The remaining leaders of the South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC), which was previously led by national public service minister Joseph Bakasoro before he rejoined the SPLM this morning, have said their party will remain a member of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) and shall continue implementing the revitalized peace agreement.
The NMC in a press release which indicated the focal persons as Hon. Clement Juma Mbugoniwia (Legal Advisor) and Hon. Moro Isaac Jenesio (Secretary-General) said there is nothing wrong with a member leaving to join another party and that it was an individual decision of Bakasoro and not the entire party.
“On behalf of the SSNMC Interim Leadership and the entire Members of the Movement, we are here to inform the General public that our Chairman Hon. Joseph Bakosoro has decided to re-join the SPLM Party along with other colleagues vide Press Statement dated 15th July 2021 issued at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Regional Cooperation in Juba,” the SSNMC release said. “There is nothing wrong with any member of the Party leaving to join another party. That being said, however, we would like to assure our members and supporters that the decision of Hon. Joseph Bakosoro, former Chairman of SSNMC, and those colleagues who joined him in the decision to return to the SPLM Party is purely their personal decision for which we are not a part.”
The co-founders of NMC said they cannot allow the party to go into limbo and urged its members to remain calm and implement the peace agreement.
“NMC is a grass-root Movement with members across the country. As co-founders and prominent members, we cannot allow the Party to run into abeyance. We, therefore, urge those members who have remained behind and our supporters to remain calm and focus on the implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement. On the same note, we assure our colleagues in SSOA, the International Community, IGAD, AU, TROIKA, and indeed the people of South Sudan that SSNMC remains a prominent member of SSOA therefore, shall continue to pursue the implementation of the R-ARCSS 2018,” NMC reassured.
The remaining NMC leadership wished the members who left well and promised to work with the SPLM as a peace partner.
“While we regret that this is now happening during the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) 2018, we affirm that as a party governed on the basis of democracy, good governance, and the rule of Law, members have rights to join any other political formations safe that a clear declaration to that effect is made,” the press release said. “As for colleagues who have left us to join the SPLM, we wish them well and want to reaffirm our respect for their free will and decision. We confirm that our relationship with the SPLM shall continue as a partner in the Peace Agreement who has a duty and obligations to implement the Peace in letter and spirit.
The NMC leadership said they are consulting with their state leaders to come up with a new leadership structure.