“Transition to blue”: Abyei women honor Machar with fresh political song

 JUBA – Women from the disputed region of Abyei on Monday honored First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny with a new political song, with Machar’s media aide James Gatdet Dak describing the honoring as a ‘transition [of Abyei] to Blue’.

The song portrays Machar, the leader of the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) as the “number one” or front -runner in the would-be general elections slated for end of the transitional period in 2024.

Gatdet who is outside the country hailed the Abyei women’s decision to crown Machar and said the honoring of the prominent opposition leader and first vice president is what he said is “transition to BLUE,” referring to the official SPLM-IO colour.

Machar was honored at his residence yesterday where he was visited by dozens of women from the disputed region of Abyei led by Nyenagwek Kuol, the chairperson of the SPLM-IO in Abyei and the Executive Director in the office of the First Vice President.

Nyenagwek, a former minister of information in Warrap State, was appointed in January this year to the after Kiir refused to name her the deputy minister of interior following her nomination in early 2021 by Machar to replace Mabior Garang de Mabior.

Her appointment also came after Martin Abucha, her predecessor, was appointed as the minister of mining to replace Henry Odwar who resigned from the R-TGONU and as deputy chairman of the SPLM-IO to join Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual.