Sudan’s SPLM kicks out two party members

August 21, 2009 (JUBA) — The ex-Southern rebel group Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) decided today to expel two of its controversial members.

The SPLM political bureau concluded its meetings in Juba and issued a statement in which it announced that Ghazi Suleiman and Manawa Aligo are no longer part of the movement.

The decision was on the grounds that both figures who are members of the Sudanese national assembly have not adhered to the “political line” of the SPLM and taking part in “destructive activities” against it.

It is understood that the expulsion was a result of the view that both men have aligned themselves more with the dominant National Congress Party (NCP) that shares the government with the SPLM.

Aligo and Suleiman have accused certain circles within the SPLM of seeking to oust them namely Yasir Arman, deputy Secretary General of the SPLM and Yen Mathew are behind a media campaign against them.

They have also taken part in the Kenana forum last April that included other Southern figures such as foreign Sudanese foreign minister Lam Akol.

The Kenana forum slammed the SPLM “for governance failures over the last four years” and discussed “the continuously deteriorating administrative, security and political situation in Southern Sudan, since the South gained its overwhelming self-government, under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), of 9 January, 2005”.

Suleiman and Aligo will lose their seats in the parliament based on today’s decision and will have to replaced with current SPLM members.

(ST)