S. Sudanese official admits lack of democracy in SPLM
March 27, 2016 (JUBA) – A senior member of South Sudan’s ruling party (SPLM) has unexpectedly admitted lack of democracy in the entity, attributing it to lack cohesive vision.
“The core of the problem is lack of democratization of the internal structures of the party. It did not democratize its exercise of power. SPLM had failed to democratize itself. It needs comprehensive reform and democratic values. Inference is that the constitutional documents of the SPLM were not democratic enough nor did they put in place internal democratic structures. As elections observer I can well testify to that”, Banggol wrote in an opinion article entitled seen by Sudan Tribune.
The official specifically cited the open competition seen from the ongoing electoral campaigns within the republican party and democrats in the united states as washing dirty linen in public to select the best candidate as an example of flourishing democracy.
“Washing dirty linen in public – A democratic attitude within the party and in the society encourages debate as a practical derivative of the human right to freedom of expression, freedom of association, no matter how hurtful for the party members. As much as the world disdains the language of Trump, his party has not shied from opening the debate and raising some painful struggles within the party”, he wrote.
Its still unclear why the official personally circulated a view largely critical of the SPLM.
Analysts are, however, keen to attribute the cause to the emerging realities and events depicting SPLM as at risk of losing social and political capital it acquired during the war as a liberation movement, after becoming a ruling party following failing to deliver on its core objectives and vision as well as mission for which it waged the war.
Some observers see it as a sign of frustrations and protest aimed at drawing the attention of appointing leadership to lack of recognition of his skills and expertise with an appropriate assignment in strategic and lucrative position for more than a decade.
KIIR WARNS OF FURTHER SPLIT
In December last year, South Sudan president Salva Kiir warned of further inevitable split of his faction of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), saying there are those “behaving like dogs” who want to take over leadership from him in Juba.
The president who has armed himself with sweeping powers, both at the party level and in the government to appoint and dismiss officials at will, accused unnamed officials in his party and government of causing further divisions and creating factions using “dirty tactics” to cause havoc and to tarnish the image of others.
“There are people who have refused to learn, they don’t listen and they have also refused to leave the SPLM. They behave like dogs that even if you beat them, they go and come back and look at you with the same eyes and attitudes. This is the problem we have been facing in SPLM [since] inception,” president Kiir was quoted saying.
“And so, we have a problem at the moment that threatens the survival of the SPLM itself,” he added.
He accused some officials of stoking division while at the same time positioning themselves to eventually succeed him.
The former rebel commander, turned politician and became president, claimed there were groups in the party which were openly and secretly manoeuvring to secure influential positions in the SPLM.
It was not clear which group he was particularly accusing of allegedly wanting to succeed him since there have been speculations that there are groups comprising members of the Jieng Council of Elders (JCE) and military officers as well as junior party officials rallying and pushing Paul Malong Awan, army’s chief of general staff, to enter the race and succeed president Kiir.
It is speculated that there are currently three different factions, competing and strategizing on how to insert their influence in the party.
(ST)