The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM/-IO) has opened it’s party’s secretariat in Jonglei State aimed at spreading it’s tentacles in the historical area where the liberation movement that won independence for South Sudan was birthed.
The launch of the party office on Saturday was presided over by the SPLM-IO Interim Secretary General, Regina Joseph under the “Towards a Democratic, United and Prosperous South Sudan,” in Bor town.
“Today (Saturday) we launch the secretariat officially because we are transiting from a movement to a political party,” Joseph said.
She disclosed that the new party office will ease registration and mobilization of members in 9 counties of Jonglei State.
“Also we launched with it the registration of membership and from here; we are going to start the registration of our members in Jonglei State,” Joseph said.
The SPLM-IO led by First Vice President Riek Machar splintered from the SPLM under President Salva Kiir in December 2013 leading to years of conflict.
The former opposition party is now preparing in earnest for the 2024 national elections after the recent extension of the transitional period that was initially meant to expire in February 2023.
Joseph said the party will also establish structures in all counties of Jonglei starting with counties, payams, and Boma respectively.
“We will start opening our entire state secretariat at county levels to the Payams and Bomas, meaning we are preparing ourselves to register as a political party when the Political Party Council is reconstructed,” she disclosed.
Jacob Akech Dengdit, Deputy Governor of Jonglei State called on members of the opposition in the state to embrace peace.
“Peace has to be respected, peace has given the opportunity to everybody, and peace brings multi-partism,” Dengdit said.
“This is very good for you (SPLM-IO) and for us (SPLM) to sit today, and talk about launching your party secretariat in the capital of Jonglei with only your trademark and your “Viva” and no guns,” he added.
Amer Alier Ateny, Chairperson for SPLM-IO in Jonglei State, said her party has vividly marked its presence in Jonglei State.
“We will register our member under the SPLA-IO that is what we are going to embark on in this state,” Ateny said.
