South Sudan opposition accuses VP Hussein, Bakosoro of meddling in party affairs

JUBA – South Sudan’s Vice President for the Service Cluster, Hussein Abdelbagi, and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro, are facing accusations of meddling in the internal affairs of the South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC).

Speaking to reporters in Juba on Monday, SSNMC secretary for foreign affairs Mogga Charles described the alleged interference as a “serious injustice” and a “blatant violation” of the 2018 peace agreement by the two officials against their party.

“The acute injustice and blatant violation of the spirit and provisions of the R-ARCSS 2018 are being perpetuated by H.E. Vice President Hussien Abdelbagi Akol,” said Charles.

“We are being threatened, blackmailed, and targeted, and our party members, including our chairperson, secretary, and commissioner of Kapoeta South, are being unilaterally removed,” he added.

Charles pointed fingers at VP Abdelbagi, a member of the South Sudan Patriotic Movement (SSPM), alleging that these actions were facilitated by the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro who is a member of the ruling SPLM party.

“These removals are executed without any notice and with no regard for SSOA internal regulations, which protect positions apportioned to individual parties and their independent decisions,” he claimed.

Charles recalled a previous request made by SSNMC to Abdelbagi, urging him to return the Ministry of Public Service to the party’s control after Bakosoro rejoined the ruling SPLM party on July 15, 2021.

“He [Abdelbagi] promised us that he would speak to the country’s leadership to consider our request,” Charles stressed.

However, Charles alleged that the duo plotted to create another SSNMC faction led by Mr. Clement Mbogoniwia, allegedly protected by Abdelbagi, and related to Bakosoro.

To SSNMC, these actions aimed to prevent the party from securing its allocated 17 positions through deception, meddling in internal affairs, and causing confusion among members.

“It has been three years, and we have been unable to regain these positions. Our efforts to bring this to the attention of the nation’s leadership have been frustrated and blocked,” Charles lamented.

He appealed to President Salva Kiir to intervene and rein in his deputy, emphasizing the need for justice and a peaceful resolution in line with the 2018 peace agreement.

“We withdraw our vote of confidence in VP Hussien Abdelbagi Akol as an SSOA constituency member,” declared Charles.

In response, Gabriel Kiir Amoi, the press secretary in the office of VP Abdelbagi, disputed the allegations, dismissing them as “baseless” and “fabricated.”

Amoi questioned SSNMC’s legal procedure for seeking a solution and urged them to provide evidence to support their claims.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro, has yet to comment on the matter.

SSOA is a coalition comprising about eight parties involved in the current South Sudan peace agreement. Its membership includes the SSNMC.