SPLM/A-IO to install Machar’s deputy today

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) is expected to elect a new deputy chair as the party holds its 4th National Liberation Council meeting today in Juba.

 The SPLM-IO Director for Information and Public Relations, Puok Both Baluang told The City Review that the country’s main opposition will fill all the vacant seats including the docket of the Henry Dilah Odwar.

Baluang said the one-day meeting will focus on the organisation of the party’s structures after several of its members defected.

“The meeting is the 4^th SPLM/A-IO Liberation Council. It aims at completing the National Liberation Council, especially the vacant positions within the National Liberation Council of SPLM-IO. All the members who have defected, including others who have lost their lives, will be filled tomorrow (today), ” he revealed.

More on the agenda

The implementation of the peace agreement and the general security situation in the country is also on the agenda of the meeting.

The people expected to attend the meeting are the leaders of SPLM/A-IO national liberation councils, legislatures, and senior party members.

“The members expected to attend are National Liberation Council (NLC) SPLM-IO, members representing the group in the reconstituted national legislature, state chairpersons, deputy chairpersons, and secretaries-general.”

 He stressed that the meeting will conclude the discussion on the organisation of the SPLM-IO as well as the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

Defections

Henry Dilah Odwar, the former minister of mining who served on the SPLM-IO in  August 2021, left the party’s chairman, Dr Riek Machar Teny, and joined the Kit Gwang faction under Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, Machar’s former army chief-turned arch-rival.

Mr Odwar, who also served as SPLM-IO deputy chairman, tabled his resignation letter as the minister of mining in the Revitalised Government of National Unity on August 11, 2021, and did not provide expansive reasons for his resignation.

A string of defections has rocked the SPLM/A-IO boat, with one of the latest exits being of James Kok Ruey,  the former legislator of Fangak  County, Jonglei State. Kok defected to the SPLM-IG headed by President Salva Kiir last month, citing a loss of faith in the party’s ideals. He was relieved from the legislative position by President Kiir after shifting allegiance.

Mr Baluang branded Mr Kok as a serial defector after his move but also lashed at his decision saying it threatened the focus on implementing the peace agreement.

 “We are concerned that this departure happened in the time of peace instead of focusing on how to implement the agreement.” It’s very unfortunate now to recruit from another side to join and defect, ” Puok protested.

“All this process is an attempt to slow down the implementation of the peace agreement, but we are committed to implementing the agreement in letter and spirit,” he said.

Besides, this was another party exodus by around 310 members in Aweil, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, who also decamped to President Kiir’s party.

“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, ” said Emmanuel Dhel Peter, the governor of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, after receiving the defectors last month.

“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 added.

The events triggered a reaction from the Spokesperson of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, who termed the defections’ ‘sponsored’ and orchestrated to wreck the SPLM/A-IO.

Col. Lam said the delay in the implementation of the security arrangement had partly worked against his faction by fueling defections.

“So this is intentional. We always call it that lack of resources here and there, but we know it is intentional; it is meant to disorganise the SPLA-IO so that the peace agreement can drag its feet.

“We call it “sponsored defections” because you are promised money, you are promised a vehicle, and you are promised resources. Then, you say, “I am not getting money here or receiving anything, so what do I do?” I have to move to the other side. And, when you go that way, you are given the money and you complain that we don’t have resources, ” Lam said, adding that some of the individuals who crossed the floor had been given cash and luxurious cars for their political moves.