By Jacob Onuha Nelson
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) national secretariat has broken silence on the status of Nhial Deng Nhial in the party.
Since Nhial’s defection and subsequent formation of the South Sudan Salvation Movement (SSSM), the SPLM headquarters promise to respond.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, Bol Makueng Yuol, the SPLM Secretary for Political Affairs, Mobilization, and Organization, revealed that after the defection, Nhial lost membership as well as seats related to the party.
Makueng reiterated that the party’s constitution clearly stated that any person who resigned lost the membership and other privileges.
“Therefore, from the moment of his declaration, Nial Deng Nial ceased to be a member of both the SPLM and the Revitalized Transitional National Assembly. This is what the SPLM constitution says,” Makueng said.
He urged the members to remain calm, citing that Nhial’s defection has no much impact on the party.
Makueng expressed that Nhial voluntarily formed his own party and has the right to participate in the country’s politics.
Recently Nhial Deng Nhial, a senior member of South Sudan’s ruling party, quit SPLM and launched a new movement aimed at wresting control of the SPLM party from its current leadership, which he accused of betraying the country’s founding ideals.
In an 18-page declaration shared with the media, Nhial, a member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Political Bureau, criticizes SPLM.
The veteran politician announced the formation of the South Sudan Salvation Movement (SSSM), describing it as a “temporary vehicle” to push for reforms within the SPLM.
“The SSSM is not an end in itself. It is not intended to replace the SPLM,” Nhial said. “It is conceived as a device to steer fundamental reforms within the SPLM and bring about its total renaissance.”
He said the SSSM would operate under the United People’s Alliance (UPA), an opposition coalition led by former SPLM secretary-general Pagan Amum, and would work with other groups to pressure the government.