![SPLM-IO lawmaker Juol Nhomngek Daniel. [Photo by The Radio Community]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Mp.jpg?resize=1080%2C604&ssl=1)
In October 2023, it was also reported that dozens of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Riek Machar have defected in Aweil North County to the SPLM. This was also broadcast in all media Houses. In August 27, 2023, it was reported that 35 SPLM-IO officials led by Colonel Padhor Marier Khor defected to Kiir in Unity State were welcomed by Governor Joseph Nguen Manytuil who doubles as the head of the ruling party in the state.
Furthermore, in May 2023, it was reported that more than 100 members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement- in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Riek Machar, and sections of the Kitwang and Agwelek advance team in Juba on Friday joined the SPLM party of President Salva Kiir. This was highly celebrated and publicised. In May 2023, it was further reported that over 750 Members of SPLM-IO in Unity State defect to President Kiir’s Party
In March 2022, the SPLM acting Secretary General was reported to have received some generals who defected and made statement that it was poor leadership that of the SPLM-IO. There are many defections that are always made public whether on individual or group level. The report is always made public whether on SSBC or on social media. The question then is, if members of the SPLM-IO including its military personnel were defecting at the rate the SPLM-IG has been reporting, why is the SPLM-IG again still campaigning against the SPLM-IO to the extent of even trying to assassinate the Military Spokesperson of the SPLM/A-IO?
What the public should know is that the SPLM-IO is seen to be weak because it is committed to peace while the SPLM-IG is out to destroy it by all means whether through crooks or fair means. No amount of propaganda can distract the attention of the SPLM-IO from its goals. The goals of the SPLM-IO are to achieve peace and radical reforms at the same time. This is not going down well with the SPLM-IG whose goal is to make sure that it remains dominant by exploiting the public ignorance.
The power of the SPLM-IG is public ignorance supported by the use of force and money. Those who are seen as active or threats to the SPLM-IO are either bought or threatened into silence. The reason the SPLM-IG sees His Excellency Dr. Riek Machar as a problem is because he cannot be bought to abandon the cause he devoted his life to. On December 10, 2014 Dr. Riek Machar’s Historic Speech at Pagak Conference highlighted major issues that underline his struggle for reform in South Sudan. These include—
First, the struggle of the SPLM-IO is to make sure that the institution of federal system of governance in which the states and the local governments devolve more political, judicial and economic powers is achieved. This will include the establishment of 21 states based on the former districts during the colonial period instead of ten state.
Second, the mission of the SPLM/A-IO is to implement Security Reforms affecting the Armed Forces, the National Security, the Police, the Correctional Services, the Civil Defence Services and the Wild Life Services in terms of their philosophy, mandate, mission and objectives to reflect the ethnic diversity of South Sudan in terms of the officer corps, men and women in them.
Third, the SPLM/A-IO is pushing to achieve radical reforms in the judiciary and the justice administration system that will make the courts and dispensation of justice fair and accessible to all the citizens. This will include also, administrative reforms at the local levels to dovetail the traditional institutions of governance with the state governance institutions for peace and harmony in society.
Fourth, the SPLM/A-IO mission is to institute reforms in the political parties’ system to render them national rather that ethnic or regional in character. The SPLM/SPLA-IO stands against politicisation of ethnicity or ethnicisation of politics as means or ladder to power and wealth.
Fourth, the SPLM-IO under Dr. Riek Machar struggle is to achieve reform in the civil service by depoliticizing and professionalizing it. The civil service is the backbone of the state. Recruitment, appointments and mobility within it must always be on basis of merits, experience and qualification.
Fifth, the SPLM-IO struggle is to promote economic growth by investing the petrodollars in agriculture to stimulate the surplus potential in mechanized crop production, modernize animal husbandry to transform the enormous livestock from cultural to economic wealth.
This includes the introduction of the modern methods of fisheries and aquaculture in the rivers and wetlands as well as to organize and develop forestry and related economic activities including protection of Wildlife and other fauna for tourism and recreation.
