South Sudan Forum says not part of new political force

Friday 7 September 2007 — It has come to the attention and knowledge of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the South Sudan Democratic Forum that certain group of returnees from Europe and North America and now live in Khartoum, are spreading lies and ramous that the South Sudan Democratic Forum is a part of the group of six, which is shortly going to form a new political party in Southern Sudan.

In the first session of its ordinary meeting held between 7th – 9th Sept 2007, in Juba, Southern Sudan, (NEC) resolved that a public statement be made to inform our members, supporters and general public that the South Sudan Democratic Forum is not part of the group of six that are going to form a new political party. The ramous and lies orchestrated by the group of six are made to confuse the people and further their personal interests. The NEC of South Sudan Democratic Forum makes the following statements:

Source of Information:

On 2nd Sept 2007, the Citizen daily published a press release entitled “New Political Party in the Making”. The statement signed, on behalf of the group of six citizens of Southern Sudan, by Mr. Gordon Buay, claims: “South Sudan Defense Force (SSDF), South Sudan Democratic Forum, South Sudan United Democratic Alliance (SSUDA), Veteran Southern Politicians and prominent members of civil Societies will shortly announce the formation of a new political party “.

Reading the statement carefully, one would definitely conclude that SSDF, South Sudan Democratic Forum and SSUDA are dissolving themselves or merging to form a new political party. The fact of the matter is that these political parties are not merging or dissolving themselves to form a new political party. The statement is therefore a deception and is misleading both local and international public opinion. The following exposure of facts will help explain what the group of six is engaged in.

The parties alleged to form a ‘new political party’

1.South Sudan Defense Force (SSDF). The SSDF is the product of the Khartoum Peace Agreement of 1997. Under the agreement, Forces of South Sudan Independence Movement (SSIM), SPLA United and Equatoria Defense Force (EDF) and other smaller Armed Groups merged and formed SSDF. General Paulino Matip Nhial was appointed to lead this military organization.

When Khartoum Peace Agreement collapsed and H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny rejoined the SPLM/SPLA, in 2002, most of the SSDF remained allied to the GoS. In accordance with the provisions of the CPA Security Arrangements, other armed groups were asked to either join the SAF or the SPLA.

The process of reconciliation between the SPLA and the SSDF led to the absorption of SSDF into the SPLA in an Agreement called Juba Declaration of 8 January 2006 and the leader of SSDF, General Paulino Matip Nhial became the Deputy Commander in Chief of the SPLA. Elements of the SSDF, which did not support the Juba declaration, have largely joined the SAF.

The question which poses itself is: What is the group of six talking about?. Where is the SSDF, which is merging with other political groups to form the ‘new political party’? To us this is a deception because the SSDF does not legally exist. It is therefore incumbent on the leaders of the former SSDF to find out why their name is being forged for personal reasons. It would be understandable if the group of six are planning another military group. If it is the case they should come out clearly.

2.South Sudan Democratic Forum: The South Sudan Democratic Forum is a registered political party in Sudan. It became a part of the GoNU and GOSS, following the establishment of the Executives and Legislatures at both levels of the Government of Sudan. There is no way the South Sudan Democratic Forum, would dissolve itself and joins up with an unknown group of six to form a new political party.

Two of the members of the group are former supporters of South Sudan Democratic Forum. One was suspended on 13th August 2006 and dismissed via resolution member 1.3 of Expanded Leadership Authority Conference of 8-11 June 2007, following his unprovoked and sustained attacks and incitement of the people of South Sudan against the GoNU and Goss for which the South Sudan Democratic Forum is a part of parcel. The other one lost its membership as a result of the implementation of resolution number 1.3. The South Sudan Democratic Forum therefore is not a part of the group of six forming a ‘new political party’.

3.South Sudan United Democratic Alliance (SSUDA): This is an organization formed in North America and has no existence in Sudan. The membership is North American. One key member of the group of six was dismissed from SSUDA via press statement dated 9 October 2006 and signed by Cdr Biel Torkech, Chairman of SSUDA. In a related development, a press statement by another group warned of the danger the group of six would pose to the CPA and therefore wreck the interests of the people of Sudan in general and the people of South Sudan in particular. Furthermore, the press statement dated 8 August 2007 and signed by Mr. Peter Jal Ngor, Chairman of the group in North America, warned that the group may work to revive the ‘painful kokora’ and a new militia group in the South.

In Conclusion, the South Sudan Democratic Forum would like to make it absolutely clear that it is not against any person or group or people forming their own political party. Article 40 (1) of the Interim Constitution of the Republic of Sudan, guarantees freedom of Association including the rights to form a political party and article 29 (1) of Interim Constitution of Southern Sudan (ICSS) 2005, guarantees the same.

What is wrong, in our opinion, is for the group of six to attempt to mislead the general public using the name of South Sudan Democratic Forum as a political musk with the hope of maximizing their political interests. If the group continues to utter such statements about the South Sudan Democratic Forum, we may be forced to take a legal action against the group for misusing our name.

David Charles Ali Bilal

Spokesman

South Sudan Democratic Forum

Juba, Sudan