In a press statement issued on Saturday, SSOA spokesperson Hon. Stephen Lual Ngor dismissed the allegations as both “malicious” and “dishonest,” and insisted that the alliance remains divided between two factions. He emphasized that any claims of SSOA operating under a single unified leadership were not grounded in reality.
“The assertion that SSOA is united under one leadership is false. In fact, there are two factions—one led by Hon. Hussein Abdelbagi and the other by Her Excellency Josephine Lagu,” Lual stated. His remarks appeared aimed at clarifying the leadership situation to external stakeholders who might have been swayed by recent reports.
Defending Cabinet Affairs Minister Dr. Martin Elia, the Abdelbagi-led faction argued that Lomuro had simply acknowledged the existing division and should not be blamed for pointing out a reality that has persisted since the revitalized peace agreement was signed in 2018. “It is not his making that SSOA is divided,” the statement read, labeling the accusations of interference as baseless.
The Abdelbagi faction used the opportunity to reaffirm its dedication to the full implementation of the 2018 peace deal, signaling that despite internal political rivalries, its broader commitment to national reconciliation and governance remains unchanged. The statement urged all peace partners and stakeholders to disregard what it called misleading assertions from the Lagu-led camp.
Leadership tensions within SSOA have continued since the alliance joined the revitalized transitional government. Both camps have repeatedly accused each other of violating the alliance’s rotational leadership agreement, causing a prolonged standoff that has weakened the opposition bloc’s cohesion.
As South Sudan prepares for its first elections since independence, the unresolved leadership wrangles within SSOA raise questions about the ability of the alliance to present a united front and influence political outcomes. For now, the public friction between its rival factions shows no signs of abating.
