SPLM-IO launches party secretariat, starts membership registration in Jonglei State

BOR – South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) led by the country’s First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar on Saturday launched its party’s secretariat in Jonglei State’s capital Bor in a bid to transform the movement into a political party.

The launch was officiated by the SPLM Interim Secretary General, Regina Joseph under the “Towards a Democratic, United and Prosperous South Sudan.”

“Today (Saturday) we launch the secretariat officially because we are transiting from a movement to a political party,” Ms. Joseph said during the launching ceremony in Bor town over the weekend.

Ms. Joseph disclosed the launch of the State General Headquarters will be followed by membership registration and mobilization in 9 counties of Jonglei State.

“Also, we launched with it the registration of membership and from here; we are going to start the registration of our members in Jonglei State.”

She said the party will also establish its structures in all counties of Jonglei starting with counties, Payams, and Boma.

“We will start opening all our state secretarial at county levels to the Payams and Bomas, meaning we are preparing ourselves to register as a political party when the political Party Council is reconstructed,” she said.

On his part, Jacob Akech Dengdit, Deputy Governor of Jonglei State called on the members of the opposition in the state to embrace peace and unity in a bid to restore stability in the state.

“Peace has to be respected, peace has given the opportunity to everybody, and peace brings Multi-partism,” Dengdit said.

Dengdit who doubled as the interim chairman of SPLM in the state hailed the main opposition party for launching its state secretarial with only “trademark”   and “Viva” and no guns.

“This is very good for you (SPLM-IO) and for us (SPLM) to sit today and talk about launching your party secretariat in the capital of Jonglei Bor town with only your trademark and your “Viva” and no guns.”

Amer Alier Ateny Chairperson for SPLM-IO in Jonglei State said her party has vividly marked its presence in Jonglei State.

“We have started with the opening of the office of the SPLA-IO Jonglei, and also the registration for the members of the SPLA-IO will begin in Jonglei state,” Ms. Ateny said.

Ms. Ateny who is also the speaker of the Jonglei State Transitional Legislative Assembly added that “We will register our member under the SPLA-IO that is what we are going to embark on in this state.”