Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) endorsed President Salva Kiir as the flagbearer in the 2024 elections during a colourful event that saw the National Liberation Council (NLC) restructure the ruling party.
The NLC made the decision after agreeing with the Political Bureau on President Kiir candidacy in the anticipated poll.
“The NLC endorsed Cde Gen Salva Kiir Mayardit’s nomination by the Political Bureau (PB) to be the sole candidate and flag bearer of the SPLM in the upcoming third convention and election,” the communiqué said in part.
In his acceptance speech during the meeting yesterday, Kiir appreciated the NLC and promised to return the favour by serving the party diligently.
“I am humbled and honoured by your decision to nominate me for these two important tasks: to be the sole candidate in the coming convention and [also] become the flag bearer for the SPLM party in the general election. “Thank you very much,” Kiir said.
“I hope I will not fail you and I have never failed you before. I believe that we will fight together…” he added.
He called on the SPLM members to work for peace in the country, adding a promise that he would never return the country to war.
Restructuring done
It was during this last meeting that the NLC restructured the ruling party with President Kiir at the helm as its chairperson.
The NLC further endorsed Kiir’s nomination of Dr James Wani Igga as the first deputy chairperson, Daniel Awet Akot as the second deputy chairperson, and Kuol Manyang Juk as the third deputy chairperson.
The NLC also confirmed Peter Lam Both as the party’s secretary-general.
Akol Paul Kordit was also appointed as the first deputy secretary-general for political affairs, mobilisation and organization, while Tulio Odongi was appointed as the deputy secretary-general for administration and finance.
The NLC also expanded the Political Bureau membership to 35 members as per the Arusha Agreement by filling a few vacancies for the members considered to have defected or died.
It further expanded the NLC based on the states’ representations. Besides this, there was the confirmation of the chairpersons of all the interim states and administrative areas where SPLM has a presence.
Talk on wrangles
On his closing remarks, President Kiir told off the SPLM-IO, saying that the party he chairs is “SPLM” and not “SPLM-IG,” as considered by the peace partners.
“We are SPLM whether people like it or not. We are SPLM,” he added
“[There is] no party with the name SPLM IG; there is SPLM, and there is SPLM/A-IO.”
Kiir maintained that the law dictating registration of political parties will necessitate that no parties will share names in the run-up to the elections.
“Now people are stuck on SPLM, they do not want to abandon SPLM and go create their different names, but they say they are SPLM, and they want to destroy SPLM,” he said.
His sentiments came after the SPLM/A-IO alleged that the decision to change the party leadership was actually done by the SPLM-IG, a component of the larger SPLM, which lacks the mandate to wield such power as far as the Arusha Agreement is concerned.
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