The need to challenge the SPLM’s dominance

By Mariar Wuoi

December 17, 2011 — The Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement dominates politics in South Sudan largely due to its recognition as the party that delivered the new republic. An overwhelming majority supports them, as they started a party of the people seeking freedom from the shackles of Riverine Arab domination. Whilst differences over leadership emerged in the early 1990s, the people of the South and other marginalised parts of Sudan never wavered in their determination to liberate themselves from Khartoum.

History suggests that a party that delivers independence for the new country tends to be supported for a certain period of time before other parties emerge. The SPLM will remain largely unchallenged for the next five years before the people of South Sudan realise that there is a need a for a new political party.

The SPLM should not be blamed for the failure of a credible opposition to emerge and threaten its powers. Unlike elsewhere in post-liberation nations like Ethiopia and Eritrea, there is no evidence of systematic outlawing of any party and arresting its members.

The emergence of a credible party would not be overnight. Current parties operating in the South are too weak. The splinter faction of the SPLM, the SPLM-DC, is not credible as it is seen as a creation of Khartoum. Its leadership is in disarray due to disagreements over its direction.

The other parties do not operate in most states to spread their messages to the masses. The population of the South being overwhelmingly illiterate makes this more difficult. They don’t care about programmes, but how you can change their circumstances today. And the masses see no discernible damage that the SPLM has done to their way of life other than isolated security failures in Jonglei state.

For the foreseeable future, the SPLM will remain the major player in South Sudan politics but not for perpetuity. Every party has undergone this process. The dominant party begins to take support from the populace for granted. Its members misuse public resources and corruption begins to take hold.

An emerging party can call out these mistakes and win support. But they must have also have a vision and solutions for a better future.

Letting one party monopolise the political landscape will breed less innovation, stale ideas, and lack of forward mobility for the country. South Sudan will not benefit from an absence of serious debate.

Mariar Wuoi is a South Sudanese residing in the United States. He is admitted to PhD program at the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. He can be reached at [email protected]