The primary results of the 2nd SPLM General conference that was held in Juba in South Sudan gave indications that the First Vice President of Sudan and President of Government of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit will be the candidate of the SPLM in the coming elections, to be held next year.
Apart from the consensus on the appointment of Salva Kiir as President of the SPLM for a new five-year term, the fear of some leaders that the dispute over the presidency could lead to divisions within the SPLM, the intentions of those who were planning to change the SPLM leadership and the US role represented in the advices given to the SPLM by the US official Roger Winter, we can say that the elected SPLM leader is really facing a difficult challenge whether the SPLM run the election with or without making alliances as Kiir is so far concentrating on the South Sudan issues alone.
Obsessions and challenges
Three years passed since his appointment as the First Vice President of Sudan and President of the Government of South Sudan, thus, Kiir is in a bad need to make practical step before the coming elections to persuade the voters that the SPLM leadership is giving concern to the whole issues of Sudan.
Political sources at various southern parties said the issue is not about the character of Salva Kiir, however, it is about the method of the SPLM which shall brief the Sudanese people on its programmes and policies so that the Sudanese voter is fully informed about the SPLM policies before voting.
It will not be possible for any Sudanese voters to vote for the SPLM if he does not know the SPLM attitudes toward unity or separation. Although this is a worrying thing, the SPLM still gives no concern to it.