SPLM-IO nominates 2 SPLM-IG members to state parliaments sparking anger among members  

JUBA – A sharp dispute has emerged within South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, SPLM-IO, after party officials endorsed nomination of ‘well-known’ SPLM-IG members to upcoming transitional parliaments in Lakes and Warrap states, three reliable sources within the group told Sudans Post this evening.

One official said the SPLM-IO in Lakes state nominated Makuei Bech Makuei who was recently appointed as leader of SPLM-IG peace dissemination committee in Lakes state by Governor Makur Kulang Liei saying Makuei is still a member of the SPLM-IG.

“Makuei Bech Makuei has been appointed recently by the Governor of Lakes State Gen. Makur Kulang Liei as chairperson of peace committee that will advocates peaceful coexistence of communities of Lakes state because he is a SPLM-IG member,” the source told Sudans Post this evening.

“When he was nominated by the SPLM-IO for the parliament, he didn’t rescind his duties from the committee, SPLM and he didn’t even made declaration to SPLM/A-IO. How do one joins without all these issues?” the official said.

Another anger SPLM-IO member in Lakes state said separately that Apit Alel Amuom, a long-time SPLM-IO member in Lakes state, was first nominated, but Telar Ring Deng, a leading SPLM-IO member who joined following Machar’s return to Juba in February, removed his nomination on teh pretext of his age.

Alel is 24.

“Apit Alel Amuom is the original member of SPLM/A-IO since the inception of the movement and he was the first person to be nominated. However, we were surprised when Telar Ring removed him to replace him with a SPLM-IG member. This is very bad and the senior SPLM-IO leadership must address this,” he added.

Separately, an SPLM-IO official in Warrap state said the main armed opposition group has nominated a SPLM-IG member to the state parliament, saying such move jeopardize and undermine the SPLM-IO.

“They have done the same in Warrap state and this is very bad because if you nominate people from other party, how are you going to trust them?” he asked.

Sudans Post tried to contact several SPLM-IO officials involved in the nomination process, but those officials declined to comment.