July 8, 2020 (Nyamilepedia) – Two senior members of South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) have disputed the nomination of the country’s minister of higher education, Denay Jock Chagor, for the governorship of Jonglei state.
Yesterday, a spokesman for the opposition consortium claimed that the different groups in the alliance have agreed to nominate Chagor for the governorship of Jonglei state and that the decision was reached by a consensus.
The Nyamilepedia contacted Dr. Lam Akol and General Bapiny Manytuil, both of whom are senior members of the Alliance, on the issue.
Dr. Lam is the chairperson of National Democratic Movement (NDM) and the secretary-general of the Alliance. Bapiny is the chairperson of South Sudan Liberation Movement (SSLM) and the security chief of the Alliance.
Dr. Lam said they were not invited to the meeting where Chagor was endorsed for governorship and said they stands by Mahjuob Biel Turuk who was nominated earlier by the NDM for Jonglei governor.
“The group of six (6) are operating on their own under the directives of SPLM-IG. The NDM and SSLM were not invited to the said meeting,” Akol told Nyamilepedia from Juba.
“We hold to our position of nominating Mr. Mahjuob Biel Turuk for the position of the Governor of Jonglei State,” he added.
Asked if the alliance has been divided into two factions, Akol answered: “correct.”
For his part, General Manytuil denied any knowledge about the meeting and said the group still insist on the nomination by the NDM and “any further denial of Mahjuob of the position could jeopardize unity within the Alliance.”
