A former member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) National Liberation Council has resigned from the ruling SPLM party and rejoined the opposition, citing a lack of ideology and progress within the government.
Laagmad Marial Machot, who represented Jiir Payam of Rumbek Central County, submitted his resignation from the SPLM on Thursday. He publicly announced his return to the SPLM-IO in a statement, criticizing his former party.
In an interview with Radio Tamazuj, Machot said he resigned in protest following the recent suspension of SPLM-IO chairman and First Vice President Riek Machar.
“After I left, I realized that the SPLM seemed to be so reluctant in implementing the revitalized peace agreement, which is the only hope for South Sudanese citizens,” Machot said.
Machot, who was an SPLM-IO member for nine years before defecting to the ruling party two years ago, stated he decided to return because the SPLM-IO is the party with a genuine interest in implementing the peace accord.
“The SPLM-IO party has been trying and crying for the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement, while the SPLM seems to be so reluctant because it doesn’t want to implement it,” he said. “I came back to the SPLM-IO with interests of peace so that we push the peace implementation forward.”
He also expressed disappointment with his time in the ruling party, claiming he found no meaningful political activities or ideological direction.
“I came to the SPLM and I got nothing,” Machot said. “There is no SPLM to talk about, there is no political activities and there is no any political progress.”
Machot added that he aims to help break the perception that the SPLM-IO belongs to a single tribe, advocating for a multi-party democracy where all South Sudanese can exercise their political rights.
SPLM officials in Lakes state could not immediately be reached for comment.