The opposition National Democratic Movement (NDM) has been thrown into crisis after a splinter group announced it had removed veteran politician Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin as party leader, accusing him of repeatedly violating party rules and undermining internal democracy.
The announcement was made at a press conference in Juba on Wednesday by Peter Lomude Francis, a senior NDM member, who read a statement on behalf of the group and said the decision had been taken by the party’s highest decision-making body following consultations and internal reviews.
“The National Democratic Movement, NDM, announces the removal of Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin from the office of the party,” Francis said.
Lomude, an NDM lawmaker, said the decision was unanimous and took immediate effect.
“After extensive consultations, external orderly meetings and internal reviews, the party unanimously resolved to remove Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin from his position as chairman of NDM and to remain as an ordinary member in the party with immediate effect. This decision was not taken lightly.”
According to the statement, the move followed what the group described as prolonged efforts to address conduct that had weakened party unity, internal democracy and institutional integrity.
Lomude cited several grounds for the decision, including what he described as unilateral actions by Akol.
“The removal of Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin is based on serious and repeated violations, including unilateral violations of the resolutions of the National Executive Committee and the National Legislative Council of NDM.”
The group also accused Akol of breaching party rules by forming parallel structures.
“Contravention of the party’s basic rules, including the creation of parallel groupings within the party in violation of Article 47 of the basic rules,” the statement said.
Further allegations included interference in internal elections and the promotion of tribal divisions.
“On the 17th of February 2025, Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin cancelled parliamentary caucus elections single-handedly in violation of the decision dated 10th of February 2024,” Francis said.
“On the 9th of August 2025, he influenced the NLC elections along tribal lines through the circulation of a list to members of his tribe, who constitute more than 50 percent of NLC members.”
Lomude also questioned the party’s democratic credentials under Akol’s leadership.
“Out of 22 members of the National Executive Committee, six of them are his direct committee members. So how democratic is NDM if six members are from Ajawin’s family?”
Allegations of favoritism
The statement accused Akol of nepotism and favoritism in the allocation of government and military posts awarded to the party under power-sharing arrangements.
“His systematic tribalism, nepotism and favoritism were demonstrated through the monopolization of NDM-allocated positions in the government and military appointments for the benefit of his own ethnic group and close relatives.”
“Out of nine members of the National Legislative Assembly, the TNLA and the Council of States positions allocated to NDM, four of them were awarded to individuals from Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin’s own tribe and one seat to their own in-law,” it added.
Financial concerns
The group further accused Akol of inconsistency in party positions, violating alliance agreements and fostering divisions within the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA).
“Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin has consistently acted as the principal organizer of divisions within NDM and SSOA leaders, undermining collective decisions and leaving the alliance totally fragmented and disunited,” Francis said.
Concerns were also raised about party finances.
“Lack of transparency and accountability in the party finances since the inception of NDM in 2016, including failure to account for substantial funds and dismissal of senior party members without due process,” the statement said.
Interim leadership
Following the announcement, the group named former secretary general Mahjoub Biel Turuk as interim chairman.
“The leadership assigned honorable colleague Mahjoub Biel Turuk, the former secretary general, to be the interim chairman of NDM until the conduct of the conference,” Francis said.
Mahjoub previously served as governor of Jonglei State on the NDM ticket. The party is part of the SSOA, a signatory to the 2018 peace agreement.
The group called on dismissed members to return and reaffirmed its commitment to the 2018 peace agreement.
“The National Democratic Movement remains committed to the implementation of the R-ARCSS in letter and spirit and urges all parties to inclusive dialogue.”
“This decision marks a new chapter for NDM, one grounded in collective leadership, respect for institutions and fidelity to the expression of our members and the people of South Sudan,” Francis added.
Party rejects move
NDM spokesman Kai Tap Gatchang rejected the announcement, telling Radio Tamazuj that those who claimed to have removed Akol were a splinter group acting outside party structures.
He said the group had been holding secret meetings aimed at dividing the party and had already been sidelined during earlier leadership meetings.
“So from there, the result of their secretive work is what you have seen now,” he said.
Kai said the splinter group was led by former secretary general Mahjoub Biel, MP Francis Lomude and Ali Ramadan, among others.
He said the party’s National Leadership Council (NLC) met in Juba on 9 August 2025, resulting in leadership changes in which Bol Agau became secretary general, while Mahjoub failed to win election to senior posts.
“The position of NDM on the step taken by the group is that these are just individuals. You know, currently in South Sudanese politics, when an individual is expelled from the party and instead of giving themselves another name for their new party, they claim the main party name, it is a complete joke for them to call themselves NDM,” Kai said.
He said the group that held the press conference had already been expelled and that only the NLC had the authority to change party leadership.
“It is only the National Leadership Council that can sit and make changes, but that move by the group is contrary to the internal regulations of the party,” he said.
“Our message to our supporters across the country is that they should not panic, because the move is just by individuals and nothing will shake the party because of these few individuals,” he added.
Background
The dispute comes weeks after NDM complained that the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) had begun taking positions allocated to it under the 2018 peace agreement.
Dr. Akol was removed as transport minister in October 2025 by President Salva Kiir after serving five months in the post.
A long-time critic of the president’s leadership style, Akol founded NDM in 2016. He previously led the SPLM-Democratic Change party after breaking away from the SPLM in 2009 and ran unsuccessfully against Kiir in the 2010 presidential election. Before South Sudan’s independence, he served as Sudan’s foreign minister.
Dr. Akol is one of the leaders who took part in the liberation war before South Sudan’s independence.