By William Madouk
Preparation for greater Upper Nile rally to endorse President Salva Kiir as Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) candidate for 2024 election is at peak.
Kiir is expected to be endorsed in the first week of December 2023 the supporters in the Upper Nile region.
Chair of the high-level committee for the endorsement rally and Unity state governor, Joseph Manytuil, met with the SPLM party’s Chief Whip at the parliament, Rebecca Joshua Okwaci, to discuss the general situation of Upper Nile State regarding the endorsement preparation.
“Dr. Joseph Manytuil Wejang received Government Chief Whip Hon. Rebecca Joshua on Tuesday to discuss the general situation of Upper Nile State and in relation to the endorsement rally preparation,” partly read a statement from his office.
“The two leaders exchange views on pressing issues that require collective effort from the political leaders and business community in the Upper Nile Region,” it added.
The Unity State Governor’s press unit on Saturday quoted Manytuil as lobbying for unity ahead of the event, saying, “Nobody should come somewhere to unite us rather than we, the people of Upper Nile Region, to decide our unity and the home we want.”
Lately, the preparation received a boost after the Kit-gwang faction joined hands with the ruling party in grassroots mobilization.
The chairperson for political affairs of the Kitgwang group, Dr. Paul Achut, said the army-turned-political faction is taking part in the SPLM grand rally in Malakal.
Last month, Governor Manytuil met in the State Coordination Office in Juba with the Governor of Upper Nile State, Hon. James Odok Oyai, and they discussed the general security situation in Upper Nile State.
The duo discussed a wide range of issues, including the improvement of security situations in Malakal town and the renovation of critical infrastructure, such as Malakal Stadium, Malakal Airport, and the State Guest House, as well as the rehabilitation of internal roads within Malakal town.
The meeting also emphasized the voluntary return of IDPs from the protection of civilian sites (POCs) to their homes, building confidence and trust between IDPs and organized forces ahead of the SPLM mega endorsement rally.
The two leaders reiterated their commitment to promote bilateral cooperation in the area of joint security and business activities on river navigation.
A similar endorsement rally is currently being prepared by the SPLM members in the greater Equatoria region after the greater Bahr el Ghazal successfully held its rally in early July this year.