By Yiep Joseph
Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) leadership in Western Bahr El Ghazal State (WBGS) has slammed security officials for shrinking political space, calling for speedy unification of forces.
Although Western Bahr El Ghazal state is headed by the SPLM-IO-appointed governor, Emmanuel Primo Ukello, the party secretariat claimed that some political activities continue to be interrupted by the security.
In an exclusive interview, Valentino Akech, Deputy Chairperson of SPLM-IO in WBGS, revealed that the security organs at the airport could not allow the SPLM-IO to receive the governor as it has been the case by the SPLM-IG.
Akech claimed that the security personnel continue to favor the SPLM-IG by allowing them to receive their representative while denying the SPLM-IO to do so.
“When it comes to the situation of Western Bahr El Ghazal state, the current security, yes, they are protecting us; we know that, but the support of the security apparatus is somewhere else; for example, if there is an event of SPLM-IG, the whole security of the state, used to attend it,” he said.
“Also, if there is any event of SPLM-IG at the secretariat, the whole security used to enter and participate, which is becoming a challenge,” he said.
Akech claimed that due to such incidents, the security who do attend SPLM-IG continue to be an obstacle to SPLM-IO political activities in Western Bahr El Ghazal.
He confirmed that during the reception of the governor, who is from SPLM-IO, the security refused to allow the members to access the airport for the reception.
“When the advance team of the governor was briefed by the security organs in the state, this one came up, and they said that this was an official of the government, so there is no need for SPLM-IO to enter the airport, which made us not to be in the good mood,” he said.
He said that security does allow SPLM-IG to receive their members and visitors at the airport while the SPLM-IO continues to face restrictions.
“When we wanted to conduct our activities, the interruption of our activities occurred because the security worked on their orders and supported them,” he said.
Akech, however, acknowledged there has been improvement in the recent days as the security has been advised to protect all the parties in the state.
“When the government of neighboring Warrap came, most of the SPLM members were in the airport; there was no restriction, but when that one happened to us, we restricted and we calmed down,” he said.
He called on the peace stakeholders to ensure quick unification of forces.
Akech called on the SPLM-IG to corporate and ensure that no more lobbies at security offices to interrupt SPLM-IO activities.
Meanwhile, on a separate note, the commander of division five in WBGS state, Dau Aturjong, said that the army is mandated to protect the people and their property.
While addressing the masses during the reception of the new governor of WBGs, Dau expressed that the army is willing to protect all the parties in the state and ensure that there is political space for all.