Lakes state minister defects from NCP to rejoin SPLM

By Manyang Mayom

August 26, 2007 (RUMBEK) — The Lakes State minister of Agriculture has defected from the National Congress Party (NC¨P) and rejoined the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM). The minister was followed by other 13 member in his move.

Colonel Khamis Abelatif, the minister of the NCP in Lakes state government, announced in a public rally on Friday August 24 his decision to rejoin the SPLM. Other 13 leading regional members also announced their defection from the NCP.

The Governor of Lakes State Daniel Awet Akot and the SPLM Secretary General in the Lakes, Samuel Mathiang Keer, welcomed Khamis’s decision and hailed the move.

Sudan Tribune has learnt that Khmis had sent his resignation letter to the chairman of the NCP, Omer al-Bashir, and his deputy for political affairs, Nafi Ali Nafi, on August 22 while he was in Khartoum.

Minister of Agriculture and Animals resources, Khamis is also a colonel in the Sudan Armed Forces. After his resignation it is not clear if he can keep his ministerial post, however in accordance with the CPA, the NCP has to appoint another minister to replace him in the Lakes government.

Khamis had been Widely known in the Lakes State when he had reigned from his position last year after divergences with the former governor of the Lakes John Lat. At that time he accused the former governor of corruption and delay of his plans to develop agriculture in the state.

(ST)