In a statement released on Saturday, party members said they had passed a vote of no confidence against the Chairperson Dr Costello, who, also, released a statement, denouncing his ouster

By James Chatim

A heated power struggle has emerged within the South Sudan Patriotic Movement (SSPM), accompanied by dismissal of chairperson and claims of illegitimacy.

In a statement released on Saturday, the party members said they had passed a vote of no confidence against the Chairperson, Dr Costello Garang Riny, after the resolution made by the National Leadership Council (NLC).

The party argued that the reason for the removal of the former Chairperson was in accordance with the party’s constitution per article 27 (2), which relates to violation of party objectives, mandates, deliberate denial of the party, lack of collaboration, and some other provisions within the party’s basic principles.

“This press release serves to inform the people of South Sudan, the entire membership of South Sudan Patriotic Movement in Juba and the ten States, the three Administrative Areas, and parties to the R-ARCSS that today, 23^rd November 2024, the National Leadership Council of South Sudan Patriotic Movement in its extraordinary Meeting No: 002/2024 convened, in its headquarters, resolved and passed a vote of no confidence against the Chairperson, Dr. Costello Garang Riny Lual as per article 27 (2) (B&C) of South Sudan Patriotic Movement’s Constitution 2022,” the statement read in part.

Intriguingly, Dr. Costello, the chairman of the party, who also doubles as the Deputy Chairperson of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), released a statement vehemently denying his dismissal by the Acting Deputy Chairman, H.E Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, who is also the Vice President of South Sudan.

Dr. Costello described the claims as baseless and accused H.E Abdelbagi of violating the SSPM Constitution.

“Hussein Abdelbagi and his group invoked a fictitious article that does not exist in our constitution to justify their illegitimate attempt to oust the Chairman,” Dr. Costello’s statement, titled: Denouncing dismissal allegations, read.

“This is nothing more than the desperate act of a ‘dying horse,” it added, and claimed that H.E Abdelbagi had been suspended from SSPM pending investigation on charges of insubordination.

Meanwhile, the press release, signed by Stephen Lual Ngor, the SSPM Information Secretary and Spokesperson, detailed resolutions passed during an extraordinary meeting of the SSPM National Leadership Council (NLC), and announced H.E Hussein Abdelbagi Akol as the Interim Chairperson, emphasizing the party’s continued commitment to the implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

“This decision was made to restore harmony and collaboration within the party,” the statement read in part.

Dr. Costello, however, dismissed the NLC meeting as illegitimate, asserting that non-party members were involved in the process.

“I remain the sole Chairman of SSPM and Deputy Chairperson of SSOA. The public should disregard these baseless claims,” he reaffirmed.

The crisis has drawn attention to internal divisions within SSPM and raised concerns about the party’s cohesion within the broader framework of SSOA.

Some observers note that the escalating tensions could impact SSPM’s role in implementing the peace agreement.

Other than announcing H.E Abdelbagi as the party’s interim chairperson to replace Dr. Costello, the party also announced Joseph Abdallah Sudani as Interim Deputy Chairperson and Abdharahim Albino Daniel as Interim Secretary General respectively.

In an exclusive interview with The City Review on Sunday, Sudani stated that they decided to dismiss Dr. Costello because he was not committed to the party’s principles, which include periodic enlightenment of members in his capacity as party chairperson.

Further, Sudan pointed out that they were keen to maintain the unity of the alliance, thus they had to make the move.

“We in the National Movement of South Sudan are committed to all the plans of the Revolution Alliance (SSOA) and for the alliance to remain united.”

The (SSOA) Alliance is threatened with division, because after the meeting of the alliance’s leaders with the President of the Republic recently, without the knowledge of Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi, challenges emerged in the party.

“We, as the leadership of the National Movement, have a reserved opinion regarding the movements and changes taking place within the (SSOA) Alliance, and the former chairman of the party, Castello Garang, was making decisions alone, and did not consult the party’s leaders, including his deputy, and myself, as I was the Secretary-General of the movement at that time, before I became the Vice Chairperson now.” Sudan explained, “After the decision to extend the transitional period, serious developments emerged, which required that former President Costello Garang and his deputy at the time, Hussein Abdelbagi, sit down and discuss these developments.”

“This decision was made to restore harmony and collaboration within the party,” stated a press release, signed by Stephen Lual Ngor, the SSPM Information Secretary