SPLM national liberation council set to meet in October

September 25, 2013 (JUBA) – The long-awaited meeting of the ruling party, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), is expected to take place next month in order to resolve the leadership crisis in the country.

The meeting of the national liberation council, which will be the first of its kind in five years since 2008, will also deliberate on the four basic documents: the constitution, manifesto, code of conduct and regulations, an official of the national secretariat told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

He said the SPLM acting secretary general, Ann Itto, has already been sharing the arrangements to hold the meeting in October with the president of the republic and chairman of the party, Salva Kiir Mayardit, without a date, fixed for the meeting.

The official, who preferred anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media, further revealed that Itto also briefed the deputy chairman of the party, Riek Machar Teny, on Monday, on the ongoing arrangements for the meeting.

He further explained that the political bureau meeting will be bypassed as Kiir wants the leadership to only converge at the level of the national liberation council, fearing a mounting opposition in the highest executive organ.

Senior leaders of the party including the former vice-president and first deputy chairman, Riek Machar, secretary general Pagan Amum, presidential advisor, Rebecca Nyandeng, widow of the late leader John Garang de Mabior, among others, want Kiir removed from the party chairmanship.

Kiir is reportedly planning to unilaterally dismiss some of the senior members of the SPLM who criticised his leadership, accusing them of indiscipline.

An observer close to the decision-making process said the gathering of the leadership in October may usher in a clear signal of the future of the party transformation and its leadership as “red-lines are being drawn”.

(ST)