Emmanuel Ajawin, the leader of the National Democratic Movement-Patriotic Front (NDM-PF), has been appointed the Secretary-General of the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) allied to Gen. Thomas Cirillo, according to a statement released by the political grouping.

"The South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) informs all members, supporters, the people of South Sudan and the International Community that the SSOMA-Leadership Council has appointed the Secretary-General of SSOMA,” the press release seen by Radio Tamazuj read in part, “The SSOMA Leadership Council has appointed Amb. Emmanuel Aban Ajawain, a member of the Leadership Council, as secretary-Generalneral of SSOMA effective from 13 March 2021.”

According to the SSOMA statement, the position of the Secretary-General of SSOMA is a six (6)-month tenure rotational among the members of the SSOMA Leadership Council.

“As Secretary-General, Amb. Emmanuel Ajawin will be the Chief Administrator of the Alliance and answerable to the SSOMA Leadership Council. The SSOMA Leadership Council congratulates Amb. Emmanuel Ajawin and wish him success in his new assignment in the Alliance," the statement concluded. 

The SSOMA faction led by Gen. Thomas Cirillo consists of four Movements namely: The National Salvation Front (NAS); The National Democratic Movement-Patriotic Front (NDM-PF); The South Sudan National Movement for Change/Army (SSNMC/A); and The United Democratic Revolution Movement/Army (UDRM/A). 

In October last year, the leaders in the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) said that differences within the coalition led to its split into two groups at the Community Sant’Egidio mediated talks in Rome.

Differences emerged within the SSOMA after statements by Sunday de John, a former spokesman for the Paul Malong led South Sudan United Front (SSUF), about the existence of secret talks between the latter and the government in Juba.

The Thomas Cirillo-led South Sudan National Democratic Alliance (SSNDA), a coalition that is a member of SSOMA, suspended the membership of Malong’s SSUF from SSOMA. Pagan Amum, head of the Real Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (R-SPLM) and member of the SSOMA leadership council at the time, rejected Malong’s suspension saying the move violated the regulations of the alliance.

The initial SSOMA leadership council comprised Thomas Cirillo, Paul Malong Awan, and Pa’gan Amum.

Pa’gan and Malong now lead a separate SSOMA which signed a Declaration of Principles on Friday last week with the South Sudan government under the auspices of the Community Sant’Egidio.