A leadership row is once again simmering within the South Sudan opposition coalition as six organisations have rejected Denay Chagor, as the new leader.
The move came after Gabriel Changson who leads the Federal Democratic Party and Denay Jock Chagor who succeeded the late Gen Peter Gatdet as leader of the South Sudan United Movement declared that the two factions closed ranks and appointed Denay Chagor as the new leader of the opposition alliance.
The alliance, which comprises of nine opposition organisations, was divided over leadership since November 2018.
Lam Akol Ajawin, leader of the opposition group National Democratic Movement (NDM), told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that the two factions had reached an advanced stage in the discussions to reunite with support from South Sudan Council of Churches.
He further said Changson and Denay bypassed the candidate the two factions recommended to serve as the interim leader of the opposition alliance.
“We agreed that Josephine Lago would be the interim leader until a new leader is selected. But we were surprised by a joint statement issued by Changson and Denay saying the two factions have reunited and appointed Denay as the new leader,” he said.
“What happened is not true, because a new leader has to be elected by all organizations of South Sudan opposition alliance,” he added.
Akol noted that the six parties of the opposition coalition will take a decision on the way forward should Changson and Denay refuse to change their position.
“We will go to the council of churches so that we meet them to discuss what happened,” said Lam.
Meanwhile Joseph Bangasi Bakasoro, leader of the South Sudan National Movement for Change, confirmed that fresh divisions have again rocked the opposition alliance after efforts to reunite its divided factions.
He explained that his organisation alongside five other parties within the opposition alliance rejected a purported “reunification” announced by Changson and Denay.
“What we agreed upon is that Josephine will be the interim chairperson until a new leader is selected,” he said.
Bakasoro, who formerly served as state governor in Western Equatoria, has accused Changson and Denay of trying to prolong differences within the coalition.
He pointed out that the six organisations will decide the next step after the two groups decided to violate the agreement mediated by South Sudan Council of Churches.
On his part, Denay Jock Chagor said that reunification talks mediated by the church had reached deadlock and that prompted him and Gabriel Changson to make compromises as leaders of the two factions.
“There was a need for compromises between Changson and myself, because we were leading the two factions. My party won the election conducted in Khartoum and Gabriel Changson was the interim chair since we formed the opposition alliance,” he said.
“After the compromise, we said since we agreed to reunite and we are going to finalize it, let’s allow Josephine Lago to facilitate our meetings internally, so there was no any official document authorizing Josephine to be the interim leader,” he continued.
Chagor claimed that the compromise was supported by South Sudan Council of Church and the regional bloc IGAD. The opposition official stressed that he is the legitimate leader of the opposition alliance, urging the six organisations to recognise the new leadership structure.
“If they want to come back, we are happy with them but if they don’t want to come back, they will be asked by the peace partners and IGAD,” he said. “They are also free to form their own group”.
Calls to Gabriel Changson went unanswered.