Duer ‘attempted coup against Machar’, says Baluang
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition SPLM-IO has accused the former governor of defunct Sobat State, Duer Tut Duer, of trying to stage a coup against the chairman Dr Riek Machar.
“We believe comrade Duer’s statement is a clear attempt of Coup’etat to the leadership of the SPLM-SPLA-IO,” the Acting Press Secretary in the office of the First Vice present Puok Both Baluang told City Review on Thursday in his office.
Baluang was responding to Duer’s recent claims that Dr Riek Machar was removed from the chairmanship of the SPLM-IO, hence, has no powers to remove or replace any official of the main armed opposition group.
Duer reportedly said, “I would like to take this opportunity to inform the people of South Sudan that Riek Machar is dismissed from the Chairmanship of the SPLM-IO on June 1, 2021, as such [he has] no any right to appoint or dismiss any official of the SPLM-IO in the bush. His jurisdiction is reduced to the SPLM-IO in Juba, ”Duer said.
But according to Baluang, the former governor of defunct Sobat state has never held any leadership position in the National Liberation Council (NCR) and the political bureau; neither is he part of the leadership of the army of the SPLM-A/IO.
“The political bureau in the leadership of SPLM-A/IO has decided to form a committee to investigate this act of Duer Tut if he is a member of the SPLM-SPLA-IO otherwise this act is contradicting the code and conduct of the SPLM-1O.
‘‘I would like also to assure the public that the leadership of the IO is committed and [is] standing firm behind the able leadership of the first vice president of South Sudan.
Based on the Nasser declaration of 2004 and the Khartoum meeting, the leadership of the SPLM-IO entrusted the chairman of the SPLM-IO with the appointment and dismissal within the structure.
According to the Baluang, the SPLM-A/IO has four basic documents that guard the process and the work within the party.
The constitution says the selection of the chairman of the party only happens during the process where all IO members from the grassroots to participate in the process.
