Machar has room to spice up SPLM-IO, attract electorates in 2023 poll

Following the tentative 2023 polls, political parties and individual politicians seem to be making great preparations despite the many drawbacks that could sabotage the possibility of the event. These include the creation of a complete permanent constitution and mobilising resources for conducting a national census, which is a prominent prerequisite for any presidential and general elections.

The repatriation of the over one million potential South Sudanese voters from the refugee camps is just a drop of water in a sea of processes that could lead to the highly anticipated event. And with the remaining time scheduled for all these, they can only happen miraculously.

But anyway, with the vivid impossibility that everyone is seeing, the elections might still happen. This could happen if both parties to the agreement choose to prioritize their selfish interests over the interests of the majority of South Sudanese, in which case the South Sudanese will have no choice but to prepare for elections.

In case it happens in this way, how could Dr. Riek Machar and his political movement, the SPLM-IO, which is an algebraic product of his leaving the SPLM mainstream, attract political patronage or electorates who might have been brainwashed and made to believe in the picture of his party, painted by those who deserted him, citing claims of the SPLM-IO’s lacking political trace, genuine aim, and being nepotistic?

It should be noted that the continuous defection of senior generals from the SPLM-IO to the SPLM-IG has not only created structural vacancies, but has also demonstrated Machar’s inability to retain party membership and his apostolic inability to rightly preach and interpret the party’s agenda into the minds of his political congregation and followers.

Turnaround

But how could he and his party make a refresh to garner votes for his party, should the 2023 elections happen?

 It should be noted that the position of the SPLM-IO deputy chair has been vacant since Henry Odwar deserted. In addition, the recently refurbished National Liberation Council (NLC) of the party, which is the Central Committee, did not find an immediate replacement not only for Machar’s deputy but also for other paramount positions, and the party hopes to appoint one soon.

However, could the kinds of replacements for these positions make Machar and his party popular with many South Sudanese? Definitely yes. The youth make up over 70% of the population of South Sudan, and they have been singing the lyrics “it is our time; we need to get involved.” The youth need meaningful involvement and in meaningful positions.

Therefore, getting a prominent individual who is in his 30’s or perhaps nearing his 40’s into this position is a great decision and a gesture for youth inclusion. Alternatively, Machar and his party’s NLC could even create another unique appointment of a prominent female deputy who should be a distance from his close circles.

One thing many political parties have not been doing in the country is creating a platform where members compete for the positions of the party’s chairperson through the party’s internal elections or primaries. This is ideal for any political party that claims to own democratic features, and this is another thing Machar and his party should have done.

Yes, he led the movement but should be chosen to lead the party by all those who have subscribed to this party through the party’s primaries.

The bottom line is that Dr Machar and SPLM-IO should make appointments that reflect youth and women’s inclusion in the position of deputy and other vacant positions. Should he want to attract some followers to forge him and his party’s votes for 2023 or any other forthcoming election.

-Emmanuel Taban is a student at Yukon University / Canada

emmanueltaban880@gmail.com

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