Salva Kiir is SPLM’s candidate for Sudan’s president post – Amum

August 25, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Pagan Amum the Secretary General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement dismissed reports saying that First Vice-President and SPLM Chairman, Salva Kiir Mayadrit, would not run for Sudan’s president post.

“The First Vice President, President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Lt Gen. Salva Kiir Mayadrit is the sole SPLM candidate for the presidency election” said Amum from Washington in a statement to Ajras Al-Hurriya to be published in its edition of tomorrow.

This denial comes after statements by some SPLM officials saying that the Political Bureau of the party didn’t yet adopted a decision about who would be the SPLM candidate for the presidency in 2009 election.

However, the second convention of the SPLM held last May in Juba adopted a resolution that the party leader, Salva Kiir Mayadrit should contend for the presidency of the republic next year.

A statement made last week by Luka Biong, a close aide to the SPLM leader raised doubts over Mayadrit intention to run for the presidency.

The Candidacy of the First Vice-President faces opposition from people who think that he should focus efforts on the preparation for the southern Sudan independence while those who believe in the national vocation of the SPLM consider it as best opportunity to oust the Islamists and achieve a democratic change in the country.

Following the indictment of the Sudanese President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir and the request for an arrest warrant against him by the International Criminal Court prosecutor, the SPLM Deputy Secretary General, Yasir Arman announced from Juba that Salva Kiir is the candidate of the party for the presidency.

Some National Congress Party prominent leading member criticized the move saying its part of blot to overthrow Al-Bashir from power.

Sudan presidential adviser Nafi Ali Nafi said in press statements last month that president Omar Hassan Al-Bashir “is the most qualified person for presidency whether people like it or not.”

While presidential adviser Ghazi Salah-Eddine Attabani linked clearly between the ICC indictment and Slava Kiir candidacy for the presidency

“We cannot read the announcement by the SPLM to nominate Kiir for presidential elections separate from these developments,” he said.

(ST)