Kiir’s party threatens to sue Machar for insisting he is still SPLM member

JUBA – South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) faction led by President Salva Kiir Mayardit has threatened to take First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny to court and apply rule of law for insisting that he is still a member of the SPLM party despite his removal last week.

On Friday, the SPLM National Liberation Council (NLC) meeting resolved to approve a decision by Kiir seeking to remove Machar, who was the deputy chairman of the party before it split into smaller factions in 2013, and Pagan Amum, who was then the secretary-general, from the party.

However, a spokesman for the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Machar described the decision by the SPLM as illegal and said Machar is still a member of the SPLM party.

“They do not have authority to replace someone elected during the convention that is according to the SPLM constitution unless the IG is using their own constitution” Puok Both Baluang, acting press secretary for the First Vice President and Director of National Committee for Information and Public Relations, said.

Speaking at Freedom Hall in Juba yesterday, the SPLM deputy secretary-general for political affairs Akol Paul Kordit says the SPLM faction under Kiir welcomes formation of other factions, but warned that taking name of the group could result in lawsuit.

“The political bureau welcomes the decision of other SPLM breakaway group to form their own parties – this is their democratic right. However, the PB urges these break away groups to relinquish the name call SPLM from their organization. Those in SPLM-IO who still call himself SPLM, it’s totally wrong,” Akol said.

“So, when you breakaway – you actually abandon that system altogether – if the SPLM-IO and anyone else name him or herself SPLM outside this SPLM – [we] insist to take them to transitional court and apply the rule of law,” he added.