By Yiep Joseph
The main political party, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, expressed displeasure over sprouting of many parties in the country after independence.
Some SPLM members believe that the multiple political parties have nothing to show citizens other than to criticize.
While addressing party members on Wednesday, Kuol Manyang, senior presidential Advisor and the deputy chairman of the SPLM said that the numerous political parties lack what to tell citizens regarding the past liberation struggle but were rather formed to criticize.
“There is no party that liberated South Sudan apart from SPLM; all the other political parties can not tell us the history of what they did for the liberation of South Sudan,” Kuol said.
Despite being the dominant party since the country’s independence in 2011, the SPLM has been struggling with internal divisions. This has now been compounded by competition from emerging opposition parties which have gained some fraction of the population.
While the SPLM boosts of its historical past, the senior member lashed out at new parties for lacking ideology.
“Other parties were formed with support from agents who do not want the SPLM to be the only party; otherwise, people will obey what the party says,” he said.
He said that some of the parties were formed with support from those that did not want a single-party system in South Sudan.
“So, they (the agents) gave pressure and instigated other people who have no position, who did not even take part in the war of liberation; you form your parties and try to challenge SPLM anywhere here and there,” he said.
“Lies are fabricated against the SPLM; we are not alone; there are enemies of the people of South Sudan that are still within and outside,” he added.
Kuol’s statement came at a time when political parties continue to blame SPLM for the current conflict and alleged bad governance in the country.
The party has been criticized for its handling of the economic challenges and ongoing conflict. Opposition leaders have also accused the party of corruption, mismanagement, and a failure to address the needs of the population.
Some of its members in the past have admitted that they did not do enough for the population.
Early this year, the Reconstituted Political Parties Council (PPC) announced that South Sudan had 14 already registered political parties.
James Akol Zakayo, the Chairperson of the Political Parties Council (PPC), revealed that 14 registered political parties were already registered and over 25 parties were in the process of submitting their documents to meet registration requirements.
It is expected that the upcoming election in 2026 will be a competitive one, as many parties have already registered and shown interest in taking part, should it be a democratic one.