South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
South Sudan’s President and chairperson of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party, Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, assured the people of South Sudan that the SPLM is not affiliated with any single tribe or region but is a party for all South Sudanese.
“The SPLM is the only political party that accommodates all South Sudanese, regardless of their tribal or regional origin,” President Kiir said yesterday during the swearing-in ceremony for the three deputy chairpersons of the SPLM.
He called on all citizens and communities, including government officials, to embrace agriculture, emphasizing the need for South Sudan to combat the dire hunger situation through local food production.
“The SPLM is not just a political party; it is a movement of sacrifice. It does not belong to one tribe, one region, or individuals; it belongs to all the people of South Sudan,” President Kiir added.
Meanwhile, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, the Vice President and newly appointed First Deputy Chairman of the SPLM, emphasized that the people of South Sudan will succeed if they respect President Kiir’s mission, which calls for no return to war.
“As we assert our role as a party, the SPLM is the only party that can achieve peace for our people, protect the legacy of our martyrs, fulfill the promises of our independence, and deliver a better life for all South Sudanese,” Mel stated during the swearing-in ceremony of the three deputy chairpersons.
“For our nation to develop to its potential, we cannot compromise on peace, unity, and security. The SPLM has no military wing; we have entrusted the SPLM to the people and placed our trust in the South Sudan People’s Defense Force as the only legitimate army,” he said.
He added that focusing on agriculture will help secure sovereignty, strengthen the economy, and uplift the community.
“To be successful, we must support the implementation of His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s mission. Without peace, there can be no development and no future,” he stated.
On Thursday, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel was sworn in as the First Deputy Chairman of the SPLM, replacing James Wani Igga, who previously served as First Deputy Chairman and Secretary General.
Mel was sworn in alongside Mary Apayi Ayiga as the Second Deputy Chairperson and Simon Kun Puoch as the Third Deputy Chairperson, replacing Daniel Awet Akot and Kuol Manyang Juuk, respectively.
On May 20, 2025, President Salva Kiir Mayardit revoked the appointments of his three deputies: James Wani Igga, the First Deputy Chairman; Daniel Awet Akot, the Second Deputy Chairman; and Kuol Manyang Juuk, the Third Deputy Chairman.
