South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Jenifer James
More than 400 members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) have officially defected to the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in Unity State, accusing their former party’s leadership of turning the movement into a “family project.”
Speaking during the official welcoming ceremony held in Bentiu on Thursday, the governor of Unity State, Riek Bim Top, revealed that this was not the first instance of members from opposition parties’ crossing over to join the SPLM.
“This is not the first time we have seen defections from SPLM-IO and other parties to the SPLM,” Bim said. “This marks the fourth occasion we have received defectors from other political groups, and it sends a strong message that the SPLM stands for peace, unity, and development for the people of South Sudan.”
The group of defectors was led by Kiir Deng Mou, who spoke on behalf of the former SPLM-IO members.
Mou announced that 434 members of the SPLM-IO have officially joined the SPLM, describing the move as a significant political shift and a sign of growing trust in the ruling party.
According to Mou, the decision to abandon SPLM-IO stemmed from increasing internal divisions and a lack of inclusive leadership.
“We decided to join the SPLM because it is the historical party that represents the hopes and struggles of all South Sudanese,” Mou said. “Currently, some individuals in SPLM-IO manage the party as if it were their own family property. There is no space for collective decision-making or growth for ordinary members.”
He added that the defectors are eager to work closely with the SPLM-led government in Unity State to support development programmes and ensure better service delivery.
“We are committed to peace and development. Our people deserve roads, schools, clean water, and security. We believe that by joining the SPLM, we can contribute to making these goals a reality,” he said.
This defection is viewed as a boost to the SPLM’s political presence in Unity State as the country advances in implementing the 2018 revitalised peace agreement and prepares for upcoming elections.
