South Sudan Forum – North America says opposed to closure of branches abroad

July 23, 2007 — We the SSDF Branch in Minnesota, United States of America, deeply rejected the article of Mayom Kuac Malek. Mr. Malek is currently minister of water and education basically in the Government of South Sudan (GoSS). Malek made the statement there must be no SSDF branches abroad. According to him, “the South Sudan Democratic Forum has, no operations abroad, even though there are many members still living abroad, including some of its founding members.”

– Questions! If SSDF was formed abroad as stated in the article, why doesn’t the SSDF need branches abroad?

– Another question, is why does the SPLM have many branches in the United States?

– What is the different between SPLM and SSDF?

Clearly, the SSDF is not a private party for one person or a group of individuals to own. Just because Bona Malwal was instrumental in creating the name, does not grant him ownership. Anyone who agrees on the SSDF principles has an inherent right to organize its members whether abroad or in Southern Sudan. We believe that Bona Malwal Madut is behind Mayom Malek writing the article.

We (SSDF Minnesota Branch in North American) would like to ask Mr. Mayom Malek and Bona Malwal who currently is centralizing the SSDF Party in Khartoum instead of creating a strong fully operational base located in Southern Sudan, specially in Juba. Based on documented research, Mayom is the brother in-law of South Sudan President Salva Kirr Mayardit. We understand that Mayom is supporting the SPLM principles which dominated other parties in South Sudan.

The problem as we (SSDF Minnesota Branch in North American) define it is, Bona Malwal. Malwal abandoned SSDF when Dr. Garang died on July 30, 2005. Now, he has returned to the SSDF to recruit the Bahr el-Galzal group, he has tribalistic ideologies that prevent him from thinking on a nationalistic foundation. In the article posted by Mayom Malek, it stated that both individuals support the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Before the unfortunate and untimely death of John Garang de Mabior, Bona Malwal was the target of the SPLM/A. When Garang died, Bona quickly returned to Sudan in order to involve himself with the organization of the CPA. Now, He uses the SSDF in Khartoum to accumulate money for himself and blocking the interest of other people. The SSDF is not based on monitory ideologies. It is the rights of the people of Southern Sudan, because they are the ones who have been suffering for so many years and need to have self government..

According to The Sudan-Tribune, Malwal “published the Khartoum Daily-Al Rai Al’aam in which he vigorously attacked Dr. John Garang for his inclination to sign a peace agreement, which would ultimately result in unity of the Sudan. Mr. Malwal went even further by encouraging Dr. John Garang’s vice chairman, Cdr. Salva Kiir Mayardit to overthrow the later, just before the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), this attempt was rejected by Cdr. Kiir, and wisely handed to SPLM leadership in the famous Rumbek meeting.” Clearly, Bona Malwal’s ideology is not acceptable.

Our objectives abroad are to support the SSDF to achieve its goals of self-determination and referendum for Southern Sudanese. We also support the CPA, because it brought 21 years of war to an end. No democratic government has only one party. We are supporting the SSDF Party primarily on its principles, rules, and regulations. Socially and politically, we will continue to organize SSDF members abroad and in Sudan, particularly Southern Sudan.

This is the messages; we would like the reader to focus on .Thousands of Southern Sudanese reside abroad and are going to return home. It is our right to choose which party to belong to based on the policies stated by each party’s constitution. We (those of us who are outside of the borders of Southern Sudan) will not stop because Mr. Mayom Malek has reported no operational branches of SSDF outside the borders of Sudan. We will raise our voices concerning our country’s situation. We cannot and will not keep silent while there is overt corruption or attempts of undermining involving corruption within Southern Sudan. We are active, and there will be a general election coming up very soon on behalf of SSDF Party, North America. There is no way to stop the Southern Sudanese community from participating to determining their own future, or participating in the development of their government. We want it known that our presence will be felt 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Putting a halt to those who are trying to corrupt and promote individual agendas.

This message is delivered by North American Sudanese who are supporting SSDF Party. Please feel free to contact the Southern Sudan Democratic Forum, Minnesota Branch in North America at:1-507-213-9153 or 1-507- 351-1594.