By Bosco Bush
Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) denied social media reports claiming that President Salva Kiir plans to transfer power to a senior party member while seeking medical treatment abroad.
The rumour suggests that the Senior Presidential Envoy on Special Programs, who also doubles as SPLM’s First Deputy Secretary-General for Political Mobilization and Organization, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel will be the acting president in the absence of Kiir.
This rumour, the party said, has created a very serious problem, as some SPLM members became “confused and angry,” wanting to find out and know the truth of the matter.
Addressing the media at the SPLM House in Juba, Peter Lam Both, the party’s Secretary-General debunked the allegations saying, it’s a social media campaign being waged against the government, the party, and leaders by enemies of peace.
Lam reassured that the president is healthy and is not planning for any medical trip abroad as claimed.
“So, I want to assure the SPLM membership that such has not happened, and it is never anticipated to happen. Our president is healthy. He’s not going for a medical leave for six months. There is nothing like that. So, we want you to treat that as a rumour,” he added.
Should there be any changes of leadership or handover of government, Lam said, it’s done through processes and legal means requiring him/her to become the chairperson of the party in order to qualify as a president.
Article 1.6.3 of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan [RARCISS] states that, In the event of a temporary absence of the President, the First Vice President shall act as the President and Commander in Chief of the national army and overall commander of all other organised forces.
On his part, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel emphasized the country cannot be built through the internet, social media, Facebook, or TikTok, noting, it will cause a “total destruction” to the nation.
Mel said he climbed his political ladder out of respect for the country, the system as well as the leaders. Hence, cannot supersede his superiors unnecessarily.
He warned politicians of high consequences for exercising negative politics.
“I would also advise the politicians. We have what we call positive politics. Play your politics positively, not negatively, because the consequences of you playing negative politics are very high,” said Mel.
Article 102 [2] of the Transitional Constitution dictates that, If the office of the President of the Republic falls vacant prior to the conduct of the general elections, the post shall be assumed by the Vice President pending the filling of this position, within fourteen days from the date of the occurrence of the vacancy, by a nominee of the political party on whose ticket he or she was elected.