The branch office of South Sudan’s governing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement faction in Northern Bahr el Ghazal under president Salva Kiir remains sharply divided over termination of  the membership of Kuel Aguer Kuel, the caretaker governor of the SPLM-Juba stronghold state.

Kuel has been engaged in a power struggle with his predecessor in the state, Paul Malong Awan, who remains the head of the SPLM-Juba faction in the state in spite of his transfer to the SPLA-Juba top command position in Juba.

Despite claims by the state party leader that the dust has settled, party infighting continues.

According to Akec Akeen, head of information and communications at the secretariat of the ruling party, the party membership of caretaker Governor Kuel was terminated by resolutions taken by the leadership at a 3 January meeting chaired by Malong Awan.

The caretaker is accused by the secretariat of inability, lack of respect to the leadership, disloyalty to the chairman and leadership of the ruling party in the state and working against the objectives of the party, including undermining the authority and powers of the secretariat.  

He is also accused of appointment of cabinet members without carrying out sufficient consultation on who should be appointed from within the cadres of the party.  

The termination of the membership of the caretaker governor has drawn mixed reactions, with several government officials openly accusing General Malong of orchestrating his expulsion.

Akeen defended the move saying, “The SPLM state liberation council met and resolved to expel comrade Kuel Aguer Kuel from the party. The council was convened to discuss his misconduct and the leadership unanimously agreed that to restore and maintain the strength and unity of the party, disciplinary actions should be taken against those who go against the rules and regulations of the party and Comrade Kuel is no exception.”

He mentioned also that Kuel allegedly "passed on sensitive and classified SPLM information" to some who are not genuine cadres.

But the government chief whip in the state parliament, Benson Opuothmalo, said the action of some members within the party leadership was unconstitutional and that it remains a non-binding decision, pointing out the move has already been challenged at the higher level.

“They made up charges similar to those they made against comrade Andrew Lual Buola, Vicky Nyanut Urac, Kuac Wek Wol, Hikma Ali Malek, Achak Thiep, Deng Deng Akuei and those who were dismissed from the SPLM in 2012 before they were reinstated. This is what they have done again to the governor but I don’t think they will succeed this time,” said Opuothmalo.