Fractured SPLM factions holding country hostage, says opposition leader
Elisabeth Janaina
Fractured SPLM factions holding country hostage, says opposition leader
A South Sudanese opposition leader has charged fragmented factions of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) of holding the country hostage for their partisan interests.
The SPLM party fractured in December 2013, leading to the ongoing civil war that has killed thousands and forced a large number of people to seek refugees in neighbouring countries.“You know very well that the current security and economic situation in the country was caused by the differences among the leaders and members of the SPLM,” said Joseph Wol Modesto, Secretary-General of the South Sudanese Communist Party in an interview with Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday.
He further said South Sudan is on the brink of collapse due to actions of SPLM factions after they had failed to set aside their differences, despite a peace deal in which they shared power.“The country cannot continue to be held hostage. They [SPLM factions] should sort out their differences or else leave people alone. The people they are killing and those they are forcing to leave the country are the same people they claim to rule the country on their behalf,” he said.“If they all die or desert the country, where will they get people to be represented or what will they do?” he asked.
The opposition official reiterated that his party would not participate in the national dialogue without any clear agenda and conducive environment.“There are certain things which should have been done first if this dialogue was called in good faith. One of these things is the lifting of the state of emergency, honour ceasefire, release political prisoners and leave the dialogue process to non-partisan bodies like the religious group to conduct it. These things have been overlooked,” he said.
He pointed out that the majority of the population is either displaced or fled the country to neighbouring countries in search of security, protection and food.