South Sudan’s warring SPLM-Juba faction has launched a crackdown on perceived political dissidents in a territory under its control, Northern Bahr al Ghazal State, amid reports of tensions between the caretaker governor and the former governor.

This comes after a recent conference resulted in changes in the party leadership in the state, creating sharp divisions. 

Tong Nyanawan, a member of the SPLM state liberation council from Aweil South County said that military officers have aggressively threatened several critics.

“Several critical officials and their supporters with different views about the changes are receiving threats and intimidation from military officers,” said Tong, speaking on Wednesday. “The way they have responded to the reaction to the way in which changes were made has been aggressive and disparaging.”  

According to Nyanawan, security remains tight in Aweil even after the caretaker governor Kuel Aguer Kuel and his predecessor General Paul Malong Awan met and held talks facilitated by the head of SPLA’s 3rd division in the area, Major General Santino Deng Wol.

The talks held on 4 January were attended by the police commissioner in the state, Major General Akot Deng Akot and head of the National Security branch office in the area. Other senior military and security officers were also in attendance.

It was not clear what the leaders have discussed as none of them had made a statement about the meeting. Sources claimed it was an attempt to reconcile the two leaders but failed to give details.

Paul Malong left the post of governor in April 2014 to become the top commander of SPLA-Juba, while retaining his position as SPLM chairman in the state. His successor, Kuel Aguer Kuel, has stayed on as caretaker governor ever since.

Security personnel are reported to have deployed to search people at checkpoints along the main routes leading to the state capital from the counties and villages.

Meanwhile an activist monitoring the situation said Wednesday from Aweil town that he knows at least two senior officials thrown behind bar while several of their supporters have been threatened with arrest. Elsewhere, there have been reports of some recent arrests inside the military barracks.

File photo: Northern Bahr al Ghazal State's then-governor Paul Malong visiting Wunyiik military base in December 2012 (Radio Tamazuj)