Mixed expectations as SPLM leaders meet in Arusha

Rival factions of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement met in Arusha, Tanzania Wednesday to sign an agreement aimed at resolving the party’s internal divisions.

Rival factions of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement met in Arusha, Tanzania Wednesday to sign an agreement aimed at resolving the party’s internal divisions.

The summit was attended by SPLM-Juba leader Salva Kiir, SPLM-In Opposition leader Riek Machar, and an SPLM-G10 “former detainees” leader.

The three men were expected to sign an agreement on the re-unification of their movement as a step toward resolving the political crisis within the SPLM that preceded the current civil war.

The so-called “Arusha Process,” overseen by Tanzania’s majority Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, has attempted to reconcile the SPLM since last year following a request by Kiir. It is a parallel effort to the IGAD-led peace talks in Addis Ababa.

The presidents or prime ministers of South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zanzibar, and Tanzania were expected in Arusha to witness the event on Wednesday. There was talk of a “breakthrough” on the way, with various neighboring nations labeling the event as “historic” or “symbolic.”

However, before the signing, statements from the CCM and SPLM factions showed disagreement persisted on key sticking points. CCM Secretary General Abdulrahman Omari Kinana admitted the sides had yet to reach complete agreement.

“Ninety-five percent of the document has been agreed, only five percent is pending. This five percent will need the consultation, the advice, and the wisdom of the leaders of the region,” he said according to Voice of America.

The rebels continued to insist that Salva Kiir step down, though Kiir recently asserted that he will not leave the presidency.

“For any critical reform to happen Salva Kiir must go, as Salva Kiir is the stumbling block at country and at party level,” SPLM-IO member Puoch Riek Deng told Bloomberg News Agency Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Juba government spokesperson Michael Makuei rubbished any talk of former SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum-the leader of the SPLM-G10-rejoining the party.

Despite stating in a Juba press conference that “the main objective of the Arusha summit is to unify the ranks of SPLM factions,” Makuei said that reinstating Amum to the party “is something impossible.” He further called Amum a “criminal” and accused him of stealing 30 million dollars from the SPLM.

Wednesday’s event is not the first time the three SPLM factions have met with the goal of reuniting. In October 2014, they held a week of consultations that culminated in the signing of a reunification agreement.

At press time, Radio Tamazuj had not seen the content of the agreement purportedly signed by the two parties on Wednesday.

Photo: SPLM leaders with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, 20 October 2014

Related:

Politics: Arusha initiative planned without IGAD involvement (9 Nov.) 

Documents: intra-SPLM dialogue framework and communique (21 Oct.)

Riek Machar in Tanzania following SPLM talks (20 Oct.)

SPLM ‘leadership review’ initiated in Addis Ababa (5 Apr.)