South Sudan minister claims SPLM made big political achievements
December 26, 2015 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese senior government official has claimed that the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party, has made big political achievements despite now being divided into three separate factions under separate leaders after political differences about reforms plunged the country in disparaging war in 2013.
Bol Makueng, deputy education minister and head of information, culture and communications department at the national secretariat of the SPLM faction allied to president Salva Kiir, claimed in his Christmas and New Year message that the party has achieved so much since they ascended to power in 2005.
“We have been able to establish a democratically decentralised secular multi-party system of governance through our popular constitution. Our constitution provides for freedom, equality and justice for all,” the Christmas and New Year message Makueng personally circulated reads in part.
“We have established government structures all over the country. We have developed administrative and physical structures in South Sudan. This is a very big political achievement,” he said.
The party and government official further enumerated the achievements of the SPLM, saying “And because of the SPLA/M, we are known as a sovereign country among the world nations today. Our flags are in the United Nations Head Quarters in New York, South Sudan Embassies worldwide, the African Union and inside South Sudan. We have achieved the main objective: Our Identity of One people One Nation.”
But government critics quickly criticized the remarks and described them as mere work of public relations strategy attempting to clean the widely dented image of the SPLM-led government known for corruption and killings of its own citizens when leaders disagree.
“The legacy which the SPLM factions will leave behind is tragic. The SPLM and its leaders are known for just one thing and this is history: killing people when the leaders disagree and looting the country and resources when they reconcile,” said Anthony Sebit, a vocal South Sudanese Nairobi-based activist on Saturday.
“Their common agenda is loot and kill people. They have no national agenda to build schools, roads, establish better health care system, improving economy and relations with neigbouring countries and the world as well as setting up agricultural projects, improve living conditions and adopting democratic system,” he told Sudan Tribune.
He said the self-glorification was meaningless, arguing that the same SPLM has been responsible for the current untold suffering and death of the people in the country.
The post-independence war erupted on 15 December 2013 when debates over reforms within the leadership of the SPLM turned violent, killing tens of thousands of people and displacing millions others from their homes.
(ST)