SPLM’s Amum pledges to restructure the ruling party

December 24, 2011 (JUBA) – The Secretary General of the South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Pagan Amum Okiec, has pledged the desire and commitment of his party to re-organise and restructure itself into a more responsible and capable political entity.

The announcement is seen as an official attempt to respond to growing internal pressure and calls on the country’s ruling party to adjust itself in order to win back trust.

The SPLM, which through the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement secured South Sudan’s independence this year, has been losing the confidence of some citizens.

Lack of services, insecurity, a poor human rights record and rampant corruption in the six years that the SPLM has run South Sudan are some of the reasons for the former rebels’ dwindling popularity in some areas of the country.

In an official Christmas and New Year message extended to Sudan Tribune on Friday, Amum maintained that his party remains committed to achieving nation-building based on a vision of creating a state of justice, equality and peaceful coexistence between all citizens irrespective of their ethnicities and religious backgrounds.

“The SPLM Secretary General is delighted to affirm that preparations are underway to re-organise and re-structure the SPLM in January 2012,” Amum said.

The release further asserted that the SPLM looks forward to establishing a state that provides equal opportunities for its people so as to enable them unlock their energies to create wealth and achieve prosperity.

South Sudan is one of the poorest countries in the world with almost no infrastructure and a low standard and proliferation of health and educational professionals.

The young country is still recovering from decades of devastating civil war with north Sudan than ended with a peace deal almost seven years ago.

As part of the deal South Sudan voted for independence and became the world’s newest country on 9 July.

(ST)