South Sudan’s ruling party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), registered with the Political Parties Council in the capital Juba on Wednesday.
Party chairman Salva Kiir submitted the application for registration. He was also accompanied by deputy chairman James Wani Igga, acting secretary general Jema Nunu Kumba, and other senior party members as well as supporters.
Speaking at the political parties council yesterday, Kiir said the ruling party would be registered in South Sudan because previously it had been registered only in Sudan. South Sudan separated from Sudan more than four years ago.
Kiir said the registration will protect the SPLM party from encroachment by any other bodies, and will record what he termed the great role played by the party during its liberation struggle for South Sudan.
“We came here as a political party to register our name so that nobody comes to take away the name of SPLM,” he said. “The people of South Sudan and the world know that the SPLM was the party which fought for South Sudan, so we don’t want this name to get lost. We came and we have met all the requirements for registration.”
Kiir pointed out that democracy does not differentiate between a small and a big party. He asserted that the SPLM will win 2018 elections in South Sudan.
In October last year, the political parties council set 15 January 2016 as a deadline for parties to officially register.
The Political Parties Law says a party should have at least 500 party members from each of the South Sudanese states to present its constitution and manifesto for registration.
Radio Tamazuj photo: SPLM party chairman Salva Kiir leads party members to a party registration exercise in Juba.