Southern Sudan Party Plays Down Importance of Breakaway Group

By Derek Kilner
Nairobi

A prominent politician from southern Sudan has announced he is creating a new party to challenge the dominant Sudan People's Liberation Movement in upcoming elections.  SPLM officials are downplaying the significance of the move.

Former foreign minister Lam Akol says he is creating the new party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement - Democratic Change, because the government of southern Sudan, dominated by the original SPLM, has failed to be effective since a 2005 peace agreement established the semi-autonomous region.

Akol criticized SPLM chairman Salva Kiir, who serves as president of southern Sudan and vice president in the national government, calling his leadership "bankrupt" and "undemocratic." 

SPLM officials have played down the importance of Akol's announcement.  SPLM spokesman Yien Matthew said anyone is welcome to form a political party, but that it should not use the SPLM name.

"Lam can make a party, but it would be better if he gives the party a different name, and not the SPLM, because Lam was not even a pioneer, he was not there when the SPLM was established and so he cannot take the name and the history of the SPLM as if there is a split in the SPLM," said Matthew.  "This is not a split."

Matthew says Akol was removed from the party three weeks ago, and the SPLM is taking legal action to prevent him from using the name in the new party.

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