SPLM dissolution, a step in the right direction

By Sabrino Majok Majok

November 25, 2013 – From the inception of the SPLM/A on May 15th, 1983 until January 9th, 2005 Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLM/SPLA) championed a liberation struggle to free marginalized citizens of Greater Sudan, particularly the people of South Sudan who had continuously been subjected to all ills including genocide, enslavement, neglect, scorch-earth displacement,destruction of property, among others, by successive regimes in Khartoum.

After 21 years of long struggle, people of South Sudan lost over 2.5 million lives while more than 4 million others were displaced either internally or to foreign countries around the globe. When the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed in Kenya in 2005, South Sudanese breathed sigh of relief and hoped for complete realization of freedom, justice, development, and long awaited provision of economic and social services, irrespective of regions, tribes or political affiliation. Indeed, people of South Sudan believed that if SPLM/SPLA, which was able to liberate them from oppressors who instituted system of marginalization and destruction one could think of in the whole world, then there were greater chances for rapid rebuilding and improvement of livelihoods in new Republic of South Sudan under SPLM.

Although there are tangible progress made thus far in areas of governance and infrastructure, citizens are not satisfied yet due to a slow pace of expected rapid growth in the fertile and rich country of ours, eight good years after CPA. The slow and almost stagnate developmental progress in the country has different interpretations in different quarters. For example, citizens of South Sudan blame entire government for lack of essential economic and social services while all South Sudanese political parties put the blame squarely on the ruling party, the SPLM. Within SPLM leadership, however, the blame is apportioned to either the Chairman of party or senior officials under the Chairman, particularly the Secretary General and two Deputy Chairmen. And blame game continuous in a vicious circle.

This article examines roles of four most senior SPLM officials: the Chairman, two Deputies and Secretary General. It also focuses on who is responsible among the big four for alleged failures of the government in general and SPLM Party in particular. It then concludes with why dissolution of paralyzed and malfunctioning SPLM structures is justified move and a step to a right direction.

First and foremost, the author has chosen to exclude second Deputy Chairman, Cde.James Wani Igga, from failures analysis herein simply because he has been neutral or at rare occasions constructively criticized both the government and SPLM as systems. Therefore, Cde Wani’s exclusion leaves only three senior SPLM officials on score card. These are: the Chairman, Cde Salva Kiir Mayardit; First Deputy, Cde. Dr. Riek Machar Teny; and former Secretary General, Cde. Pagan Amum Ukech. The question is, who is the weakest link over alleged SPLM failures? Lets examine these leaders one by one.

Chairman of SPLM Party, President Salva Kiir Mayardit

SPLM has as a ruling Party is tasked with enormous responsibility of forging and shaping the identity and better future of the Republic of South Sudan. This being the case, roles for running the affairs of the new Nation were divided among the top echelon of the Party. In this regard, SPLM Chairman, Salva Kiir was primarily given momentous role of running the whole country. In my opinion, Mr. Chairman has succeeded in his work. For instance, out of stumbling blocks laid by National Congress Party government in Khartoum, President Kiir ensured successful implementation of most clauses of CPA, conduct of 2010 General Elections, historic referendum vote and attainment of long cherished independence on July 9th, 2011.

If these are not great achievements, then I am willing to be informed by Chairman’s arch-critics otherwise. Therefore, wild accusations that are being unfairly labelled against SPLM Chairman for the Party’s loss of “vision and direction” are not justified since these accomplishments constitute the cornerstone of our people’s aspiration. It is therefore imperative that the people of South Sudan, regardless of their political affiliations, should give President Kiir due credit he rightfully deserves. Had he failed to remain focus on the big picture, which was our independence, South Sudan could be in a different undesirable situation right now.

First Deputy Chairman of SPLM party, Dr. Riek Machar Teny

As a second man in command both in Government of the Republic of South Sudan and SPLM party, former Vice President Dr. Riek Machar was expected to manage his time effectively and efficiently for a smooth running of the two institutions. In SPLM Party, he was expected to assume a leading role since SPLM Chairman was evidently engaged in attending to urgent matters nationally, regionally and internationally. Instead of playing a positive role in the party as a teammate with his Chairman, nevertheless, he chose the opposite side and acted as a critic in a system he should have rectified himself. For instance, Dr. Machar was publicly seen, heard and read embarking on smearing campaign against the Chairman and SPLM party, technically violating SPLM constitution and members code of conduct. In my opinion, if there are people to blame for SPLM failures, Dr. Riek would be among prime suspects.

As Deputy Chairman of the ruling Party, SPLM, Dr. Riak should have played a more enabling and increasing role in resolving internal problems of the SPLM rather than resorting to public criticism of the Chairman which essentially undermines the very principles upon which this Party founded.

Secretary General of SPLM party, Pagan Amum Ukiech

Cde. Pagan was chief administrator of SPLM party commanding all Secretariats both at national and States levels. He was also Secretary for Political Bureau (PB) and National Liberation Council (NLC), the highest executive and legislative organs, respectively. If Cde. Pagan was committed, faithful, and loyal to the party and leadership, he would have solved problems that faced and still face SPLM today.

The irony is that Cde. Pagan was secretly nursing his plans to take over the party’s leadership as he recently declared his intention to unseat incumbent Chairman to pave his way to become a presidential candidate for 2015 elections. Pagan’s conduct prior to his suspension were deliberate attempts to undermine SPLM Chairman’s efforts to move South Sudan to the next developmental level and prosperity. This became clear when he finally made his intentions to run against the Chairman using the failures he himself created as the reasons for wanting to unseat Chairman of the SPLM.

For a long time now, I felt defeated by Pagan’s endless complaints about SPLM failures when he should squarely be held responsible for any failure in the SPLM. This is because Cde Pagan was the Chief Administrator tasked with running day to day affairs of the SPLM, yet instead of discharging his duties in service of our people, he deliberately mastermind all pitfalls that SPLM went through and is going through currently. Given what we know, Cde Pagan is the prime cause of all internal problems SPLM is facing today. His suspension is not enough; he should be held accountable for deliberately trying to destroy this peoples’ Party which liberated people of South Sudan from oppressors, for his individual’s interests. Considering facts laid out above, Cde Pagan was the weakest link in the SPLM Party, period.

Dissolution of paralyzed and malfunctioning SPLM structures

The decision by the SPLM Chairman to dissolve the SPLM structures is the right thing to do. Status quo was not viable given open rebellion against the Chairman which was sometimes orchestrated through activities aimed at failing the Party. As such, SPLM had reached a point where it could not longer operate as an organization specially when its Chief Administrator and First Deputy Chairman began criticizing a system they are leading publicly.

The dissolution of SPLM structures will enable the Party to reaffirm its vision, mission, direction and political cohesiveness. Additionally, it will rejuvenate commitment and loyalty among members toward Party principles and ideals which are now openly being violated at will.

I should strongly recommend that the formation of next structures should be carefully done in order to select loyal and committed cadres who will respect Party policies and carry out their assigned duties diligently and faithfully so that our people are able to reap the fruit of their long struggle, a cause that can only be championed by the SPLM party.

Sabrino Majok Majok is a member of South Sudan’s ruling SPLM and can be reached via [email protected]