Changes in SPLM sparks division in N. Bahr el Ghazal
January 4, 2015 (JUBA) – Members of the ruling party (SPLM) in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal state office are sharply divided over the recent changes in the party leadership, as others questioned why the military was directly involved in the process.
Angok was replaced with Jel Mangok Jel while the party’s secretary George Garang Lual in the state was succeeded by Unguec Angui.
“The deputy chairperson was popularly elected through members of the congress. He contested the elections with someone at the time of election. He was contesting with Jal Malith Jal and was popularly voted,” Nguac told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.
He said any need for change in the ruling party should follow proper procedures.
“Also the replacement is someone who was not a member of the liberation council and our constitution stipulates that the deputy chairperson must be elected from within the members of the council who were elected into the council from their areas through congress”, stressed the senior party member.
Nguac said it wrong for the party chairperson to make changes in the party structure, yet provisions on the constitution were very clear.
“But what happened was a clear violation of the SPLM [constitution] It was a clear rule of the gun because the whole town was militarised,” he said.
“The tanks were deployed and the citizens were terrified and blocked from passing by the area where the meeting was being held. It was a clear act of intimidation and bullying”, he stressed.
He named Anei Anei Juac, Mangok Mangok Deng, Juer Wol, Ayak Baak Aguer, Palang Juli, Manut Yel Lual, and William Kolong Pioth as those added to the liberation council without constitutional basis, which brings to 58 the total numbers of the council members.
Nguac further claimed there was a planned intention to block the caretaker governor, Kuel Aguer Kuel from vying for the position of the SPLM chairperson when the leadership decides to hold congress.
Analysts have expressed concerns that the latest division and sacking of senior party officials in an apparent power struggle could create political unrest and uneasiness among SPLM supporters.
“There are two possibilities here. One possibility would be the prospect of the discontented groups building an alliance and provide support to governor Kuel Aguer Kuel beause many people are uncomfortable with the return of the same faces who had served in the administration of General Paul Malong Awan, who are now the ones causing confusion and agitating removal of the caretaker governor so that they could return. The other could be some people deciding to join opposition because it seems majority are tied of the way someone has been manipulating the affairs of the state,” further observed the analyst.
“General Paul Malong Awan wants to rule the state through remote control and I think this is the reason he has fallen out with the caretaker governor again”, he added.
(ST)