South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
Several supporters of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) from Magwi County in Eastern Equatoria State are rooting for President Salva Kiir to win the upcoming presidential election because of his track record in ushering in peace and stability in the country.
Henry Lado Mark Wayi, the SPLM mobilizer for Madi community told The Dawn on Saturday during the endorsement rally for President Kiir held at Dr.John Garang Mausoleum in Juba, that the entire Madi corridor supports his presidential bid.
“We are very happy for the endorsement of our President Salva Kiir Mayardit, and we are ready to support him in the upcoming 2024 general election, we believe in SPLM because it is our mother party. We are sure that after elections, the government will do a lot to the youth in the country,” said Wayi.
“We expect no more war in our country, we expect development, it is the rebels that forced our people to flee into exile, we hope our people in refugee camps will come back after elections,” he added.
Ambayo Venansio Koma, 32, from Abila in Olikwi Quater Council said Madi youth expect effective service delivery from president Kiir after the end of the current transitional period.
“As community, we are so much glad that President Kiir has become a sole flagbearer, we would like to stand side by side with SPLM to ensure development in our region, state and county,” said Koma.
“We have issues in our country, insecurity being one of the issues, we hope SPLM leadership will improve security, bring stability to our people. We hope once we are united our citizens will enjoy peace in our country,” said Koma.
Ikanga Redento, a representative of women from the Madi community, said they have over the years been supporting the SPLM and President Salva Kiir Mayardit when he commanded rebel fighters of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) in Pageri area of Magwi County.
“We come here to support SPLM party under President Salva Kiir, during the liberation struggle, President Kiir was staying with us in the Madi land, he is a man of peace, he will bring total peace,” said Redento.
He said that this is demonstrated in the President’s willingness to engage hold-out opposition parties in the Kenyan, capital Nairobi.
The “Tumaini peace talks” being mediated by Kenyan President William Ruto commenced on May 3 this year.
Marius Buga, a 70 -year- old community elder and chairperson of Intra-Madi Dialogue for Peace and Reconciliation under Madi Welfare Association, said that their community has great hope in the SPLM bringing peace and stability in the country.
“We are happy as Madi to be part of this endorsement, SPLM is a party that brought peace and harmony, we should all come together and support SPLM so that we can move forward, it could be good step to bring peace to our community and our country,” said Buga.
Julius Moilinga, a member of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly representing Madi corridor in Magwi County, said the SPLM holds aspirations of the people of South Sudan.
“We have seen true needs and aspirations of the people of South Sudan as a community and as a region, fragmentations come about because of conflict but still at the heart of this country, our party is a party to reckon with,” said Moilinga.
