The move comes a day after Kuec Deng Mayar, the Speaker of Awarrap State Transitional Legislative Assembly, who is the SPLM-IO former chairperson and his associates in the state, rolled down the party’s flag, signalling an end to operation.
Elizabeth Achuei Yol, the former national Ministry of Health on the SPLM-IO ticket, claimed that the decision to shut down the offices was unilateral.
Achuei said it was not within the powers of the former chairperson to decide the fate of the country’s biggest armed opposition group.
“As per the mentioned statement by former speaker of Warrap, Hon Kuec Deng Mayar, and former chairperson has no authority to close down the SPLM/IO offices, either in the state, counties, payams, or without an integral approach from IO entire leadership in Warrap,” she said in a statement seen by Sudans Post.
“The decision taken by Kuech Deng Mayar is personal and has no connection with SPLM/IO members in Warrap,” she added.
Achuei claimed that there was no consensus reached by the state party structure to close operations, adding that the figure cited by Mr. Deng was inflated, underscoring that the former chairperson’s contributions have been underwhelming.
“Former Hon. Speaker and former Chairperson of Warrap State, Kuec Deng Mayar, has never officially launched any party secretariat in Warrap State. His claim that 2,338 have agreed to officially close down the IO offices in Warrap is baseless and unfounded. Even during the formation of the national caucus, his county had fewer than five members,” she asserted.
“Therefore, as a supervisor and political bureau member, National Liberation Council and National MP, the majority of SPLM-IO leadership and members from Warrap State are loyal to the leadership of Dr Riek Machar, the Chairperson and C in C of the SPLM/A-IO,” Achuei affirmed.
Mr Deng was arrested and detained by government security forces before defecting from the Machar-led opposition, citing internal divisions prior to the office shutdown announcement.
