S. Sudanese opposition group joins ruling party

JUBA. — A faction of South Sudanese opposition movement, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Deputy President Taban Deng Gai, announced yesterday that it has officially joined the ruling SPLM party.

Gai told a news conference that his movement has been disbanded and all party cadres and SPLM-IO fighters would be integrated into the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), respectively.

He said the decision is in line with a 2015 accord that called for the reunification of the various factions of founding SPLM party which fragmented into three factions following outbreak of civil war in late 2013.

“I would therefore like to announce on behalf of the SPLM-IO structures and the entire membership of the party the dissolution of the SPLM-IO organs including chapters and declare them to be united with the SPLM,” Gai told reporters in Juba.

“All SPLM-IO members and cadres are directed to observe this reunification process as stated in the Arusha agreement on 21 January 2015,” he added.

The SPLM-IO split into two factions in mid-2016 following renewed fighting in the capital, Juba that forced former first president and rebel leader Riek Machar to flee into neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, leading to his subsequent replacement by Gai.

The Machar-led group is still fighting the government of Salva Kiir while Gai’s faction remains part of the transitional government of national unity.

The SPLM last week agreed to reinstate party members still associated with other rival factions to pave way for the reunification of liberation movement.

Gai said reunification of the SPLM party would be a key ingredient for ending the ongoing civil war and ensuring stability for the world’s youngest nation.

“Reunification of the SPLM will give it more power, more spirit and more energy to the party to strive on the areas of making peace a last resort,” Gai said.

South Sudan descended into civil war in late 20013, and the conflict has created one of the fastest growing refugee crises in the world. The UN estimates that about 4 million South Sudanese have been displaced internally and externally.

A peace deal signed in August 2015 between the rival leaders under UN pressure led to the establishment of a transitional unity government, but was shattered by renewed fighting in July 2016.

The next round of peace talks spearheaded by the East African bloc, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), is scheduled to reconvene in Ethiopia on May 17. — Xinhua.