Different groups of youths are claiming to represent the SPLM Youth League in Aweil East, reflecting a split in the party at the higher level in Aweil where supporters of the embattled caretaker governor are opposed by those of the ex-governor and party leader Paul Malong.

One of the two groups in Aweil East has complained that the other group made unauthorized statements over the radio last week, after a member claiming to represent the SPLM youth league announced the anticipated return of the Caretaker Governor Kuel Aguer Kuel.

The youth league official had called on the public to come out to a rally to support the governor upon his return.

Following this move, another group has claimed to be the newly appointed SPLM Youth League office and that the old office was dissolved in January. Andrea Ariik Piol announced that he is the new information secretary, saying that welcoming the caretaker governor is not the official policy of the Aweil East SPLM Youth League.

He said that the announcement broadcast last Saturday by the former information secretary telling people to come out for welcoming the state caretaker governor upon his return was not a legitimate announcement.

Andrea stressed that the executive body was dissolved and there is a new SPLM youth league leadership in the county.

But the county commissioner – himself an appointee of the caretaker governor – rejected the view of Andrea, saying that he gave his blessing for the pro-governor faction of the youth league to make the radio announcement about the governor’s anticipated return.

“I want to tell you nobody should go to the radio and reject what the government decided, by saying that the person who comes yesterday is not the right person to announce. I'm the commissioner of Aweil East and I'm the one who authorized that person to go and announce on the radio about the coming of caretaker governor,” said Aweil East Commission Ngor Akok.

Related:

Power struggle in Aweil East SPLM branch (12 Feb.)