Deng Arier Makoi, a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the chief whip representing the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) in the Lakes State Transitional Assembly, has resigned from the opposition alliance and joined the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in Rumbek, Lakes State.
Makoi, who held multiple leadership positions under the SSOA, including a seat in the Lakes State parliament and his role as chief whip, announced his resignation on Saturday.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, Makoi cited a call from his community as the primary reason for his decision to defect to the SPLM, led by President Salva Kiir.
“My community called on me to return and join the SPLM-IG (In Government),” Makoi said. “This is not because I was not serving well in the SSOA or because the SSOA did not give me a satisfactory job. The SSOA gave me a ticket to become a member of parliament and later appointed me as chief whip. Up to this point, the roles given to me by the party were satisfactory, but a community call is bigger than any political party. That is why I chose to return.”
Makoi emphasized that his decision was driven by his family’s longstanding ties to the SPLM Party. “My father served in traditional leadership for a long time and made significant contributions to the SPLM. They told me I should not be part of the political opposition and that I should rejoin the SPLM,” he explained.
He acknowledged that his resignation from the SSOA would result in the loss of his parliamentary seat, as party rules dictate that a member’s ticket is forfeited upon leaving the party.
“It is not my problem to continue as a member of parliament. When you resign from a political party, your ticket is automatically lost, and this will happen. There are no issues with that,” he said.
Makoi stressed the importance of unity and peace in his message to the people of Lakes State and South Sudan. “My return to the SPLM is about uniting my community. My family is a big family, and I cannot deny their call to come back and unite them,” he said. “It will be up to the SPLM as a party to assign me any role, and I am ready for it.”
He also reflected on the nature of politics, describing it as a game of calculations. “Politics is all about calculations. When election time comes, I have no promises from the community. But leadership is about having people behind you, and I have accepted their call,” he said.
South Sudan is set to hold its first general election in December 2026, marking a milestone since the country gained independence in 2011. The elections, which have been postponed multiple times due to inadequate preparedness, aim to pave the way for democratic governance in the world’s youngest nation.
The delays have been compounded by ongoing disputes among political parties, which have hindered the implementation of key provisions of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.