Simon Kun Puoch, the Third Deputy Chairperson of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), has assured party members who failed to secure nominations in the recent primaries that they will be provided with alternative positions. Speaking during the closing of the SPLM primaries in Upper Nile State on Friday, October 30, 2026, Puoch emphasized that unsuccessful aspirants remained equal members of the party and should be given opportunities to continue participating in its activities.
Puoch praised party members in Upper Nile for conducting their internal primaries peacefully, describing the exercise as an example of unity, patience, and commitment. He urged members who did not secure nominations to remain active in the SPLM, assuring them that losing the primaries did not mean they had been excluded from the party. Puoch added that the party would look for other opportunities for unsuccessful aspirants to serve in different capacities.
The SPLM primaries in Upper Nile State were part of the party's nationwide internal process to select candidates for the December 2026 general elections. Puoch commended the party's Secretary-General, Dr. Akol Paul Kordit, for his leadership during the internal elections, saying the party needed leaders who remained focused despite rumors and attempts to obstruct its activities.
However, Puoch warned individuals he accused of working against the SPLM, saying the party had identified people who did not want the movement to exist. He reminded party members that leadership required respect for everyone, regardless of their position or status. Puoch's remarks came amid internal disagreements over the selection of delegates to the SPLM National Convention.
Former SPLM Secretary-General Peter Lam Both has accused senior party officials in Upper Nile State of blocking his nomination as a delegate representing Ulang County. Lam Both alleged that despite his name being submitted by his constituency, the party's high-level committee refused to recognize his nomination. He claimed that attempts to resolve the disagreement through a proposed arrangement involving 19 delegates failed after the proposal was rejected.
Lam Both accused the party leadership of pursuing a personal agenda against him rather than respecting the choices made by party members in his constituency. He said he had urged his supporters in Ulang County not to allow the disagreement to create divisions among them, adding that he would rather withdraw from the selection process than undermine party unity. Lam Both intends to escalate his complaint to the office of SPLM Chairman and President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
The dispute highlights the challenges facing the SPLM as it prepares for the December 2026 general elections. Puoch's assurance of alternative positions for unsuccessful aspirants is seen as an attempt to maintain party unity. The party's ability to manage internal conflicts will be crucial in determining its performance in the upcoming elections.
Key points
- Simon Kun Puoch assures unsuccessful SPLM aspirants of alternative positions.
- Puoch warns party members he describes as rigid and accuses of working against the SPLM.
- Internal disagreements over delegate selection to the SPLM National Convention have emerged.
