of rebels who had been imprisoned by the government.
As the conflict progressed, the SPLM/A-IO would continuously call for prisoners to be released, mostly prisoners of war or political prisoners related to the group. The group would also frequently call upon the international community, particularly the AU, to influence the conflict. Whilst initially calling for influence regarding cessation of military support to the government, emphasis from the group would later shift to calling for influence to support the group, declare the government illegitimate, and of publishing investigations into war crimes and human rights violations. Statements pertaining to human rights violations were continuously made from the SPLM-A/IO, and the group continuously stated that these violations were intentionally conducted against Nuer civilians based on their ethnicity. The group also called for the removal of aspects of foreign intervention and support, such as calling for the removal of the Ugandan People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) and of other foreign forces, for the removal of military support from Egypt and from countries within IGAD, and IGAD itself. The group continuously stated that IGAD were supportive of the government and were stated on several occasions as opposing negotiations mediated by IGAD based on this support. Finally, towards the end of the coded conflict, the group made several statements toward the international community calling for their assistance in supplying humanitarian aid, assisting with a third-party mediator, initiating international court investigations into military conduct, implementing military forces to establish presence and enable international monitoring, and politically supporting the rebels.
The main conflict dynamics issues for the SPLM/A-IO were the allegations of ethnically based atrocities against the South Sudanese civilian population from government forces and the calls toward the international community to support the rebel’s cause and influence the conflict. Both these issues were continuously mentioned with heavy emphasis throughout the conflict and became large parts of their communication pertaining to conflict dynamics issues.
Conflict Resolution Issues: During the year of its emergence, SPLM/A-IO released statement pertaining to conflict resolution, stating that: “We are ready to ceasefire immediately to stop the bloodletting once the Government of Salva Kiir reciprocates”, calling for a ceasefire.
As the conflict progressed, similar calls for ceasefires were frequent, and became combined with calls toward the government of adhering to the implemented ceasefires following accusations of intentional breaches of ceasefire agreements. The SPLM/A-IO also continuously called for investigations into human rights abuses to be initiated and for perpetrators to be prosecuted. The group continuously called for negotiations with the government to be initiated, although these were often contingent on the African Union being mediators, rather than IGAD or Uganda, as was often proposed by the government. National dialogue, peace agreement implementation, calls for compensation for people who had “lost their properties” were also stated in singular instances.
Whilst there were numerous issues raised by the SPLM/A-IO pertaining to conflict resolution throughout the conflict, none were particularly emphasized nor especially frequently mentioned, which is why no main conflict resolution issue was interpreted for the group.
Type of conflict issues: Conflict Goal Issues: Basic needs, Rule of law, Security sector power-sharing, Change of administrative divisions, Constitutional issues, Corruption, CPS: Democracy, Economic reforms, Executive power-sharing: interim, Federalism, Freedom of expression, Law and order, Oust full executive, Oust head of the executive, Public services, Recognition as a political party, Restructure military forces, Restructure police forces
Conflict Dynamics Issues: Atrocities and abuses, Collective targeting: ethnic, DFI: Removal of foreign mediator, DFI: Withdrawal of financial support, DFI: Withdrawal of military intervention/foreign forces, DFI: Withdrawal of military support, IFI: Foreign mediator, IFI: Humanitarian aid, IFI: International court/tribunal/investigation, IFI: International monitoring, IFI: Military intervention/foreign forces, IFI: Political support, IFI: Use of foreign influence, Non-refoulement of refugees/IDPs, Release of prisoners
Conflict Resolution Issues: Accountability/prosecution/investigation, Call for ceasefire, Structure of negotiations, Call for implementation/abiding to ceasefire, Call for negotiations, Compensation/restoration, DDR issues, National dialogue, Peace agreement implementation
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
2013
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
SPLM/A - IO - Civilians
Government of South Sudan - SPLM/A - IO
2014
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
SPLM/A - IO - Civilians
Government of South Sudan - SPLM/A - IO
2015
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of South Sudan - SPLM/A - IO
2018
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
SPLM/A - IO - Civilians
Government of South Sudan - SPLM/A - IO
NAS - SPLM/A - IO
2019
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
SPLM/A - IO - Civilians
2025
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of South Sudan - SPLM/A - IO
Group Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
2014 Group Archive
Government of South Sudan - SPLM/A - IO
Troop Size: 55 000
Comment on Troop Size: The main parts of SPLM/A In Opposition troops are defected government soldiers. The estimated troop size consists of around 35 000 defected soldiers and about 10 000 defected police officers. In addition to this, the so called White Army, consisting of armed and mobilized Nuer, also joined the SPLM/A In Opposition in fighting the South Sudanese government. The estimated numbers of the White Army differentiates between 8000 up to tens of thousands, however 10 000 is the most common estimate.
Secondary Support: The Sudanese government have been keen to assure that they do not support Machar’s rebels in South Sudan in order to sustain their improved relationship to Juba. However, there are consistent reports of SPLM/A In Opposition being allowed to cross the border into South and West Kordofan, having rear bases and places for training on Sudanese territory. There are also credible reports of SPLM/A In Opposition fighters being armed with new weapons when they returned into South Sudan. Investigations have found that the South Sudanese rebels have used ammunition that originates from the Sudanese army and that had been manufactured during 2014.
Alleged support by Government of Eritrea to SPLM/A In Opposition. The South Sudanese government accused Eritrea of providing SPLM/A In Opposition with weapons and equipment on four occasions during 2014. This was investigated by the UN Monitoring Group, however, no evidence was provided for these allegations and could therefore not be verified.
2015 Group Archive
Government of South Sudan - SPLM/A - IO
Comment on Active: General Johnson Olony and his Shilluk forces defected from the army in March 2015 and joined the SPLM/A In Opposition. A small rebel group called REMNASA which started to fight the government earlier in the year merged with the SPLM/A In Opposition in October 2015.
Troop Size: Estimated around 50 000 troops.
Comment on Troop Size: There were no detailed numbers of how many troops that the SPLM/A In Opposition consisted of in 2015. However, it is reasonable to believe that their numbers have not changed much from the previous year when the troop size was between 50 000 and 60 000. The main parts of SPLM/A In Opposition troops are defected government soldiers. Some commanders and their soldiers have left the rebel group during 2015 while others have joined.
The so called White Army, consisting of armed and mobilized Nuer fighting with the SPLM/A In Opposition, was estimated to have between 10 000 and 50 000 fighters in 2015. This supports the argument that the total number of troops in the rebel group adds up to at least 50 000.
Secondary Support: Sudan supported SPLM/A In Opposition with: Access to territory, Materiel.
The SPLM/A In Opposition received secondary support from the government of Sudan in 2015. The group was allowed to cross the border into South and West Kordofan as well as into Blue Nile, having rear bases and places for training on Sudanese territory. SPLM/A In Opposition troops were flown between Blue Nile in Sudan and Upper Nile in South Sudan throughout 2015 in Sudanese Antonovs. There were also numerous reports of troops from the SPLM/A In Opposition being resupplied by the Sudanese army, it was not clear however if they received any weapons.
