Juba, South Sudan,
July 19, 2021- The Chairperson of the Sudan People Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) in Western Bahr el Ghazal State said the party has launched a recruitment drive for new members who wish to join the SPLM-IO.
In a statement extended to Nyamilepedia, Sarah Cleto Rial, who also doubles as Governor, announced last week at the party’s secretariat in Wau town during the party’s restructuring exercise in which the liberation council elected a new state secretary and the deputy secretary.
“We have since been talking about the formation of the state liberation council and the secretariat so that we can start the recruitment program. Some people have been coming in and asking for registration but the office was still not formed but now it is time for us to start the recruitment program,” Cleto said.
Ms. Cleto urged SPLM-IO members who are in the country and those in the diaspora to work hand in hand in processing their ID cards.
“Our members who are outside or inside [the country], this is a time for us to call upon you to work together to register new members and produce party IDs,” she said.
Cleto expressed concerns also about the government-sponsored education system in the state describing it as poor saying it can be improved if the SPLM-IO gets a chance to lead in South Sudan.
“The education system in the state is not strong, there are many schools but only the private schools are performing well,” the Chairperson said.
Paulino Adam Naro, SPLM-IO newly-elected State Secretary called on all the party members in the state to work collaboratively.
“Our work will be fruitful if we work together. We need to change the system for the better. It is not about positions,” Naro said.
Angelo Taban Biajo, SPLM-IG acting chairperson criticized the recruitment campaign arguing that the SPLM-IO had not yet been registered as a party.
“For me as the SPLM Interim Chairperson in Wau, the deputy Governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal state, what I know so far is that we are in a power-sharing partnership according to the peace agreement. I don’t know whether they are registered as a political party,” Biajo said.
According to a report from Western Bahr El-Ghazal State, the SPLM-IO office elected 81 state liberation council members including 11 special committee members.
According to the Arusha Agreement signed in 2015, the SPLM-IO has to be merged with the SPLM, a provision that seems unlikely to be endorsed by members of the two parties.
