By Yang Ater Yang
The Secretary General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Dr. Akol Paul Kordit, has called on the people of Lakes State to support President Salva Kiir Mayardit in the upcoming general elections.
Dr. Kordit made the remarks on Saturday during the launch of the SPLM membership renewal registration at Freedom Square in Rumbek. The event was attended by state and national officials, traditional leaders, youth and women’s groups, and SPLM members from across Lakes State.
Dr. Kordit said President Kiir had resolved to take South Sudan to general elections and return political power to the people.
He described the large turnout in Lakes State as evidence of the state’s historical contribution to the liberation struggle, calling it the “home of the liberation movement” and the “mother of the SPLM.”
“The turnout in Lakes State is self-evident that Lakes State is the home of the liberation movement, is the mother of SPLM, and is the place where the movement was nursed when it was sick,” he said.
Dr. Kordit said the turnout also demonstrated the sacrifices made by the people of Lakes State during the struggle for South Sudan’s independence.
He said the SPLM would continue to serve and empower South Sudanese, while stressing that party members who failed to perform would be held accountable through elections.
“The list of Comrade Salva Kiir Mayardit will continue to empower and to serve the people of South Sudan,” he said. “Through the election, we shall hold them accountable. We will not re-elect anyone who did not perform well.”
He said the SPLM had resolved to support President Kiir as its presidential candidate, while other candidates would go through party primaries.
Lakes State Governor Gen. Madhang Majok Meen urged residents to support President Kiir, saying there was no one in the state who could compete with him.
Governor Madhang also praised Dr. Kordit’s leadership and called on President Kiir to support the SPLM Secretary General.
“Personally, I am one of the rare people who cannot accept people easily. But I have personally accepted that the SPLM Secretary General, Akol, is a great leader, and he has not let us down in representing us in Lakes State,” he said.
The SPLM Secretary in Lakes State, Cdre. Asunta Bawouda James announced the start of membership registration across the state.
She said the exercise followed directives from the SPLM national leadership and came after a three-day leadership retreat to evaluate the party’s performance and develop strategies for the elections.
She said the registration would target every boma to register 500 members, while youth and women’s leagues would lead the exercise.
“SPLM is our house. Let us clean it, build it and protect it—from Rumbek Central to Cueibet, from Yirol West to Awerial, Wulu to Rumbek East, and from Rumbek North to Yirol East,” she said.
The Paramount Chief of Rumbek Central County, Sabit Kuac Manyiel, pledged support for the SPLM but urged the leadership to address community concerns.
He called for voter education on the SPLM party symbol and raised concerns about drought, which he said had affected agricultural production.
He also reported an outbreak of an unknown cattle disease that was killing livestock.
“Our cows are finishing, and these cows are the source of our survival in the rural villages in Lakes State,” he said.
The paramount chief urged the state leadership to present the concerns to President Kiir and requested transportation support for traditional leaders and voters, including at least one pickup vehicle for each payam during the elections.