Has Sudan’s SPLM lost its credibility after Garang’s death?
By Watts Roba Gibia Nyirigwa*
Jan 26, 2006 — There is no skepticism that throughout the past two decades the name SPLM/SPLA had been relevantly attributed to our fallen Leader and Hero Garang. Garang with its well-built leadership managed to elevate and set SPLM as one of the credible political institutions with clear strategy and philosophy at the regional and international stage. The SPLM has gained its status and position as one of the reverberation institutions in the Sudanese political theater. And as alleged by Kiir the war fought with Khartoum not based on loathing but it was a struggle for noble ideals of justice, equality and human dignity. Garang with its charismatic and fascinating leadership managed to acquire the entire world’s respect and conviction. Thus, Garang was viewed as a man who would broker peace in Darfur and east with its stalwart support to the marginalized people of Sudan. But when Garang died at plane crash, marginalized, peace loving people and in particular Southerners thought that their dreams and hopes had died too, and that war was imminent. Even the world was scary that peace was at risk. But SPLM leadership affirmed to its people and the entire world, that they are an institution which would not wither before catastrophic events, by appointing Salva Kiir to fill in Garang’s shoes.
Since when Kiir was selected and sworn in as First Vice President of Sudan and President of South Sudan, Kiir had been media’s focus and widely considered as secessionist as if Kiir was not one of the SPLM founders and who first inked Machakos protocol, but rather as if he has come from another planet! This grimy act of national congress to label Kiir as separatist has gained ground within Sudan and world at large, and to date Kiir is being viewed as secessionist that has got negative impact on SPLM credibility and peace process. This is one of the weapons being used by national congress party to ruin the SPLM image. But was this due to the changes which occurred within the SPLM leadership by sidelining some prominent or closest figures to Garang from the spot light? I believe there are issues which SPLM leadership has to address within its circle, as SPLM requires re-organization, restructuring and reviewing its intact political strategies in the light of the new events in Sudan. SPLM has been sternly disturbed and if not torn apart after demise of Garang, and still under recovery. Hence, it is imperative for SPLM leadership and its political office that for any institution to endure there should be continuous evaluation, determination and verification of its policies and strategies to cater and meet the contemporary challenges or otherwise it will be legging behind. Thus, there is a need for SPLM convention to address and exchange views on numerous issues confronting its entity, and unify its word internally and externally.
It is obvious that SPLM leadership and senior officials have no unified stance and attitude toward their own principles and even on Sudan’s internal and external affairs. And that was evidential prior and after formation of the government of national unity. As when Pagan Amun voiced discontent and threatened that they will raise the issue of oil quandary to IGAD and international community for arbitration if the proposal being submitted rejected, there was no unanimous position from SPLM leadership and at the end of the day Pagan’s stand was considered as personal view! Likewise, when Deng Alor furiously voiced dissatisfaction on slowness in the application of peace agreement and threatened that his group will seek international pressures on Sudanese President al-Bashir on accord of ruling on Abyei region, there was no unified stance from SPLM leadership and the matter was down played, in other words it is placed on national congress frying pan! Even when Madam Rebecca said that she wants to know the reasons for slow implementation of agreement, and went on to say that the people deserve to know the truth about the slow motion of peace process, there was no explanation from SPLM leadership and its political office, but rather an absolute hush! Here we have to question the integrity and credibility of the SPLM as struggling movement with intact ethics and goals, as whether it has lost credibility in front of its supporters and world at large! I deem there is cynicism about SPLM credibility and fate within its members, SPLA forces and the marginalized people at large. And that is certain in bias statement by Sudan Foreign Minister (SPLM) accusing Darfur movements of violating the cease-fire, saying that Khartoum government has fulfilled its commitments regarding the cease-fire agreement, and neglecting continuous attacks on civilians by Khartoum and its backed Janjaweed militia. This is clear damage to SPLM role and credibility in Darfur peace talks which have been tinted and will never be seen as a peace broker, but rather part of conflict which is contrary to the SPLM principle of moral support to marginalized people of Sudan.
It is really marvelous, as for how long we will continue to be sightless to the wretchedness and torment of our marginalized brothers and sisters, and to let them continue drinking from same wicked cup we had been drinking for the past two decades in stillness, and how can we justify our stand as a credible movement aiming to restore everyone’s dignity and parity? I deem we have to wake up from our profound sleep and illusion and revitalize our strategies and fortify our struggling strength to preserve our entity or otherwise we will follow suit at the end of the day, when the mission is accomplished and our aid is no longer required. Thus, let us not deceive ourselves, deny and betray our brothers and sisters, as we are in same internment and everyone has got its own moment.
* Watts Roba Gibia Nyirigwa is a Sudan Tribune columnist, he can be reached at [email protected]