S. Sudan’s largest opposition party dismisses leader
August 4, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s largest opposition party, the Democratic Change Party (DCP) has fired its chairman Lam Akol during a meeting held in Juba, Wednesday.
Onyoti Adigo Nyikuach, the DCP leader in South Sudanese Parliament said Akol’s decision to resign as chairman of the DCP during a “crucial time” was unacceptable.
“One who refuses to work as the chairperson of the party at this crucial time can no longer be a member of the party,” he said after a meeting held at the party headquarters.
The party executives appointed Donald Gideon as the acting chairperson of the DCP.
Akol resigned from transitional government of national unity (TGONU) last month and made his decision public in a press conference held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He accused President Salva Kiir of abrogating the August 2015 Peace Agreement and pledged “to work with other link-minded compatriots” outside Juba to effect a change.
He did not, however, disclose if the new change of what he called “eco-centric” system under the leadership of President Kiir would involve the use of armed rebellion.
The national alliance, headed by Akol, nominated Kornelio Kon Ngu as its leader on Monday. Kon was the South Sudanese deputy minister of agriculture and food security.
(ST)