Another group abandons Pagan, joins Laraka

NAIROBI – A fresh blow has yet again struck the Real Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (R-SPLM) as a team of officials led by Nicola Atou Nyibong has resigned en masse, citing a toxic mix of internal strife and leadership shortcomings.

Nicola, a member of the R-SPLM’s socio-economic sub-committee for strategic peace support, spearheaded the group of defectors.

They expressed deep-seated frustration with the party’s direction under Chairman Pagan Amum Okiech.

Their departure comes just days before they announced their intention to join the Patriot’s Resistance Movement Arms (PRM/A) led by General Laraka Macher Turoal.

In a scathing resignation letter addressed to Amum, Nyibong laid bare the group’s grievances.

“There is a concerning absence of effective communication within the R-SPLM leadership,” he wrote. “This lack of dialogue severely hinders our ability to work cohesively towards our shared objectives.”

Nyibong further lambasted the party’s hierarchical structure, alleging a concentration of power in the hands of a select few.

He also highlighted the marginalization of diaspora members, asserting that they faced significant obstacles in gaining recognition and trust within the movement.

“Members who have joined the R-SPLM from the diaspora encounter immense challenges in securing recognition and trust from the leadership,” Nyibong said. “This lack of acknowledgment undermines our contributions and erodes trust within the movement.”

The defectors’ decision to join the PRM/A was driven by the latter’s perceived commitment to peaceful change, democratic principles, and youth inclusion.

In a statement addressed to General Laraka, the group lauded the PRM/A as a “dynamic force” representing the aspirations of a new generation.

“The PRM/A, founded by the young General Laraka Macher Turoal Thai, embodies the vibrant spirit of our generation,” the statement read. “We are weary of following the old guard who remain fixated on past glories that no longer resonate with our modern times.”

The departure of Nyibong and his colleagues marks the latest in a series of setbacks for the R-SPLM, which has been grappling with internal divisions and declining popularity.

The defections underscore the growing disillusionment among South Sudanese activists with the traditional opposition parties and their perceived failure to deliver tangible change.