POLICY AND STRATEGY ADVISORY for Transforming the SPLM into an Admired, Self-sustaining, and Resilient Political Party

The political condition of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) as one of the major ruling party under the Unity government in South Sudan over the last five (5) years and as the ruling party before the 2013 political crisis that brought about the unity government has given rise to widespread literature of negative intra-party inclinations such as factionalism, the manipulation of internal democratic processes, the pursuit of individual wealth, internal disorder, and increasing tensions within itself and internal sub-groupings (‘camps’) that Balkanize the party. Such trends, along with growing levels of popular protest (open and silent) and public disapproval, suggests a decline in the party’s glory as liberator and legitimacy as trusted party to lead the government in the eyes of many citizens and professionals. Overwhelmingly, predominant paradigms of the SPLM as a national liberation movement; as a party that has fallen victim and rise from its internal divisions; as a dominant post-independence party; and as a supposed vehicle of ‘neo-governance model’ – are all informative, yet concurrently embed key weaknesses in analysis, focusing upon over-arching narratives rather than encouraging careful analysis of causal practices in action. The benefit of doubt could be accorded to the fact that many analysts lack practical and instinctive knowledge of the SPLM’s institutional life, setup, complexity and informal networks. However, to the look of affairs of the party, its reputation is declining due to growing and repeated breake-aways (factionalism), defections, internal divisions, blurry direction and program and punch to internal democratic values. The sustainability of its continuity is in purge live alone appealing development program to the citizen to regain trust and loyalty. This advisory article seeks to spot-out some if the issues, suggest viable solutions that are related to the SPLM’s development, sustainability, and relevance in the face of present politically tensed situation.