Ousted S. Sudanese politicians accuse president of dictatorial leadership
Riek Machar, First Deputy Chairperson of the country’s ruling party Sudan Peoples’ Liberations Movement (SPLM) and other senior members of the party wrote a joint press statement, urging urgent reforms within the fledgling nation.
Deep-seated divisions within the SPLM leadership, exacerbated by dictatorial tendencies of the SPLM Chairman, and the dysfunctional SPLM structures from national to local levels are likely to create instability in the party and in the country,” Riek said, reading from the statement at the SPLM Headquarters’ office in Juba.
The dysfunctional SPLM structures from national to local levels are likely to create instability in the party and in the country.”
Riek was Vice President until he was among a list of Kiir’s political rivals dismissed by the premier in July. The statement was made by several of the dismissed ministers as well as current senior members of the SPLM.
The document described an internal crisis that has engulfed the SPLM leadership and paralysed its function”.
On Sunday, SPLM Deputy Chair James Wani Igga played down the group’s statement, describing it as a message from disgruntled elements within the SPLM membership.”
He said the former politicians were united by one common cause of having lost power of influence either in the party of in the government”.
(Left to right) SPLM Top cadre Deng Alor, Riek Macahr, Nyandeng De Mabior, Chol Mayai and Pagan Amum speaking to the press in Juba on December 6.
Signatories of the critical letter included the suspended SPLM Secretary General, Pagan Amum, Ex-Minister of Justice John Luk, Ex-Minister of National Security Oyai Deng, wife to the late SPLM founder Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior, Ex-Minister of Environment Alfred Lado Gore and the two sacked Governors of Unity and Lakes States.
The team was joined by several other senior SPLM cadres who applauded during the press conference.
The party senior members said Kiir was in-transparent in his handling of internal party affairs.
We can not keep quiet,” Presidential Advisor on Gender and Human Rights Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior said, adding that she is an advisor to the President, but has no access to him and is increasingly frustrated by Kiir.
Riek underscored her view. The SPLM is not a ruling party,” he said. In practice decisions are essentially made by one person and in most cases directed by regional and ethnic lobbies and close business associates surrounding the SPLM Chairman. Salva ignored the grass roots views.”
The SPLM is supposed to have had its key National Liberation Council meeting in March this year, but it was postponed by Kiir. Criticism against his leadership rose with his suspension of SPLM Secretary General, Pagan Amum on grounds that he was inciting tribalism within the party.
In July, Kiir dissolved his entire cabinet and formed a smaller one, saying the new cabinet would improve service delivery. However, the senior SPLM members claim he wanted to oust his political rivals within the SPLM.
Riek, in particular, posed a challenge to Kiir’s leadership, which many said prompted his removal from power. Prior to his sacking, Riek had voiced interest in running as SPLM Presidential candidate in the upcoming 2015 national elections.
The party members accused Kiir of unconstitutionally dissolving the SPLM structures starting from the national to the Payam levels. Riek said Kiir’s management style is likely to plunge the party and the country into the abyss”.
