Futuyo is a popular governor across much of Western Equatoria, but he has little control of the state. SPLM county commissioners in Tambura and Jemma’s War: Political Strife in Western Equatoria Ezo are part of an Avongara elite (the Tambura commissioner is a relative of Jemma Nunu) that have effectively carved out a separate territory in the state, while Futuyo controls Yambio, Nzara, and Nagero counties. Kiir’s regime has also starved Western Equatoria of funds, as a means of disempowering the governor.[5]
A lack of funding has created a crisis in the state: in 2022, its employees went unpaid for five months. The SPLM attempted to exploit this situation in October of that year by walking out of state government in protest, together with other political parties. While the SPLM subsequently returned, it remains at loggerheads with the governor. When Futuyo dismissed the SPLM deputy mayor of Yambio, Patrick Mukanga, in June 2023, he refused to leave his position, and had the backing of the SPLM deputy governor, Kennedy Gaaniko.[6]
Both the SPLM and the opposition are building up financial war chests in anticipation of future conflict. With Juba unwilling to support the state administration, Futuyo is maximizing the revenue sources he can control. Traders in Yambio market complain about high levels of taxation, while some civilians report that they have moved out of SPLM/A-IO-controlled areas because of the tax burden.[7] The SPLM behaves similarly in areas under its control.
The SPLM is also trying to weaken Futuyo militarily. In August 2023, Gaaniko organized the defection of SPLA-IO Brigade 2 from Maridi; this defection could be as explosive as that of Nando in 2021, even if the brigade’s commanding officer, Christopher Gume, does not have Nando’s stature.
Tensions between the two parties have intensified in recent months. At the end of August 2023, the popular TNLA member from Mundri, Richard Mullah, tabled a motion at the assembly calling for Futuyo’s removal, accusing him of failing to pay wage arrears to the civil servants of the dissolved states of Amadi, Maridi, and Tambura.[8] Futuyo initially refused a summons from Jemma Nunu to appear before the TNLA in mid-September. He instead wrote a letter to Kiir on 31 August, asking him to remove Jemma Nunu, and accusing her of instigating an ethnic war in Western Equatoria. On 19 September, Futuyo finally travelled to Juba and appeared before the TNLA to refute allegations he had misappropriated funds intended for state officials, and to demand salary arrears from the national government.
On 21 September, Futuyo returned to Yambio, but tensions in the state have not abated. In his absence, conflict arose over who should be the acting governor: Futuyo had nominated the SPLM-IO minister of cabinet affairs, but Gaaniko insisted he was in charge. Both government forces and the SPLA-IO have since patrolled separately in Yambio, while Juba has ordered Futuyo’s troops to go back to their barracks in Maridi and leave the state capital.
Tensions in Western Equatoria state are reaching similar levels to the period that immediately preceded the 2021 violence in Tambura. Since August 2023, there has been a series of mysterious killings, including that of Richard Sereberani (9 September), the Zande education director in Nagero county, and of Justin Agbiamamu (30 August), the Zande chief and Bakosoro loyalist.[9] A further attempt to force Futuyo out of the governorship would likely leave Western Equatoria convulsed by violence.
[5] Author interview with Alfred Futuyo Karaba, Yambio, August 2023.
[6] Author interview with Patrick Mukanga, Yambio, August 2023.
[7] Author interviews with civilians in Yambio and Nzara, August 2023.
[8] When South Sudan was divided into 32 states (2017–20), Western Equatoria was split into Amadi, Maridi, Gbudwe, and Tambura states, which became Western Equatoria once again in 2020. See Pritchard and Verjee (2021).
[9] Sereberani was reportedly assassinated in revenge for the death of a Balanda trader earlier killed in Ezo. Futuyo accused Jemma Nunu of orchestrating Agbiamamu’s assassination.
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