Interview | Leader of newly established PRM Laraka Machar speaks to Sudans Post

KOSTI – In an exclusive interview with Sudans Post on Wednesday, General Laraka Machar Turoal, the Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the Patriots’ Resistance Movement (PRM), provided insights into the mission and objectives of the recently formed organization.

Laraka was the deputy governor of the defunct Northern Liech State until the formation of the transitional government under the revitalized peace agreement. In December 2021, he joined then newly established SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction under General Simon Gatwech Dual before parting way with him last year to form the PRM.

According to Laraka, the PRM is dedicated to introducing a federal democratic system of governance in South Sudan, aligning with the historical preferences of the nation’s populace. Emphasizing transparency and accountable governance, the movement aims to uphold the principles of democracy and ensure equitable resource distribution for the present and future generations.

Addressing concerns over the decision to part ways with General Simon Gatwech Dual, the former SPLA-IO chief of staff turned SPLA-IO Kitgwang leader, General Laraka cited challenges with Dual’s leadership approach, characterized by unpredictability and undue interference in military affairs. Below is the full-text interview with Laraka.

Q1: COULD YOU PROVIDE FURTHER INSIGHTS INTO THE MISSION AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PRM?

ANSWER: Our mission and objectives are summed up in two folds; one is to introduce a federal democratic, constitutional form of government which in the State of South Sudan as a historical choice of the people. Two is to put into use the popular saying “a country of the people, by the people and for the people”. Our vision is such a rare one which is coupled with offering optimum form of governance suiting to the ways of live of our people, and be transparent in nature of handling of resources for the benefit of the current and future generations, putting in mind the contemporary levels in which the world stands, and probably avoid vices which ruined nations from thriving such as corruption, injustice and tribalism.

Q2: WHAT LED TO YOUR DECISION TO PART WAYS WITH GENERAL SIMON GATWECH DUAL?

ANSWER: General Simon Gatwech has no one particular direction, today he is a fighter, tomorrow is another thing. He is unpredictable and it is hard to achieve anything under his leadership. The year I spend as his Chief of General Staff was mark with suspicion and frequent interference in the affairs of the army.

Q3: PRESENTLY, WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED AND DOES THE PRM COMMAND AN ARMED FORCE?

ANSWER: Yes PRM command strong armed forces and they are present in four locations in South Sudan, northern and central part of Unity State, central and northern Jonglei State, Equatoria region, eastern part of Upper Nile State and Bahr El Ghazal region respectively.

Q4: HAVING BEEN ENTRENCHED IN BUSH WARFARE SINCE MID-2021 AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT, WHAT STRATEGIES DOES THE PRM INTEND TO EMPLOY FOR ACHIEVING PEACE?

ANSWER: PRM advocates for a peaceful resolution of conflict in South Sudan. We believe in dialogue, and we think South Sudanese are a peaceful people. As leaders we should not let them down. Abraham Lincoln in his 1961 address to the American people in the context of tension with the Soviet Union said “Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.”

Q5: IN YOUR OPINION, WHO HOLDS THE KEY TO ACHIEVING LASTING PEACE IN SOUTH SUDAN?

ANSWER: peace is reciprocal. Everyone in South Sudan is entitled to play their part for prevalence of peace in the land.

Q6: AMIDST THE ONGOING PEACE INITIATIVES SPEARHEADED BY KENYA, HAS THE PRM BEEN OFFICIALLY INFORMED OF THIS INITIATIVE AND WOULD YOU PARTICIPATE?

ANSWER: We in the PRM made our stand crystal clear on the Kenya-led mediation on the 30^{th of} December 2023, and we believe that we share this with many opposition figures that the only way to achieve peace in South Sudan is to ensure inclusiveness in national issues including peace negotiations among others. As to the invitation, we have not received any notification yet. But we are ready to engage in negotiations when the time comes.

Q7: WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE REVITALIZED PEACE AGREEMENT?

ANSWER: I think the Re-vitalized Agreement was a way to frozen the conflict in South Sudan, not a permanent solution to the conflict that is why we have been seeing intermittent violent confrontations by both parties. I think both armed parties should sit down and apply Modus Vivendi beyond the shackles of Re-vitalized Agreement- a prospect of ending the conflict between the two once and for all.

Q8: WITH PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR ELECTIONS, DO YOU BELIEVE SOUTH SUDAN IS ADEQUATELY PREPARED FOR SUCH A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS?

ANSWER: No. South Sudan need reconciliation more than election.

Q9: SO, WHAT ARE THE PREVAILING PRIORITIES AT PRESENT?

ANSWER: Make peace with the parties currently holding guns, reconcile and heal the people of South Sudan from the wounds of the conflict, provide them with services that they long been lacking, from infrastructure, health, education, technology, and security, and then think of elections and democratization.

Q10: THERE’S A RECOGNITION THAT INTERNAL DIVISIONS AND DEFECTIONS WITHIN THE OPPOSITION IMPEDE PEACE EFFORTS. HOW DOES THE PRM VIEW THIS CHALLENGE?

ANSWER: I don’t think so. There are parties/ movement who do not meet the national standards and whose leaders’ view for the future of the country is dim and short-sighted. Such parties are likely to break apart and vanish in the air. I am of the view that elites in the military and political spectrum are waking up to the reality of our country.

Q11: GENERAL LARAKA MACHAR TUROAL, CHAIRMAN AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE PATRIOTS’ RESISTANCE MOVEMENT (PRM), THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME SPEAKING TO SUDANS POST.

ANSWER: Welcome.