The SPLM National Liberation Council in Juba on Friday endorsed the Arsuha reunification agreement to reunify fragmented factions of the historical party.
The Arusha reunification accord was signed on 21 January 2015 under the auspices of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi, Tanzania’s governing party and attempts to reunify three SPLM factions through a conflict resolution mechanism.
The deal signed by SPLM led Salva Kiir, SPLM-IO led Riek Machar and SPLM-FDs led Pagan Amum, lays out key steps towards the reunification of the governing party.
In the meeting today, First Vice President and leader of the SPLM-IO faction in Juba announced that his faction has been dissolved officially.
In his closing remarks, President Salva Kiir expressed his commitment to the agenda of the governing party.
The South Sudanese leader called on party members who are still outside the country to return home and take up their previous positions.
According to the resolutions of the SPLM Liberation Council meetings, the party organs will be restructured including the Political Bureau and National Liberation Council and all other organs.
Deputy Chairman of the governing party, James Wani Igga, said the reunification of the SPLM party will cement the unity of South Sudan.
“Let patriotism and sacrifices of our great people guide us,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Salva Kiir, who doubles as chairman of the SPLM party, urged all party members to observe discipline in the party.
“I want all of us to consider the plight of our people, and then we change our way of doing things,” he said.
According to the resolutions, the SPLM-NLC members who failed to attend the meeting in Juba to attend the next meeting, which is scheduled to take place within 45 days.
The National Liberation Council meeting decided to reinstate cadres of the party who took part in the meeting in Juba to resume their previous positions with immediate effect.