Until justice and righteousness are restored, no political legacy can stand.
16th May 2026
Torit
In 2008, the SPLM political party undertook a
nationwide census and membership registration. I officially registered as a
party member in Nimule, marking the beginning of my interest in politics and
community issues. At the time, I knew of no other political parties much until
2010, when Dr Lam Akol formed SPLM-DC to challenge President Salva Kiir of the
then government of Southern Sudan.
To my ambition, I had
several reasons for joining the SPLM, one of which was the desire to shape my
political path through party affiliation. However, my expectations were not
met. From what I observed, even committed members, such as some Members of
Parliament under the opposition parties in the Torit Assembly or Juba, faced
suppression despite actively promoting the SPLM agenda initially.
Originally, the SPLM
was built on a powerful vision: unity, equality, and liberty for all who
struggled together for independence. Sadly, that vision faded with the passing
of key founding leaders such as Dr. John Garang, Kerbino Kuanyin, and William
Nyuon. The remaining leadership has, in many ways, corrupted and distorted that
original purpose to the point that my own membership ID became meaningless to
me.
This situation
echoes the biblical account after Joshua’s death, when Israel’s leadership led
the people into cycles of conflict and moral decline. As Judges wrote:
“After that whole generation
had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew
neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil
in the eyes of the Lord…” (Judges 2:10–11). And the anger of the Lord was kindled… gave them over to plunderers,
who plundered them… (2:14)
Today marks 43
years since the founding of the SPLM. But is there truly anything worth
celebrating? What achievements can South Sudanese, especially party members, point
to with pride? A party that has lost its direction, which turns its power
against its own citizens and that fosters division and violence, hardly
deserves celebration. This, unfortunately, reflects the SPLM of today.
While the party
claims credit for leading the struggle for independence from oppressive rule,
many citizens now experience conditions that feel even worse than before. The
gap between the party’s promises and the people’s reality continues to widen.
Until the SPLM restores freedom, returns power to the people, and rebuilds the
nation’s dignity, it risks remaining the central problem facing South Sudan.
It is important to
remember that SPLM/A, as it was originally known, existed between 1983 and
2011. What exists today, in the eyes of many, no longer reflects that
movement’s ideals. Where there was once sacrifice and discipline, there is now
widespread frustration over corruption, unpaid soldiers, and struggling civil
servants.
As citizens of this
nation with great potential, we must be careful about where we place our trust
and recognition. Not everyone who wears the party colours represents its
original values. Many of those who truly embodied the SPLM/A spirit now live
modestly, selling charcoal, breaking stones, and gathering firewood, choosing
honest survival over exploitation.
With all this in
mind, joining the SPLM today may seem less like a path to service and more like
a misguided pursuit. If there is to be a celebration, let it be postponed until
the nation restores hope, justice, and dignity for its people, honouring not
just the past, but also a better future.
To the failed leadership of the SPLM, Scripture
calls you back to what truly matters: “Let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream” (Amos 5:24). Until justice and righteousness
are restored, no political legacy can stand.
Sir Abunerry
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