An interparty dialogue between the three main factions of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) is to take place in Tanzania.
South Sudan’s ruling party the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has split into the SPLM-Juba led by Salva Kiir, the SPLM-In Opposition led by Riek Machar, and the SPLM-Leaders. The SLPM-Juba and SPLM-IO are both armed movements fighting each other for control of South Sudan.
SPLM-Juba Acting Secretary General Anne Itto announced the dialogue started in Tanzania.
The dialogue in Tanzania includes representation of the SPLM-Juba by Daniel Awed, the SPLM-IO headed by Adwok Nyaba, and the SPLM leaders by Pagan Amum.
James Gatdet Dak, spokesperson of the chairman for the SPLM-IO, confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that their delegations left for the conference.
Dak said the visit comes in response to an invitation extended by the Tanzanian ruling party, the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).
“The gathering will mainly center on the necessity for a strong political party in South Sudan,” Dak said. “This is about SPLM unification and transition in order to unite the people and usher in development.”
On Sunday, Salva Kiir Mayardit, the chairman of SPLM-Juba faction, led a party meeting at which he briefed his team. Itto said that their delegation comprises ten members and left this morning for Tanzania.
“The ruling party in Tanzania offered to bring together the SPLM leadership in a forum where they can share experiences of other movements who have gone through similar conflicts,” Itto said.
She said the three factions will be able to use lessons learned from other struggles in order to narrow down their difference and come up with a way forward.
Itto said such a dialogue will go to directly support the efforts of IGAD. She said they would like to remain in the same party with the other two factions, and would like the party to solve its internal differences through dialogue.
Itto urged the SPLM-IO to renounce violence.
Related:
Factbox: Factions of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement
Radio Tamazuj photo: SPLM party premises in Juba