Six senior SPLM officials forced to party answering financial accusation in security office

March 17, 2013 (RUMBEK) – South Sudan’s security services in Rumbek, the capital of Lakes state, briefly detained for questioning six officials from the country’s ruling party – the SPLM – on suspicion of illegally receiving money from senior figures in the capital, Juba, to gain influence ahead of the party’s upcoming national convention. Documents Sudan Tribune obtained from the National Security Service, Internal Security Bureau (NSSISB) allege that South Sudan’s Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teng and SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum sent money to the state-level politicians in order to secure their support in election of the next national chairman of the SPLM. South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir is the current SPLM chairperson and Machar his deputy, mirroring their positions in the presidency. The confidential document obtained by Sudan Tribune stated that an illegal payment was made on Wednesday 6 March without the knowledge of SPLM state secretary, Mabor Ater Dhuol. The six SPLM officials who were briefly detained by the Internal Security Bureau (ISB) were accused of working with Machar and Amum to undermine President Kiir’s chance to be the re-elected as party chairman at the upcoming extraordinary SPLM convention. The security officer who conducted the investigation, who is referred to the document as 0240, recommends that the six politicians are removed from the SPLM. The officials who were questioned were; Daniel Wal Riak, assistant secretary for Administration and finance; Atong Jok Dau, assistant secretary for Information and Culture; Makuac Madok, Cueibet County SPLM chairman; Peter Nyiec Chol, Rumbek North County SPLM chairman; Akol Muorwel, Wulu County SPLM chairman; and Andrew Macuor Romdhol, director of Administration and Finance in Lakes state SPLM party. The NSS document say that the politicians “were continuously receiving illegal funds and illegal distribution money to themselves that always come from the strong government officials trying to manipulate the system into their interests. According to the sources; these officials did declared their position to contest of chairmanship on the coming SPLM national convention. They are Riak Machar (V-President RRS) and Pagan Amuom (S.G for SPLM).” The security services recommended in the document that the State SPLM secretary remains vigilant to identify who is receiving the payments, adding that removing the six officials would help the SPLM in Lakes state. (ST) report_of_niss_recommenting_removable_of_assistants_secretaries.pdf security_invesitgation.pdf

Attached documents