Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin to run for GoSS Presidency

The Alliance of Southern Sudan Political Parties which was in the South-South Dialogue in Khartoum last year met official on Wednesday 13th January 2010 in Khartoum to nominate a Presidential candidate for the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS).

The SPLM-DC presented their candidate then, Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin who was swiftly endorse by the Alliance as the candidate to be supported by the Alliance in their bid to win the GoSS Presidency in the coming Elections.

Earlier also on Monday 11th January 2010 the alliance of the Southern Sudan Political parties had met with representatives of other 20 Northern National unity parties and together they also endorsed the candidacy of President Omer Hassen Al Bashir as their preferred candidate for President of the Republic in the coming Elections. The Alliance stated many reason for the choice of President Al Bashir among them:
President Al Bashir is the only person to sign working peace agreement in Southern Sudan, Darfur, and the Eastern Region.
It was also stated that the President El Beshir has to be given the chance to complete the implementation of the CPA and the other agrrement which he had signed while serving current term. Many challenges remain and the alliance of Southern Political partied believes it is only Al Bashir who can overcame the challenges that remain in implementing the peace agreements. President El Beshir was also credited with stopping wars and the bloodshed which had plagued the nation for so long. Also the inclusive administration instituted by President Al Bashir already is a good step for political pluralism and social and cultural diversity. Mr Bashir is the very one now working to implement democratic transformation and as it was embodied in the interim Constitution of the country and the CPA and he should be given the chance to continue with this.

Hence the Alliance of Sothern Political parties said they were not supporting citizen Omer Hassen Al Bashir as leader of the NCP but as s statesman who is credited with bringing many good things for the Sudan and spearheading the development of the country in the last two decades.

As such all the supporters of the eight political parties in the Alliance are now being argued to align themselves behind the chosen leadership who are going to contest in the coming Sudan Elections, in April 2010. Supports of the eight partied will cast their votes for Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin for President of GoSS and for President Omer Hassen Al Bahsir for the President of the republic. The alliance is also contesting three Governors potions in the Southern Sudan.

However there have been big complains and protests from the members of the Alliance of Southern political parties operating in the Southern Sudan, that they had not been able to file candidates for many constituencies due to intimidation, bullying and arrests by SPLM security forces in the Southern Sudan. Many offices of the SPM-DC had been closed directly or indirectly by SPLM security forces and as such the ability to holding meetings and work on candidates lists in the Southern Sudan had been hampered so badly that many Alliance members tried to stand even as independent candidates. It is worth mentioning that GoSS President and chairman of SPLM General Salva Kiir Mayardit recently reaffirmed his staunch position in undermining SPLM-DC in Southern Sudan when he spoke recently in Terakaka County. A long awaited ruling by the Constitutional Court against General Salva Kiir Mayardit ban on SPLM-DC
activities in Southern Sudan is still being awaited by the SPLM-Dc leadership.

Eng. Charles B. Kisanga
Secretary General
SPLM-DC