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SPLM-DC chairman says his party will contest in 2015 general elections

October 30, 2011 (JUBA) – The chairman of the opposition party; Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC), Lam Akol Ajawin, said his party will contest in the 2015 general elections in South Sudan.

Lam_Akol_AFP-2.jpgAkol made the remarks on Sunday at the Presbyterian Church in Juba during Sunday prayers which was attended by over 1,600 members of the Nuer speaking congregation.

The SPLM-DC was formed in 2009 in response to what it described as a lack of transparency and democracy with the SPLM, South Sudan’s ruling party.

Akol said he had returned from self-imposed exile to Juba after South Sudan’s independence in July and after his surprise meeting with South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir Mayardit a month ago in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. He said that they had agreed to work together to contribute to the development of the world’s newest nation.

The opposition leader, who is from the Shilluk tribe, delivered his remarks to the congregation in fluent Nuer, explaining that being an opposition party doesn’t mean being an enemy to the government in power but rather a healthy practice in democracy.

He said an opposition party’s role is to remind the government of the day about any shortcomings in its policies so that it can correct them.

Akol contested the presidency with Kiir last year but lost by a large margin. His party despite complaining of harassment and irregularities in the voting process became the largest opposition party in South Sudan’s parliament, mainly gaining seats in the Shilluk kingdom in Upper Nile.

Putting aside the acrimony that has punctuated the relationship between the SPLM-DC and SPLM, Akol acknowledged that Kiir is the president of all the people of South Sudan including those in opposition parties until the next elections.

“We shall wait until next elections,” he said, indicating that he has no intention to rejoin the SPLM.

Akol served as Sudan’s foreign minister after a 2005 north-south peace ended decades of conflict. He is believed to have been removed because the SPLM thought he was too close to the Khartoum government.

The SPLM-DC was established in Khartoum and maintained offices in the northern Sudanese capital even after South Sudan’s independence, causing many in the new country to distrust the party. However, the opposition party denies it is supported by Khartoum and dismisses often repeated allegations that it is aligned to armed insurgencies in South Sudan.

(ST)

16 Comments

  • Michael Angelo
    Michael Angelo

    SPLM-DC chairman says his party will contest in 2015 general elections
    Dr. Lam must understand that the only way for him is to quit politics period. No matter how hard he (Dr. Lam Akol)endeavor his best, he will never gets the power he sought for so long.

    Reply
  • Bush man
    Bush man

    SPLM-DC chairman says his party will contest in 2015 general elections
    Contesting is one thing but winning the election is another thing. Mr. Chairman you must know that the madras of south Sudan that you betrayed in khartoum will the ones who will decide your fate in 2015.I wonder how you will convince them on tphat day

    Reply
  • Madina Tonj
    Madina Tonj

    SPLM-DC chairman says his party will contest in 2015 general elections
    Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin need to quit just like Mr. Boan Malual-dit
    He cann’t win governor in her State Upper Nile leave about GOSS. Dr. Ajawin had lost the trust on Southern Sudanese people because his history has a lot of things which could disqualified his family leave about thinking of leadership.

    The people of Southern Sudanese have been learning a lot from their Sons specifically, the SPLA/SPL

    Reply
  • Dinka Dominated SPLA/M
    Dinka Dominated SPLA/M

    SPLM-DC chairman says his party will contest in 2015 general elections
    He can fool Nuer people[lam akol] but he cannot fool the Southereness at all.
    may be nuer can vote for him but the majority of southreness cannot vote for him.

    Nuer population cannot bring anyone into power as they tried so many time to bring in nyagateen inculding nyagat woman. he can speak nuer but he cannot speak the Dinka.
    Death to him [lam akol]

    Reply
  • Deng Bornyang
    Deng Bornyang

    SPLM-DC chairman says his party will contest in 2015 general elections
    @ DINKA D. SPLA.
    It is so sad for someone who claimed to be educated though I am not sure of his educational background to always posts tribalistic comments. Why do you always like to direct your comments against Nuer. Are n’t you ashamed of yourself for commenting imaturely. I am sorry.

