SPLM slams ‘shocking’ Nhial Deng Nhial defection, rejects corruption charges

JUBA – South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IG) party has rejected accusations of corruption and incompetence from high-profile defector Nhial Deng Nhial, calling his decision to form a new party “shocking and disappointing” and accusing him of neglecting his duties while in office.

The criticism came in response to Nhial’s announcement last week that he was “freezing” his membership in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) to launch the South Sudan Salvation Movement (SSSM).

In a 17-page declaration, Nhial, a 73-year-old veteran politician, accused President Salva Kiir’s administration of betraying the SPLM’s ideals, presiding over economic collapse, and turning South Sudan into a “state on the brink of collapse.”

Speaking to reporters at the party headquarters in Juba on Wednesday, SPLM-IG secretary for political affairs, mobilization, and organization, Bol Makueng, said his party received Nhial’s public declaration on social media with “profound shock.”

Makueng recounted Nhial’s long history in high-ranking government and party positions, including being a minister of defense, a minister of foreign affairs, and more recent position of the minister of presidential affairs.

He then sought to tie Nhial’s tenure in government to widespread insecurity.

“His tenure coincided with widespread communal violence, which claimed many lives, including conflicts in Jonglei State (Nuer-Dinka, Dinka-Murle, Murle-Nuer clashes in 2009). Warrap State conflicts included (Gogrial East and Greater Tonj in 2010). Also, Lakes State with (multiple community clashes in 2010),” Makueng said.

“When South Sudan was engulfed in violence during his watch, what comprehensive security strategy did Hon. Nhial propose or implement? Instead, he was frequently absent from the country, reportedly traveling to London to attend Arsenal football matches, leaving the President to personally intervene in conflict hotspots,” he added.

The SPLM dismissed Nhial’s claims of corruption, insecurity, and government inefficiency as “baseless and self-serving,” accusing him of seeking public sympathy after decades of benefiting from the system he now criticizes.

Makueng specifically addressed Nhial’s allegation that a “tiny political elite” was diverting oil revenues through inflated infrastructure contracts.

“If Hon. Nhial possesses substantive evidence, he should have introduced a private member’s bill to summon relevant ministers to finance and planning, petroleum, justice and constitutional affairs, and roads and bridges to investigate and address these allegations transparently,” he said.

Makueng further stated that Nhial’s decision to establish a new political party amounts to an automatic termination of his SPLM membership.

“From the moment of his declaration, Hon. Nhial Deng Nhial ceased to be a member of the SPLM and the Reconstituted Transitional National Assembly,” Makueng said.

The SPLM also rejected Nhial’s accusations that the ruling party is avoiding elections, insisting that preparations for the 2026 polls are underway, including the formation of the Political Parties Council and the National Elections Commission.

“The SPLM is ready for elections. What delays the process are administrative requirements and the refusal of some political groups to register formally,” Makueng said.

Responding to media questions, the SPLM official accused Nhial of aligning himself with opposition groups under the United People’s Alliance, describing the coalition as “undemocratic and militarized.”

He urged Nhial and his supporters to pursue their political ambitions peacefully.

“We advise Nhial Deng Nhial to organize his new party along democratic lines and to distance himself from any tendency to cause violence among South Sudanese. We don’t want South Sudanese to die again,” he said.

Makueng said the SPLM supports multi-party democracy, citing the country’s 29 registered and 25 unregistered political parties.