Machar in trouble as W. Equatoria violence causes infighting among SPLM-IO lawmakers in parliament

JUBA – The tribal conflict between the Zande and Balanda of Western Equatoria State (WES) has crippled into the recently reconstituted parliament, slowly cracking the strong walls of the SPLM IO leadership.

A credible source has revealed that two SPLM-IO lawmakers from WES have ganged up against their fellow, petitioning Dr. Riek Machar, First Vice President to revoke nomination of Hon. Jackeline M Gaza as deputy chairperson of one of the specialized committees in a national parliament.

According to the information leaked to Sudans Post, the problem started when two SPLM-IO MPs, Nuna Roda Ndefu and Hon. Jackeline Gaza disagreed over a position allocated to WES females in line with the party’s policy of meeting 35 percent gender representation at all levels.

But on July 12, the two ladies democratically competed for the position and Ms. Gaza was nominated and endorsed by the sitting including Dr. Riek Machar, Chairman of SPLM-IO.

It said however that Ms. Nuna and Paul Baba who are both from Zande ethnic petitioned the First Vice President to revoke Ms. Gaza’s nomination and replaced her with Paul if he could not give the position to Nuna.

“You know it is bad, the two SPLM-IO MPs, Hon Nuna RodaNdefu and Hon Paul Baba both from the Zande tribe ganged up against their colleague Hon Jackeline Mathew Gaza for a position days after Hon Jackeline competed and worn a position of Deputy Chairperson of one of the specialized committees in the R-TNLA,” the credible source who spoke on Anonymity to Sudans Post.

“But due to the mindset among some of our people that Zande in WES are only the majority tribe to lead, the two disgruntled Nuna Roda and Paul Baba has decided to go behind doors to petition the SPLM IO political Bureau, requesting for the position to be taken away from their colleague Ms. Jackline Gaza and be given to one of them.”

“The tribal issues in WES is now slowly cracking the strong walls of the SPLM-IO leadership to force the hands of the SPLM-IO Chairman, Dr. Riek Machar to commit injustice against women’s participation in leadership and against a minority, a tribe in case such a decision is made or if Dr. Risk makes changes to the agreed nominees in our recent meeting,” the source added.

The information coincided with the declaration of Jemma Nunu Kumba as the Right Speaker of the R-TNLA who also hails from Zande, especially Zande community celebrating the great achievements of their daughter following the recent move of Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro from SSOA back to SPLM IG.

The ongoing intercommoned between the two dominant ethnics of Tombura County, Balanda and Zande which has claimed lives and sent thousands into displacement.

According to the WES governor, Alfred Futuyo early this month, Jemma NunuKumbo and Gen. Patrick Raphael Zamoi were behind the conflict, inciting Zande against Balanda.