    Reply
  • Shadrack Chol Buoi
    Shadrack Chol Buoi

    SPLM-DC chairman says his party will contest in 2015 general elections
    Dear Dr.Lam,

    You are highly welcome to see and review what is happening in the GOSS……….. We need difference from Northern Sudan and S/Sudan. For the primitive minded, there is nothing call politics period. Dr.Lam is South Sudanese national that ‘s what you guys need to know before you write anythings.

    By Shadrack Chol Buoi, i can be reached at [email protected]

    Reply
  • unity state boy
    unity state boy

    SPLM-DC chairman says his party will contest in 2015 general elections
    Kept it up Dr Lam there be time to remove this alcoholism in the presidency .

    Reply
  • Paul Chadrack
    Paul Chadrack

    SPLM-DC chairman says his party will contest in 2015 general elections
    SPLM members should consider in mind that with rampant corruption they are now practicing in south sudan,anything is possible.they must also know that with the present of international community eyes in south sudan,coming elections will be free for every citizen of this country to exactly cast his/her vote as what s/he determined. so no coming back for SPLM again after elections.I don’t s SPLM DC.

    Reply
  • Matur Jonghok
    Matur Jonghok

    SPLM-DC chairman says his party will contest in 2015 general elections
    Dr. Lam is a man of great Shame. Shame of Nassir faction, shame of inciting violence in Upper after he lost electios and shame in all his underground work of blackmailing the entire nation of South Sudan, if shame is weighed, it must be 5000 tonnes on him. Take it from Dr. Riek_ Humility.

    Reply
  • Matur Jonghok
    Matur Jonghok

    SPLM-DC chairman says his party will contest in 2015 general elections
    He is another Dr. Lam type of person. A successful political career or whatever profession can not be stopped by ethnic bacgrounds. His education of writing over this is already a waste. Though I am a Dinka, I can side with him for that reason. Weldone for that teaching of untaught.

    Reply
  • [email protected]

    SPLM-DC chairman says his party will contest in 2015 general elections
    THANKS YOU FOR YOUR INPOWER THE OPPOSITION CHAIRMAN ON COMING GERENAL ELECTION WE WANT THE CHANGE

    Reply
  • okucu pa lotinokwan
    okucu pa lotinokwan

    SPLM-DC chairman says his party will contest in 2015 general elections
    Dear Choul

    Dr Lam Akol will received votes from those who can not see
    and those who want to take southerners back to the Arabs taughs, in 2015 if he contested, I do believe some from Nuer Tribe will vote for him because of some misunderstanding between tribes in south Sudan,otherwise Lam will not and can not be a leader.With all what type o Education he has aquired will help him at all. Sorry

    Reply
  • pabaak
    pabaak

    SPLM-DC chairman says his party will contest in 2015 general elections
    if SPLM-DC need to contest and have meaningful results in next election they must change two thinks at least, they need to change the SPLM tag on their party name, secondly they need to bring somebody who have good leadership skill to head the party other than Dr. Lam. Strong opposition party is good, it keep everyone on the competition and the ruling party to shape itself to do things correctly.

    Reply
  • Brother Billy
    Brother Billy

    SPLM-DC chairman says his party will contest in 2015 general elections
    Dear South Sudanese, I think we have learnt the lessons being imposed on us by Arabs through our fellow S Sudanese who were misled from the beginning in 1980s and Lam Akol being one of them. The proof is that Lam was not willing to see our flag being raised in Juba as he was not in Juba during that day. Are we ready to be united with Arabs once again? He is fully bandaged with Arab politics.

    Reply
  • Kuer Dau Apai
    Kuer Dau Apai

    SPLM-DC chairman says his party will contest in 2015 general elections
    According to Dr Lam Akol “explaining that being an opposition party doesn’t mean being an enemy to the government in power but rather a healthy practice in democracy”.

    Indeed, opposition does not have to mean that exactly! Competition is an healthy democracy when being well preceived/practised. Any government cannot do well without opposition pressure. To oppose is to present people’s rights

    Reply
  • Lokorai
    Lokorai

    SPLM-DC chairman says his party will contest in 2015 general elections
    Dr. Lam going for another try, excuse me? What a joke!!!

    Dr. Lam must understand one thing that the majority of the people of South Sudan don’t consider anything but a traitor who turned his efforts and energy to undermine the struggle of the people of South Sudan.

    The name of Lam alone is sting and no one wants to associate with such callous and evil minded person like Lam.

    Lokorai

    Reply
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