The head of the SPLM Youth League in Aweil town has responded defiantly to an order by the SPLM state secretariat removing him from his position, saying that the loyalists of ex-Governor Paul Malong who removed him are not part of the true SPLM.
Northern Bahr al Ghazal remains politically divided since controversial party changes in January that left supporters of Malong in control of the top-level state SPLM structures while supporters of the (recently impeached) caretaker governor Kuel Aguer remain in control of the cabinet.
Following his removal earlier this week, Aweil SPLM youth leader Gabriel Bol explained, “the party is divided into two,” stressing that he is loyal to Kuel Aguer.
In remarks to media, Bol has argued that the group controlling the SPLM Secretariat represents a breakaway faction that he terms “SPLM-Concern,” which he says is not the true SPLM.
“The party is divided into two — those who support the former Governor Paul Malong called themselves as ‘SPLM-Concern’ and we the supporters of the Governor Kuel say SPLM should remain as SPLM only without additional letters. If they want they should register their new party as SPLM concern,” Bol said.
In similar remarks to Sudan Tribune on Monday, Bol compared the secretariat officials to the rebel faction SPLM-IO led by Riek Machar.
Bol claims that he was removed from his position after he refused to withdraw his support from Kuel Aguer as demanded by state party officials. He says he was even offered a position in parliament in return for his loyalty, but he refused.
The group behind this move includes acting state speaker Andrew Lual Buola, assistant secretary for popular and syndicated organisations Santino Mayuat Ngong, Ken Akoon, William Wel and others.
Meanwhile, supporters of Gabriel Bol are refusing to acknowledge the validity of the order from SPLM state headquarters. Party activist Arkangelo Aru Maduok described the decision to remove the youth league chairman as “not correct.”
He explained, “The Secretary for Popular and Syndicated Groups doesn’t have power — or there is no article allowing him to remove the chairperson of SPLM Youth League in Aweil Municipality. The Council have right to remove that person but not the SPLM Secretariat.”
“And even the chairperson of the SPLM youth league in the state, he doesn’t have power to remove the SPLM youth league county chairperson without consultation from the county council,” claimed Arkangelo.
File photo: Paul Malong