President Kiir urges unity amid leadership transition within SPLM
By Denis Ejulu
President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Thursday called for unity within the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) amid the ongoing leadership transition in the party ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Kiir acknowledged that transitions have the potential to either unite or divide the party, which won independence of South Sudan in 2011 following decades of fighting against successive governments in Sudan.
“Fellow comrades, brothers and sisters transitions can be difficult but I ask you all do not let this moment divide us, let it unite us. SPLM must remain strong, united and focused; we are not in competition with each other, we are in service of the people,” Kiir said while presiding over the swearing ceremony of the new senior party leaders in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
Kiir on Tuesday made major changes within the top echelons of the SPLM, where he replaced his long-serving first deputy chairperson James Wani Igga with Benjamin Bol Mel, who is currently the vice president for economic cluster.
In a decree aired on state television, Kiir also replaced Daniel Awet Akot as the party’s second deputy chairperson with Mary Apai Ayiga and also removed Kuol Manyang Juuk as third deputy chairman replacing him with veteran legislator Simon Kun Puoch.
Bol is widely rumored as the most likely successor to Kiir as many senior historical members of the independence liberation struggle are being phased out of the party.
“So our new deputies your appointment is not a reward, it’s a responsibility to have been chosen to serve not to rule. SPLM is the ruling party and people are looking to us for leadership not in words but in actions, not in promises but in results,” Kiir said.
“These leaders are stepping into roles once held by our founding comrades, the liberation leaders who carried the vision of the SPLM through the darkest times, we honor their sacrifice to this party and country they can never be replaced,” he added.
Meanwhile, Bol the first deputy chairperson of the SPLM party vowed to carry on the mission and vision of the founding historical members of the former guerilla rebel movement-cum- political party.
“I promise you that I will not let you down, I will carry the mission and vision of the SPLM with the same conviction that you instilled in me from the bush until this very moment. I will stand by you, support and protect you from any humiliation whether external or internal and ensure that your legacy remains forever,” he said.
Bol also warned political parties such as the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in opposition (SPLM-IO) with active military wing, that they could be barred from taking party in the elections scheduled for December 2026.
“Political parties with private armies cannot and may not be part of the peace process, democratic process or indeed the 2026 electoral process as we all know elections must be held in 2026 without extension,” he said.
On February 10 2025, Kiir appointed Benjamin Bol Mel to replace James Wani Igga as vice president for economic cluster.
Bol, who owns Africa Resource Corporation (ARC) Construction Company, was sanctioned in December 2017 by the Donald Trump administration for alleged money laundering and corruption aimed to finance the conflict in South Sudan.
