Lam Akol Party: Who join

By Steve Paterno

June 21, 2009 — The launching of a new party, the Sudan People Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC), by Dr. Lam Akol, is causing a lot of stir among the South Sudanese circles. Much of the discussions on this issue are centered on the personalities of the founder—Dr. Lam Akol who has a well established treacherous track record in the history of South Sudan liberation struggle.

However, what is missing in all the discussions is the real problem South Sudan is facing, which is lack of leadership and direction. The problem in South Sudan is not about political parties or lack of them. There are more than eight active political parties in South Sudan today, enough for the entire population. All of them are participating in various organs and levels of the governments. Of course, among these parties, the Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) is the dominant one, commanding a majority in governments as well as leading in number of supporters. Due to lack of leadership just like the rest of the parties, SPLM fails miserably to deliver to the masses of South Sudan. Hence, emergence of discontent among the populace as to what direction South Sudan is heading. The frustration is so severe that some people have even vow their desires to live under Khartoum brutal regime, which they believe is better off by pale in comparison to the current system in South Sudan.

To make matters worse, with the structural leadership setup in SPLM, the possibilities for reform from within the party is almost impossible. Therefore, the hopes of those who yearn for change from within are dashed off. Here is where Lam Akol, a shrewd and yet canning politician comes in to prey on people’s buildup emotions. Akol, who knows himself very well that he has no chances ascending through SPLM leadership ladder, has to improvise so as to survive. His targets for recruits are none other than the SPLM members and supporters. He assures those recruits that they are still SPLM, because his party contains the SPLM acronym with slight modification by addition of suffix DC. Akol tells the recruits that their party under his leadership is “still committed to the very principles the SPLM espoused and uphold its program epitomized by the CPA.” Even though it is clear that Akol’s SPLM-DC is not SPLM and it will never be, the tactics Akol uses in creating false impression of reforming SPLM while under different party and leadership is working in robbing SPLM of supporters.

Now the question is who are falling victims to Lam Akol’s designed strategy of capitalizing on people’s emotions? Well, it is those who felt completely left out in the current system and are looking for change. The majority in this category are the Equatorians. As a whole, the Equatorians feel marginalized within SPLM and government of South Sudan, which is dominated by Dinka and Nuer. Their frustrations with the Dinka-Nuer dominated system are evident everywhere, especially on the Internet discussion forums. Some pledge that it is just a matter of time before the Equatorians unleash their outrage against the Dinka-Nuer dominance. It is no any wonder that the first group who embraced Akol’s newly founded party is the Equatorians by and large. The Equatorians support for Akol’s party is not so much that they like Akol, but it is born out of disapproval of the system. In essence, they are voicing a referendum against the system.

It must be noted that this is not the first time the Equatorians found themselves in dilemma and had to fall victim of abuse from parties who have different agendas than theirs. In 1991, when the people’s liberation movement split—the split in which Lam Akol was the main architect, the Equatorians from both sides of two factions of Torit and Nassir, found themselves being victimized between the wars of Dinka lead by John Garang and Nuer led by Riek Machar. Even Akol who was instrumental in the split was quick to realize that the split was nothing but a tribal rivalry taken into another level. Not being from one of the two warring tribes, Akol disengaged from the Nassir (Nuer) faction that he was part of and sought safety in Khartoum under the protection of President Omar al-Bashir.

Equatoria land, where some of these vicious tribal battles were waged, had to pay the highest price in terms of lost of lives and destructions of properties. Their leaders such as Ross Ezbon, Aziz Atari Aziz and many more were targeted for assassinations under the Nassir (Nuer) factions. Others under Torit (Dinka) factions like Isaac Obuto Mamur experienced so many attempts on their lives throughout the period of the armed struggle. Yet prominent Equatorians like Jsoeph Oduho were murdered under mysterious circumstance in the hands of both Torit (Dinka) and Nassir (Nuer) factions. Some Equatorians were simply forced to flee out of the movement that they were willing to even sacrifice their lives for.

All this bitter history of Equatoria is reminiscent of today politics of division and tribal allegiances. However, at the time of the split, Equatorians felt they could not remain on the fence, neutral or victims, therefore, the formation of Equatoria Defense Force (EDF) was in response to the situation they were subjected to. Though the EDF eventually did not attract all the Equatorians, because the movement ended up allying with the Khartoum regime, the initial support and sympathy the EDF got from most Equatorians and its subsequent activities, which amounted more than just saving lives—demonstrated that Equatorians can have much bigger influence in shaping the future of South Sudan in particular and Sudan in general. To their advantage, the Equatorians are already way above tribal politics, a dangerous phenomenon that not only causes divisions and conflicts in South Sudan, but in entire Africa. Since Equatoria embraces regionalism, which is only one step below statehood, they are better positioned in shaping the future of aspiring country like South Sudan. Perhaps it is time for the Equatorians to reevaluate their strategies and potentials so that they offer something for the suffering people of South Sudan than for them to be played, ping pong. Let the Equatorian show by example the leadership that is lacking and badly needed.

Steve Paterno is the author of The Rev. Fr. Saturnino Lohure, A Romain Catholic Priest Turned Rebel. He can be reached at [email protected]