SPLM Officially Registered As A Political Party In South Sudan

SPLM Members match as they go for registration of their party in Juba, amongst them Kuol Manyang, President Salva Kiir, James Wani Igga (R-L) [Photo by Jok Mayom]

By Jok P Mayom

The ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in South Sudan on Tuesday officially registered with the Political Council in preparation for the upcoming national elections.

Salva Kiir Mayardit said party was registered in Sudan in 2010, before the independence of South Sudan in 2011.

“In 2010, we were registered in Sudan and we are not any longer in Sudan we have come to South Sudan as a State through independence and this is why we came to register our party” Kiir said to reporters at the Political Parties Council.

“…….We came as a political party to register our name so that nobody comes and takes the name of SPLM. The people of South Sudan and the whole world know that SPLM is the party that liberated the country till the independence” said Kiir.

 Jemma Nunu Kumba, the Acting Secretary General (S.G) of the SPLM on her part said, that the part had all the requirements necessary for them to register as a political party in the country.

 “….. before we came here, we had looked at the requirements of the Political Party Act including the passing of the basic document which we did last week by convening an extra ordinary convention which went successfully and ended” Kumba said.

“We have brought three copies of the new constitution, manifesto and our code of conduct plus all the other documents that were required,” she adds.

“We have also brought the required number of registered voters that qualifies the SPLM to register from all the States of South Sudan” Kumba said.

“…. They wanted about 5000, but we even registered up to 17,000 for this registration but we have only brought the number that was required by the political party because SPLM cannot fail to get any number. We are proud of our members and we are happy to register” said the SPLM Acting S.G.

Bol Makueng Yol, SPLM Secretary of Information also noted that the registration comes following the promise made by the chairman of the party during the convention to legally register the party in preparation for elections.

“This was what the Chairman of the SPLM Cde. Salva Kiir Mayardit promised in the last SPLM 1st Extraordinary National Convention which was held from 07th – 09th January 2016 at the Freedom Hall” Makueng said. Makueng said their registration is to fulfill the rules for the operation of the political parties in the Country.