By Mamer Abraham
Former chairperson of United Democratic Front party (UDF), Sebastiano Uchan Kiech Ayaga who abandoned his party last month has joined the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).
In an interview with No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper Wednesday, Uchan said he abandoned the party due to a lack of unity and confidence and a loss of mission and vision.
“I have joined SPLM, my mother party on the 1st of September,” he said.
According to the letter of resignation extended to this outlet, Uchan said he was not pressured by anyone and had a sound mind when he resigned on August 28, 2023.
“The reasons are obvious; lack of unity and confidence amongst the UDF Party members. Loss of UDF Party mission and vision by party members,” the letter partly read.
Upon his resignation, the UDF replaced him with Moses Pieny Deng Manyang as the party’s interim chair.
Pieny was endorsed by 14 UDF members to lead them towards the attainment of the party’s mission and vision.
SPLM had been carrying out a number of rallies across the country to endorse President Salva Kiir Mayardit as the party’s flag bearer for the 2024 elections.
Ahead of the independence celebrations in July, the party members in the Bahr El Ghazal region endorsed the president as their flag bearer.
They promised to rally behind him as the joyous Kiir promised the people his utmost support now and later when elected the president.
The party is also organizing similar events in the Equatoria region and also in the Upper Nile region.
But other parties such as UDF, SPLM-IO, and South Sudan Opposition Association (SSOA) among others are silent with claims that they are waiting for the political space to be opened.