SPLM convention to include armed opposition members: official
December 17, 2015 (JUBA) –The forthcoming extra-ordinary meeting of South Sudan’s ruling Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM) party due early next year will also involve members of the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO), a top official disclosed.
“The FDs (former detainees) are already here [Juba] and are invited as well as the SPLM in opposition to attend the extraordinary meeting on January 7th 2016,” she said.
“All members who participated in the second convention of the SPLM in 2008 will attend,” she added.
The country’s ruling party held its first convention in 1994 while the group was still engaged in armed struggle with the Sudanese government in Eastern Equatoria state.
The SPLM announced an extraordinary meeting for November, but postponed it for early December before pushing it to January. The party split into the SPLM in Opposition headed by ex-vice president Riek Machar, former political detainees under the leadership of SPLM secretary Pagan Amum and that in government led by President Salva Kiir.
President Kiir chaired Thursday’s meeting, also attended by SPLM states chairpersons and governors as well as other members of political bureau and national ministers.
The South Sudanese leader, sources told Sudan Tribune instructed state governors to receive “any number of advance team” sent by SPLM in Opposition, a shift from 30-member delegation earlier announced by information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth.
(ST)