Confusion has emerged after the chairperson of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) abandoned the party and carry on with party allocated seat.
On Saturday, Kuech Deng Mayar, the Chairperson of Sudan people Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) in Warrap state declared total closure of the party’s political office.
He claimed that all the members were forced to abandoned SPLM-IO due to the ongoing division in the party that emerged after Dr. Riek Machar’s house arrest.
He specifically criticized Stephen Par Kuol, minister of peace building who replaced Machar last week, asserting he lacks political credibility even in his home area of Fangak and is unfit to lead the peace transition process.
“The current SPLM IO self-claim interim leadership has no capacity to continue leading the party to peace transition, given the fact that Amb. Stephen Par Kuol doesn’t have any trust and political grounds within the SPLM IO even in his hometown (Fangak) and as such he can’t represent us,” he said.
“This letter is to notify the public that the SPLM IO in Warrap State under Cde. Chairperson RT. Hon. Kuec Deng Mayar, the speaker of Warrap State transitional legislative assembly and the entire membership have officially denounced and declared its total closure of SPLM IO offices with effects from today 26 April 2025,” Deng explained.
However, the decision by the speaker followed a similar event in Northern Bhar el Ghazal were members ended up in division as some of them continue to support Dr. Riek Machar while others defected to the SPLM under President Salva Kiir.
Kuec Deng Mayar stood firm as speaker of the state Assembly despite abandoning SPLM-IO party that trusted him with the position of speakership in the state Assembly.
The swift defection from Warrap speaker after his released from government detention has led to speculation among observers who questioned the fate of the political seat that he acquires under SPLM-IO.
Some of the SPLM-IO members in Juba who are Citizens of Warrap state called on the Deng to denounced the position of speakership as well since he closed down the office.
Chol Makuol one of the SPLM-IO die-heart stated that defection is allow in political however politicians in the transitional government has to abandoned the party as well as the position in government given by the party.
“You can not just denounce SPLM-IO or SPLM-IG, you need also to leave their position in the government behind so that other committed members can fill” Chol said.
He expressed that the decision for Warrap speaker to denounced SPLM-IO and closed down all offices across the state was not true adding that some members still support the party and read to fill the vacant positions.
“Not everyone supporting SPLM-IO who defect in Warrap state, some people still support and will soon fill the positions left by those defecting” he said
He called on the parties to the peace agreement and the president to ensure that who defected should leave the position in government vacant so that the rest of the committed members filled them.