Party withdraws its vote of confidence from VP Abdelbagi
Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi speaks at President Salva Kiir's house during a visit of Islamic leaders on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. | Credit | PPU

The South National Movement for Change (SSNMC) has resolved to withdraw a vote of confidence over the Vice President, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, as a constituency member of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA).

This came after the party chairperson, secretary general, and commissioner of Kapoeta South were removed without due regard to the SSOA internal regulation, which protects the party's independent decisions.

The party accused Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro, minister of Presidential Affairs, who left the party to join the SPLM, of facilitating its member's removal by Akol.

Mogga Charles, the secretary of foreign affairs, said the removal of the members is a violation of the provisions of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan.

“The acute injustice and blatant violation of the spirit and provisions of the RARCSS 2018 are being perpetuated by Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi of our party. We are being threatened, blackmailed, targeted, and unilaterally removed,” Charles made the remarks in a press conference on Monday.

“These removals are executed without any notice and with due regard to SSOA internal regulation, which protects positions apportioned to individual parties to entirely its independent decisions.”

Charles said the efforts made to retain the positions went in vain.

“It is now nearly three years (since 25" July 2021). We are unable to regain these positions. We have tried to bring this to the attention of the leadership of the nation, but our efforts with President Kiir have been frustrated and blocked,” he explained.

“All SSOA Party leaders who tried to raise a concern about the same, their efforts are yet to be answered.” 

The party appealed to the vice president to stop meddling in the SSNMC internal affairs.

“We therefore resolve to withdraw our vote of confidence over VP H.E. Hussein Abdelbagi Akol as SSOA constituency member. We call upon the vice president to stop meddling in the SSNMC internal affairs,” Charles echoed.

The leadership of SSNMC urged the Head of State to intervene and give all ears to ensure justice and resolve this situation.