Juba, South Sudan.
November 11, 2021—A senior member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has turned down her appointment to represent the SPLM-IO at the recently reconstituted state legislative Assembly in Upper Nile State.
President Salva Kiir issued a republican decrees last week reconstituting four state parliaments to be composed of the former incumbent government, SPLM-IO, SSOA, OPP and FDs.
In one of the decrees, Kiir appointed Mariah Ajak Kur as a representative of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In-Opposition (SPLM-IO) under country’s first Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny; however, Mariah, who projects herself as SPLM bona-fide senior member says it was an astonishment to her to learn her appointment on SPLM-IO ticket because according to her, she is a loyal member of the governing SPLM.
“Last week, I was appointed as a member of the Upper Nile state assembly for the SPLM – IO seat. I want to confirm to my people that I don’t have any relation with this party and am denouncing this appointment,” Mariah confirmed to media on Wednesday.
Mariah said her rejection to Parliamentary seat allocated in the name of the SPLM-IO will serve as an evidence of her loyalty to her party.
“I have been loyal to SPLM since forever and I want to confirm that I am not a member of SPLM – IO. I am a member of SPLM”, she said.
She further stressed that there is no reason for her to accept the position since she doesn’t know any single member in the opposition group adding that she was not even consulted about it.
“I rejected this appointment because I don’t know any person there in the SPLM – IO and even they did not consult me when my name appeared there as the seat of IO of Renk County. I got shocked because I didn’t have any communication with them.”, Mariah lamented.
Mariah is a chairperson of Women’s Union of Renk County and she is also a member of the SPLM National Liberation Council which is one of the highest decision making organs of the party.
