The leader of the opposition Common People’s Alliance (CPA), Deng Bol Aruai, took a stand on Tuesday to defend his newly established party against allegations that it is a briefcase party.
These claims were made by members of other political parties who labelled the CPA as an internet-based and tribal political party, sparking a contentious debate.
During the CPA’s inaugural meeting held in Juba, Deng Bol Aruai, Chairperson of the Common People’s Alliance, refuted that the party is a brown briefcase political party or solely based on the internet. He emphasized that the CPA operates within the confines of the law and has a physical office.
“I want to clarify that the CPA is not a briefcase political party, an internet-based political party, a tribal party, or a regional party. These misconceptions are unfounded. While we may not possess boundless financial resources, we possess the resilience of the people,” he declared.
Deng Bol Aruai further highlighted the progress made by the CPA despite limited resources. With the contributions of only 15 members, the party has managed to establish a modest office. He dismissed the need for an extravagant office, suggesting that the SPLM should invest in grand infrastructure due to its wealth and political influence.
Moreover, Deng Bol Aruai revealed that the CPA’s manifesto has resonated with members from various political parties, including the SPLM, SPLM-IO, SSOA, and OPP, who have joined forces with the CPA in anticipation of the upcoming 2024 elections.
“We inspire fear in other political parties. We are the only party that attracts members from rival political parties, and I am referring to individuals who come to us or express a desire to do so and who will vote for us during the elections. I am not aware of any member of the CPA who intends to vote for any party within the SSOA, OPP, SPLM-IO, or SPLM,” Deng Bol Aruai asserted.
The National Democratic Alliance, which later transformed into the Common People’s Alliance, was established on September 15, 2022. This youth-led political party says it wants to “champion the interests of the common people of South Sudan by upholding their values and principles.”