Africa-Press – South-Sudan. General Wilson Deng Wek, former Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and South Sudan’s former Ambassador to South Africa, has announced the formation of a new political and military movement: the National Uprising Army (NUA).
In a statement released to the media, Sunday, December 28, General Deng declared his formal opposition to the current Transitional Government of National Unity, claiming it has reached the end of its effectiveness and failed to serve the interests of the South Sudanese people.
The former Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations argued that the “First Republic” of South Sudan has failed, pointing to a collapsing economy and widespread insecurity. He described the 2018 peace agreement and the recent Tumaini Initiative as deliberate “time-wasting strategies” used by the leadership to delay democratic change.
Stating that the government’s mandate has expired, General Deng is calling for its immediate dissolution. He proposed a 24-month transition period led by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) rather than a traditional political figure.
Under this plan, the interim administration would consist of a lean team of civilian technocrats, while professional military officers would oversee the security sector. General Deng emphasized that for free and fair elections to occur, the civilian population must be fully disarmed and political parties must be prohibited from maintaining private militias.
This announcement marks a major shift for General Deng. In January 2020, he was sworn in as a Grade One Ambassador to South Africa. At that time, President Salva Kiir charged him with improving South Sudan’s international image. Though he once vowed to work for the nation’s prosperity under the President’s trust, he has now joined a growing list of former allies calling for a total overhaul of the system.
General Deng’s move follows the October 2025 resignation of veteran politician Nhial Deng Nhial, who left the ruling SPLM to launch his own movement, the South Sudan Salvation Movement (SSSM), citing similar concerns over the country’s direction.
As of the time of publication, the government has not issued an official response to General Deng’s declaration. Efforts to contact the Government Spokesperson were unsuccessful, as his phone could not be reached.
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