By Yang Ater Yang
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in Lakes State has begun a three-day leadership retreat aimed at strengthening party unity, peace, service delivery, and grassroots structures ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The retreat is being held under the theme “Unity, Peace, and Service Delivery for Now and Beyond” and brings together SPLM leaders and representatives from different levels of the party.
Participants include the SPLM state chairperson, members of the State Secretariat, Executive and Parliamentary Caucuses, State Liberation Council, county chairpersons and their secretaries, Youth League leaders and members of affiliated organisations.
James Marer Aluel, Assistant Secretary for Political Membership and Mobilisation in the Lakes State SPLM Secretariat, described the retreat as a major achievement and a vision of Governor Madhang Majok Meen, the party’s state chairperson.
He said the meeting provides an opportunity for party members to reflect on their work and assess how effectively they have been implementing SPLM activities.
“We are going to be listening to you, and you will also listen to us on what we have been doing to implement the activities of our great party,” Aluel said.
He urged participants to pay attention to discussions on the party’s achievements, strengths, and weaknesses, saying the retreat was an opportunity to examine how far the party had progressed and what remained to be done.
Aluel also thanked Governor Madhang for organising the retreat and commended SPLM members from Lakes State who travelled from Juba to attend the meeting.
SPLM Secretary General in Lakes State, Asunta Bawouda James, said the retreat would allow party members to discuss leadership, individual conduct, and the responsibilities of party officials.
She noted that party members have different characters and leadership styles, adding that their true qualities can be known through their work and interaction with others.
Asunta emphasised that the retreat was not meant to be a one-way discussion but a forum where leaders could listen to one another and develop common approaches.
“We are going to listen to you, and also you are going to listen to us, and then we combine what we have discussed from this hall,” she said.
She urged participants to actively contribute to discussions aimed at developing frameworks that could guide the party’s work in their respective institutions.
Opening the retreat, Governor Madhang Majok Meen said the gathering marked an important step for the SPLM in Lakes State.
He said the party needed to strengthen its structures from the grassroots to the state level, covering areas from the boma to the state.
Governor Madhang identified peace and security, development, and service delivery as key responsibilities of the government and the party.
He said the SPLM was preparing for the general elections scheduled for December 22, 2026, and called for the reorganisation of party structures to make them more effective and responsive to the welfare of the people.
The governor said peace and unity must remain the starting points, followed by service delivery and election preparations.
He acknowledged that challenges remain in Lakes State, saying leaders have a responsibility to work together to stabilise the state, promote peace, and deliver services to the people.