By Bida Elly David
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has suspended any Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party endorsed candidates for upcoming elections in states and the three administrative regions.
The presidential order for the suspension was read over the state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Cooperation (SSBC) radio and TV, on Friday evening.
“I, Salva Kiir Mayardit, chairperson of the SPLM party, do here suspend all endorsements of SPLM candidates for various positions in the states and administrative areas,” the order reads in part.
President Kiir, who is also the SPLM party chairman, stated that the suspension will be lifted until the primaries and the third SPLM national convention are held.
He further instructed the secretariats, state SPLM chairpersons, and chairs of the three administrative areas to follow the directives and carry them out as specified.
“…. until the third SPLM convention is held in accordance with the SPLM constitution,” the order continued.
However, Kiir, in his order, did not clarify the reasons behind the suspension of the members from their election preparations.
Meanwhile, Edmund Yakani, the executive director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), suspects internal competition within SPLM party as one of the reasons.
He slammed members of the SPLM party for internal fights among themselves over the political nomination for election candidature, particularly governorship posts.
He termed the competition a political failure and a fight among members of the same family.
He commended President Kiir’s decision to suspend all internal campaigns of the SPLM members, saying that the act was a positive move to discipline the members of the ethics committee.
CEPO’s boss said that the internal competition for leadership within the SPLM party has created senseless havoc in most states as people fight for nomination hikes.