The ruling SPLM has warned members serving in the caretaker government against interfering in its ongoing congresses and primaries, threatening disciplinary action against officials found intimidating candidates or influencing members’ voting decisions.
SPLM Secretary-General Akol Paul Kordit said in Juba on Tuesday that the party had received reports of caretaker government officials attempting to influence internal elections and taking action against fellow members over their voting preferences.
He said the party is documenting the alleged violations and would hold those responsible accountable once sufficient evidence had been gathered.
“We are recording all the violations, all the actions, and once sufficient evidence has been put together, anybody who infringes or obstructs people’s will will also be held accountable,” Kordit told journalists at a news conference.
He said officials serving in the caretaker administration must remain neutral and allow party members to choose their leaders freely, without intimidation or interference.
Kordit said the directive also apply to other political parties, arguing that the caretaker government has a responsibility to provide an enabling environment for all political groups to organise and prepare for the general elections.
He also warned against inflammatory statements and actions that could deepen divisions within the party, urging candidates and their supporters to exercise discipline and respect the outcome of the internal elections.
The secretary-general further cautioned active-duty military personnel against participating in party political activities, including the ongoing primaries, unless they had formally left active service and obtained clearance from their respective military units.
He said some military officers seeking to participate in the internal elections had been referred to their units for clearance. Some generals, he added, had been decommissioned to allow them to take part in the political process.
Electoral boundaries
On electoral preparations, Kordit warned party members against attempts to alter existing electoral constituencies, insisting that the December 22 general elections should be conducted using boundaries based on the 2008 population census.
He said attempts by individuals in some counties and states to introduce new administrative arrangements are unacceptable, urging party members to respect existing electoral and administrative structures.
Kordit also condemned alleged threats against SPLM candidates in Tambura County, Western Equatoria State, saying the party had received audio recordings containing threats against aspirants.
He called on the government to guarantee the safety of candidates, voters and members of other political parties.
“We don’t want violence in this process. We don’t want a war in South Sudan. We want peace,” he said.
Primaries face hurdles
The warning comes as the SPLM’s internal electoral process faces challenges in several parts of the country, raising concerns about the party’s ability to complete its candidate selection and organisational exercises ahead of the December elections.
In Unity State, the party’s national leadership warned caretaker governors and party officials against interfering in the primaries after a high-level committee overseeing the process encountered difficulties. The committee subsequently returned to Juba to brief the party leadership.
In the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), the SPLM suspended its ongoing congresses and primaries on November 6, citing unspecified technical challenges. The suspension came after more than a week of internal electoral activities.
The process has also been marred by allegations of bias. Some SPLM cadres in Greater Pibor accused the committee overseeing the primaries of favouring particular candidates and working with local authorities to influence the outcome. They called for the committee to be replaced by a neutral team. The allegations had not been independently verified, and the officials accused were not immediately available for comment.
Despite the challenges, Kordit said the internal congresses and primaries are progressing across the country, with Upper Nile State having completed its process. He expressed confidence that the remaining exercises in the nine states and three administrative areas would be concluded in time for the December 22 elections.
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