Sixth, to build modern physical infrastructure in cities, towns and villages. Construct inter- and intra-state highways, feeder roads, railways, high tension power transmission grids, fibre optics lines and microwave lines for telecommunication linking the different parts of the country and regionally;
Seventh, to construct dams and hydroelectric power generation in addition to exploit the solar and wind energy to generate electricity for speedy industrialization of South Sudan and to encourage private sector as well as private public partnership to drive the development of South Sudan.
Eight, to eliminate the concentration of powers in the hands of the President and other individual government officials that were institutionalized at the eve of the independence in July 2011 that threw the CPA based democratic constitutions out and replaced with another concentrated powers in the hands of the President namely “the Transitional Constitutional of South Sudan, 2011.
The struggle of the SPLM-IO is to eliminate corruption that has been a pervasive problem in South Sudan since its independence from Sudan in 2011. The country ranks as one of the countries with the highest level of perceived public sector corruption in the world, according to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index.
His Excellency Dr. Riek Machar devoted his life to fight against Corruption affects all levels of government and economic sectors, with most nominally independent institutions de facto captured by the executive branch. The above points are the basis of the ideological orientation of the SPLM-IO that Dr. Riek offered his life to make sure that South Sudanese realize them. However, the power of propaganda can some overshadow the strength of the SPLM-IO in South Sudan, which needs us to educate the public.
The SPLM-IO is the part established on ideology that deals with the accessibility of the justice for all citizens of South Sudan. The principal objectives of the SPLM-IO are to—Build a Country, based on a just, democratic, secular system of governance, and popular participation of its entire people; create national consciousness and common purpose through the liberation of the individual and society from all forms of political, economic and social constraints.
Promote the general wellbeing of the people; eradicate poverty and strive to attain sustainable development by advancing the cause of national liberation and freedom for all marginalized people; plan, promote and direct economic and social development for the benefit of all.Uphold, protect and promote rights of the child, persons with special needs, the elderly and woman by defending and advancing the democratic values in the Country and ensuring that governments at all levels are representative and freely elected by the people through universal suffrage.
Promote and encourage scientific research and adopt appropriate modern technologies by ensuring the implementation of the principle of Federalism and devolution of powers that promote democratic principles and practices, and social cohesion through upholding the principles of supremacy of the rule of Law and separation of powers.
Ensure that human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of the Country, regional and international instruments are promoted, respected, and protected in order to enhance participatory democracy and ensure respect of democratic processes and institutions. Ensure practices of collective leadership that must ensure justice and equality for all irrespective of ethnicity, origin, religion, region, social status or gender. This can in the end enhance accountability, transparency and good governance that encourage and promote respect for the diversity of the people.
Ensure gender equality and promote socio-economic, cultural and political empowerment of women Realise and ensure economic self-sufficiency and self-reliance for the people. Protect and preserve the environment, ensure sustainable utilization of natural resources and promote environmental sustainability. Protect, uphold and promote the unity of the people of the Country. Uphold and promote national, regional and global peace and security; and Develop and pursue an appropriate foreign policy to maintain regional and international cooperation and preserve global peace and stability.
In Summary, since the SPLM-IG is in control of money and has the power, it is possible for it to manipulate everything and then turns around to blame the SPLM-IO and other political parties for being ready for the elections. While in fact, it is the SPLM-IG which is not ready for elections. One thing the SPLM-IG and its members must bear in mind is that they are wasting time as the SPLM-IO has come to stay. The SPLM-IO founded on ideology rather than on power and wealth as it is the case with the SPLM-IG.
What is at play now is the power of propaganda versus the strength of the SPLM-IO in South Sudan. Lies and propaganda have the limit. This is why it is important to educate the public that like Christianity, the SPLM-IO will live forever and will be the dominant party in fifty years to come. Using propaganda will not destroy the SPLM-IO and with time, the Public will realize. Majority of those who defect are not members of the SPLM-IO but they are political adventurers who are looking for the political opportunities not the ideology.
The author is a member of the National Parliament (TNLA) representing Cueibet County in Lakes State on the ticket of the SPLM-IO. He is lawyer specializing in the Constitution law and human rights. He can be reached via: nhomngekjuol@gmail.com.
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