Juba, 22 January 2023; The political gossip surrounding the leadership change within the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/ SPLM, and is littered with power struggle syndrome within the Jieng Council of Elders (JCE) in particular and Dinka elite army generals.  

A confidential source within the presidency who attended an emergency meeting in J1 this week revealed to South Sudan Liberty news about the unexpected development brewing in the cycle of the ruling SPLM party. According to the report, President Kiir summoned senior elites within the Jieng ethnic group from Bor and Warrap. 

The confidential source has it that the President called for a meeting in which Mr. Kiir surprisingly expressed his desire to discontinue as chairman of the ruling party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/ SPLM, at the same time Mr. Kiir wants to relinquish power and asked the selected elites from Bor and Warrap to begin the process to choose his successor. However, the meeting turns raw as infighting broke out between Bor and Warrap. 

According to the source, Dinka Bor elites in the meeting proposed and forwarded the name of former deputy defense Minister Majak Agoot who once fall out with Kiir at the onset of the 2013, Juba war, in which unspecified numbers of Nuer were massacred mainly by the Presidential guards recruited from Warrap, while Dinka Warrap from President home state has divided into two: Gogrial the home town of President Kiir proposed General Akol Koor, the Director of National Security Service, whereas group from Tonj proposed Awut Deng, and Nhial Deng Nhial respectively. 

The same source said more division emerged as Dinka from Rumbek lakes state wanted the protocol and the country's interim constitution to be followed, in that line, they stood by the SPLM constitution and endorsed vice President Dr. James Wani Igga as successor. 

However, since they are in control of all aspects of the regime state's crafts, the JCE has reportedly blocked Dr. James Wani Igga, the Vice President for economic cluster to be installed as president. According to the reliable source, when Kiir had seen the bitter bickering over power he called off the meeting.  

There was no apparent reason why at this time President Kiir wants to relinquish power, however, it has been eminent since November last year, Mr. Kiir's health has been in question since the video of Mr. Kiir went viral where he was red-handed caught peeing on himself while presiding over the inauguration of Juba-Rumbek Road. 

Since then, National security service agents unlawfully rounded up state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting (SSBC) journalists and imprisoned them, and pressure has been mounting on Juba to release the journalists unconditionally. 

Justin.S. Kwaje 

SSLN