The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in Jonglei State has been thrown into internal conflict after party members accused Governor Dr. Riek Gai Kok, who also serves as the SPLM state chairperson, of mismanagement and poor leadership.
A group of senior party cadres, including the SPLM Deputy Chairperson in the state, recently submitted a petition to President Salva Kiir Mayardit, who is also the SPLM National Chairman, raising concerns about Governor Kok’s leadership style.
The petition accuses him of sidelining party structures, failing to prioritize state development, and fostering political exclusion within the party.
The petitioners further claimed that the governor’s prolonged three-month absence from the state headquarters in Bor left critical governance issues unattended, worsening the political and administrative situation.
In what insiders describe as a “political purge,” Governor Kokreportedly returned to Bor last week for the oath taking of the newly appointment state officials.
Tuong Majok, the SPLM Deputy Chairperson in Jonglei State and one of the petitioners, said he was aware of plans to remove him from his position.
“The looming removal from my position as deputy chairperson is something real. Sometimes when you speak out for the rights of others in the party, you become a target. I am confident that the governor will not allow me to work with him,” Majok said.
He accused Governor Kok of shutting out party officials from decision-making since assuming office, including himself as deputy chairperson.
“It has been a long time since his appointment as governor and SPLM chairperson in the state. He has closed out members, including me, from accessing him,” he added.
Majok emphasized that he would not remain silent while governance in the state deteriorates.
“The assembly is not working. I raised my concerns to the SPLM leadership because things are not going in the right direction. That is not a crime. If we do not caution ourselves, who will?” he said.
He further argued that any attempt to dismiss him would amount to intimidation.
“Relieving me is a threat to scare me and other members, but if you are out of the system, you will see me opposing that is my nature,” Majok warned.
Governor Kok and his office have not yet issued a formal response to the allegations or the petition. Multiple attempts to reach his office for comment were unsuccessful.