Dinka Bor leaders warn SPLM politicians against premature presidential candidatures
June 7, 2013 (BOR) – Leaders of the Dinka Bor community in Jonglei state have warned politicians in South Sudan’s ruling SPLM against publicly airing their desire to contest the party’s chairmanship.
Such posturing is “premature” Dinka Bor leaders said in a document, which was the result of a meeting in Bor on 16 May. The open letter argued that such maneuvering could lead to the former rebel movement breaking up along tribal lines and undermining peace and unity in the new nation.
It is widely rumored that South Sudan’s vice president, Riek Machar, and the speaker of the nation’s parliament, James Wani Igga, among others are considering attempting to win the SPLM chairmanship from the President Salva Kiir, who has held the position since 2005.
Kiir replaced John Garang – a member of the Dinka Bor – after he was killed in a helicopter crash just months after a peace deal secured South Sudan’s right to self determination.
Whoever holds the SPLM chairmanship will be in prime position to be the ruling party’s candidate for the 2015 presidential elections.
The Dinka Bor people elders urged politicians to based their political ambitions through the SPLM’s institutions rather than mobilising support through tribal affiliations.
The statement claimed that SPLM politicians from the Dinka ethnic group – South Sudan’s largest – have “refrained” from “any politics of deceit”.
The elders urged the SPLM’s politicians to put their ambitions on hold until the party’s legal documents, manifesto, constitution, rules and regulations, code of conduct are finalised.
(ST)