By Yiep Joseph
The interim leadership of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) engaged with the Central Equatoria State chapter with the hope of promoting unity and peace implementation.
Stephen Par Kuol and other members convened a consultative meeting in Juba that brought together hundreds of SPLM-IO members. This move was part of the process that led to his assumption of power as interim chairperson.
However, Kuol’s nomination as Interim Chair, replacing Dr. Machar, has faced significant rejection from many SPLM/A-IO members under the self-exiled deputy chairperson, Oyet Nathaniel. While some members rejected Par’s leadership, most members of the SPLM-IO support the interim group as they strive to keep the peace implementation in progress.
In addition to a series of meetings with the SPLM-IO leadership at the party headquarters in Juba, on Wednesday, the SPLM-IO interim secretary general, Agok Makur Kur Agok, met with the Central Equatoria State party Chairperson.
According to a statement seen by this outlet, the SPLM-IO Secretary General and the SPLM-IO Chairperson in Central Equatoria State and Speaker of the State Assembly, Peter Wani, had a fruitful meeting on Wednesday.
The two leaders discussed initiatives aimed at bringing unity among the members and continuing the implementation of the peace agreement.
“The SPLM-IO Chairperson in Central Equatoria State and Speaker of State Assembly, Cde. Rt. Hon. Peter Wani, had a fruitful meeting today with SPLM-IO Secretary General, Cde. Hon. Agok Makur Kur Agok,” the statement read.
“Cde. Rt. Hon. Peter Wani congratulated and endorsed the new interim leadership of SPLM-IO,” it read.
In a separate meeting, a team from the SPLM-IO from Warrap State had a fruitful discussion with SPLM-IO Secretary General Agok Makur Kur Agok at the SPLM-IO General Secretariat. According to the statement, the meeting focused on the unity of the members and the activities of the party in the state.
The team, led by the SPLM-IO Acting State Chairperson in Warrap State, reaffirmed their political support for the new interim leadership.
Recently, Stephen Par Kuol, interim chairperson of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) Juba faction, vowed to prevent the 2018 peace agreement from collapsing.
Par stated that SPLM-IO members are continuously working to ensure that peace implementation proceeds and security stabilizes. The SPLM-IO interim chairperson made these remarks while addressing attendees at the late Matai Gatlauk’s funeral in Juba, an event that brought together politicians, church leaders, and various community members.
“We cannot allow this peace agreement to collapse; this peace agreement is a tall building, and if it collapses, the damages will be on all of us,” Par said.
Par expressed that his team remains committed to ensuring Dr. Riek Machar is released from house arrest. He called on members to unite and work towards peace implementation and the unity of South Sudanese.