Thomas Kuol Kulang, a senior member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), said Thursday that he abandoned his position as the party’s acting secretary-general for Ayod County in Jonglei State and joined the opposition SPLM-IO, citing corruption within the SPLM.
The ruling SPLM party is led by President Salva Kiir, while First Vice President Riek Machar leads the opposition SPLM-IO.
Kiir, Machar and other political figures signed a peace agreement in 2018 that ended five years of civil war.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, Kuol Kulang said he has decided to join the opposition SPLM-IO after failing out with Ayod County Commissioner James Chuol Jiek, who also doubles as the county SPLM chairperson. He accused Commissioner Chuol of being corrupt.
“I abandoned the SPLM as its acting secretary for Ayod County from April until my defection on 16 August,” Kuol said. “The reason for my defection is that there are political challenges impeding peace deal implementation in Ayod.”
He added, “To cite some examples, Commissioner Chuol Jiek had sold building materials meant for the construction of a school and arrested me when I questioned his action. The commissioner also engages in immoral practices like forcibly taking over people’s wives. So I cannot continue to be with SPLM because this party has failed to deal with the commissioner. When you disagree with Commissioner Chuol, he orders the authorities to arrest you. He also arrested Gabriel Tot Kai, on whose behalf I was acting until my defection.”
However, Commissioner Chuol Jiek dismissed Kuol Kulang’ statement as a fabrication, describing him as an opportunist.
“Firstly, no one appointed Kuol Kulang as an acting secretary-general because he is known for crimes. Gabriel Tot is our SPLM Secretary General for Ayod,” Chuol noted. ”It was while I was in Juba in April that Kuol Kulang himself sold building materials. Ask everyone else in Ayod, they will attest to this.”
“On my return, I had him arrested for investigation. His village chief intervened and agreed that they will repay the sold materials. Again, on my moral conduct, he has come forth complaining that I took his wife. SPLM and Gawar community have the power to punish me. So, there is nothing as such.”
When contacted, Gabriel Tot Kai said: “I left Ayod for Bor and later Juba on an official mission on 5 May. The SPLM secretary for political affairs in Ayod was acting on my behalf. However, in my absentia, Commissioner Chuol Jiek brought in Kuol Kulang who was just an ordinary member. The duo colluded and sold building materials meant for the county SPLM office.”
Tot Kai admitted that there is a political crisis facing the SPLM party in Ayod but that there was a meeting for a solution to be found.
For his part, Michael Bol, the secretary-general for SPLM-IO in Jonglei State, said the defection of the senior SPLM official to their side which happened Wednesday, is welcomed, describing it as an expression of political freedom and that it was an indication that the policies of SPLM-IO are attractive.