Prominent activist praises SPLA veteran for speaking out against Kiir’s regime

JUBA – A prominent member of the People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA) has praised General Garang Mabil, a veteran commander of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), for publicly criticizing the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) amid growing discontent.

Abraham Awolich, a prominent member of the People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA), praised General Mabil in an open letter for exercising his constitutional right to free speech and for raising important concerns about the country’s governance.

“You have joined a long list of South Sudanese heroes who have chosen to speak out,” Awolich wrote, referring to Mabil’s recent comments that labeled the SPLM as a “cocktail” of diverse interests.

Awolich highlighted the neglect faced by many liberation heroes, including General Mabil, despite their significant contributions to the country’s independence.

“You have made a name during the liberation struggle; you are a hero, but like many of your comrades, you have been neglected,” Awolich said.

Awolich also recounted a personal experience involving the late General Bior Ajang, who was denied access to President Salva Kiir following the death of his brother, despite his status as a respected figure in the liberation struggle.

“For the years when I had the privilege of access to J1, I saw hero after hero being turned away. The staff in J1 had to make up lies and excuses for the President, who refused to see his own comrades,” he wrote.

The PCCA member agreed with General Mabil’s assessment of the SPLM, stating, “There is no SPLM, there is a shell of the SPLM. The SPLM is President Kiir and whoever has accepted to serve as his stooge.”

He added that the SPLM’s internal structures, such as the Political Bureau and the National Liberation Council, have been “sapped of vitality and power” and are no longer capable of holding the party or the president accountable.

Awolich emphasized that the country needs a national political dialogue and a constitutional conference to address the ongoing crisis, rather than an internal SPLM dialogue.

“What the country needs right now is not a meeting or internal dialogue within the SPLM. What the country needs is a national political dialogue and a constitutional conference,” he asserted.

The letter also mentioned the PCCA’s role as a response to a political system that has “lost all the guardrails” and called for non-violent popular action to bring about change.

Awolich concluded by encouraging South Sudanese citizens to reflect on the country’s current state and to recognize their power in shaping its future. “Let us ask questions and acknowledge that we have the power to bring about a new day in South Sudan,” he said.