South Sudan NDM Leader Dr. Lam Akol Wants To Form a New Coalition
April 2,
Juba,
National Democratic Movement, Dr. Lam Akal(Photo credit: Nyamilepedia)
April 2, 2020(SSNN) — South Sudan National Democratic Movement (NDM) chairman, Dr. Lam Akol, has hinted that he may forge a new alliance with stronger oppositions in the country to strengthen his fight for democratic change and reforms in the world’s youngest nation.
Speaking to South Sudan based Al Maugif on March 27th, Akol admits that he is not in good terms with the South Sudan Democratic Alliance whom he accuses of being politically manipulated by the ruling party, the SPLM-IG.
“The President is the Chairman of SPLM-IG. I, therefore, don’t think that he is kept out of the picture,” Dr. Lam said.
“We say that the alliance failed but we do not regret it, because there were gains we made together before SSOA relocated to Juba,” Dr. Lam continued.
Akol says he is ready and willing to form coalition with opposition parties to build a stronger opposition in the country that may stand the test against the ruling party under President Salva Kiir.
“We feel that there are national forces eager to move in the direction of change,” he said.
“We will look for these people and talk to them in order to create a broad front that will push towards the implementation of the peace agreement and the transition to democracy,”Akol reiterates.
Although he was more specific on wanting to “achieve change and reform” in the country, Dr. Akol did not mention of any party or parties he would be interested to form a coalition with.
Akol has formed more than two coalitions within the last 7 years, some within Juba and others outside Juba, however, he has had difficulties leading these alliances.
Akol could be more qualified and experienced than most of the leaders in SSOA but he was denied the opportunities to lead one of the highest portfolios that include Vice Presidency and Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology.
Joining SPLM-IO?
Dr. Lam has been accused by the government spokesman, Hon. Michael Makuei Lueth, of being a member of the SPLM-IO for airing similar views with the main armed opposition.
Makuei was frustrated by Dr. Lam’s recent position on the division of states in which he used arithmetic to prove that the SPLM-IO deserves three states and the government deserves five states.
“My response was that the minister confuses between two things that have nothing in common at all: the subject of concessions and the application of a simple calculation in the distribution of party shares regarding the states. As for the concessions, this is the basis of any negotiations in the world,” Dr. Lam explains.
“When I pointed this out, Michael Makuei accused me of being a well-known member of SPLM/A-IO. I told him that not everyone who was not in his orbit is necessarily with SPLM/A-IO. We have well known public independent positions,” he concludes.
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