Warrap reaffirms free speech, political space for political parties

A security sector and political parties conference concluded in Warrap State on Monday, with government authorities confirming that all political parties were allowed to exercise their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and to enjoy free political space.

Warrap State Information Minister William Wol Mayom told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that all the political groups have been allowed to conduct their activities without restrictions.

“Yes, the political parties have a chance to carry out their activities. We conducted a security and political parties conference on Monday, and it was very successful,” he said. “The conference was proposed by the state government and implemented by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and it was about the preparations for elections and building confidence among the political parties and to have freedom of speech and political space.”

“Civil society organizations, youth unions, women associations and faith-based groups also participated in the conference,” Minister Wol added.

However, a former member of the state parliament who belongs to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by suspended and detained First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, categorically rejected that there is civic and political space in Warrap State.

He explained that all political activities in the state are influenced by the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Party and political parties allied to it.

“There is no political space in the state, and every activity being carried out is exclusively influenced by the SPLM Party, and the political parties that are still working with them are their allies,” he said. “There is no difference between the ruling SPLM Party and other political parties like SPLM-IO under Stephen Par Kuol and some of the political groups including Other Political Parties (OPP) and South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA).”

“Every activity they do is in favor of the ruling party,” he added.