At least 76 members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) under the First Vice President, Dr Riek Machar Teny, have shifted allegiance to SPLM of President Salva Kiir, in Aweil Centre County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.
The defection was sparked by the resignation of the SPLM-IO chairperson in Aweil Centre County, George Daira, who cited a lack of vision and mission in the SPLM/A-IO and claimed the movement was unable to serve the people of South Sudan.
The Secretary-General of the SPLM Youth League in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Emmanuel Dhel Peter, told the City Review yesterday that the group reported on Monday as they were received in Aweil, Centre County.
“Those (76) members are from Aweil Centre County and are headed by the former chairperson of the SPLM/A-IO. They declared their resignation yesterday (Monday) and they joined the SPLM,” he stated.
“George Daira criticised the SPLM-IO leadership for failing to implement their political objectives among its members. He stated that there were no more SPLM-IO members left in Aweil Centre County; all those who were in the SPLM-IO have resigned and joined their mighty party, SPLM, “he explained.
The Director of Information and Public Relations, who also serves as the Press Secretary in the office of the First Vice President, Puok Both Baluang, told The City Review that he is not aware of the defections.
Prior defections
In November 2021, 310 members of the SPLM-IO in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State defected to the SPLM.
Mr Dhel claimed the defection was a sign of victory for the SPLM in the 2023 elections.
He said massive defections to SPLM had shut down the offices of most of the political parties in the state. He claimed that within a short period, the SPLM/A-IO and other political parties might have no traces in the state.
“The huge number that the SPLM received was 310 members who resigned from SPLM-IO, Northern Bahr el Ghazal state. The SPLM Secretariat organised a welcoming ceremony yesterday. They are citizens of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State who were in the SPLM-IO, “Dhel said.
“This one has shown that the SPLM in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State will always remain stronger. They say that they left SPLM-IO due to the poor political agenda in SPLM-IO and political objectives, “he said.
Parties illegal
On Monday, Puok said the political parties in the country were illegal because the political parties act had not been passed by the parliament. He stated that their party was ready for elections, but the time was not ripe for elections until all the prerequisites were fulfilled.
“All the political parties in South Sudan now are illegal unless the act or the bill is passed by the parliament and all parties to the agreement go back to register as the political parties of South Sudan again, “he stated.
“Election at the end of the transitional period is a democratic process whereby the people of South Sudan, will have the right to elect the person that they think is right to lead them in the future…and we believe as the SPLM/A-IO,’’ he said.
He stated the prerequisites are the permanent constitution, repatriation of the refugees, security arrangements, graduation of forces, and census, among others.
Puok stressed that there was no shortcut in elections and therefore all the requirements should be in place for the country to run free and fair elections, which he said they were ready for.