Machar shakes up SPLM/A-IO national committee leadership
The First Vice President, who also serves as the chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO), Dr Riek Machar Teny, has reconstituted the leadership of the movement’s national committee.
The appointment of the chairpersons was done according to the resolutions (1) and (2) of the September 23, 2016, Khartoum Political Bureau meeting. It also conformed to the resolutions (1) and (2) of the August 31, 2018, Khartoum Political Bureau meeting, the operationalisation of resolutions of the 3rd Conference of the NLC on September 22, 2018, held in Khartoum and resolution number (1) on organisation matters of the 6th National Conference held in Juba on 1st -5th December 2020. It also conforms to the resolution (7) of the 4th National Liberation Council held in Juba on December 2, 2021. ‘‘I hereby reconstitute the leadership of SPLM/SPLA (IO) National Committee as follows.” partly read the statement shared by the spokesperson of Dr Machar’s office, Puok Both Baluang.
Details of appointment
Stephen Par Kuol was named Chairperson of the National Committee for Peace, Reconciliation, and Healing; Joseph Malual Dong was named Chairperson of the National Committee for Foreign Affairs; and Dr. Riang Yar Dhuor was named Chairperson of the National Committee for Constitutional Affairs, Justice, and Human Rights.
Angelina Teny was appointed as the chairperson of the National Committee for Security and Defense, Justin Joseph Marona as the chairperson of the Committee for Economic Affairs, commerce and industry, while Wiu Kun Kuiyang was appointed the chairperson of the committee for Agriculture and Natural resources.
Deng Deng Akon was appointed as the chairperson of the National Committee for Land, Housing and Environment, Mustafa Gibson Maimil Bangasu was appointed as the chairperson of the committee for Transport systems while Nathaniel Oyet Pierino was appointed the chairperson of the National Committee for Education, Science and Technology.
Alier Samuel Ateny was appointed the chairperson of the National Committee for Health, Martin Gamma Abucha as the chairperson for the National Committee for culture, youth and sports, Aya Benjamin Warile as the chairperson of the national committee for Gender and Social Welfare while Elizabeth Acuei Yol was appointed as the chairperson of the national committee for Humanitarian Affairs.
However, the position of the deputy chairperson of the movement is yet to be made known to the public by the leadership of SPLM/SPLA (IO).
Deputy chair appointment
In December 2021, the Director of Information and Public Relations in the office of the First Vice President, Puok Baluang revealed that the appointment of the Machar’s deputy and filling of other political positions was a “stone throw” and would be announced soon.
“The first step is that we should complete our National Liberation Council, which was conducted on the second of December. Now we have formed the NLC and according to our constitution, the appointee and the vacant positions from the SPLM-IO should come from the National Liberation Council which is the NLC, “he said.
“Now this process is done, we will (then) announce not only the deputy chair but other vacancies within the structure of the SPLM/A-IO, to have the deputy chairperson and (other positions left vacant) due to defections and other (factors) during the struggle.”
The Deputy Chairperson will replace Henry Odwar who reportedly shifted allegiance to Kt Gwang Declaration, led by Simon Gatwech Dual, which is now implementing the Khartoum Peace Agreement with the SPLM.
“We are listening to the reports from the states and administrative areas, and we are still here, but the appointments of the deputy chairperson are still pending, although it is one of the agenda remaining,” Puok said.
