The Red Army’s new leadership: The final chapter of SPLM’s dramatic Game
By Marial Mangar Akol, Juba, South Sudan
Thursday, 13 February 2025 (PW) – Once upon a time, there was a seasoned shepherd who, after years of guiding his flock, realized that the younger generation of sheep had become far more adept at leading themselves. As time passed, he handed over the reins, recognizing that the future lay in new hands. In the same way, South Sudan’s political landscape is witnessing a generational shift, where those who once led the charge for freedom now step aside, and a new breed of leadership rises.
The SPLM heroes and heroines cry as they are lowered to their final political rest. Interesting! SPLM/A veterans long ago dug their grave with borrowed tools from the NCP and have now allowed their groomed son (a Red Army officer) to bury them. Your voice must fade as the political grave is being sealed. This is fact, not illusion.
When this country declared its independence, the liberators took top leadership positions. There was no doubt about their ability because we knew they fought for this country. While we expected the SPLM to make swift changes in ideologies and strategies for the country’s development, they turned on each other over leadership. In 2013, violence erupted, splitting the country. This opportunity was swiftly used by NCP agents. In no time, President Kiir realized he was working with unfriendly people, even though they were liberators. Tut, unlike many liberators, applied the Baba Jah method.
On the streets and in many community meetings, SPLM heroes and heroines were heard speaking negatively about Hon. Tut, accusing him and other NCP allies close to Kiir of hijacking the movement. The reason is clear: SPLM leaders saw Kiir as a comrade, not a president, and believed he could not hold them accountable for their mistakes or mismanagement. Even when Kiir gave them national assignments, they would take time to begin, unlike Hon. Tut and other Khartoum-trained leaders, who would start immediately after being assigned.
When President Kiir realized the public outcry from his comrades in the struggle, Hon. Kuol Manyang Juk was appointed senior presidential advisor, a ceremonial position. The first assignment Hon. Kuol took over was the recent appointment as chief negotiator in the Tumaini initiative. Do you know how long it took Kuol to start?
SPLM liberators nominated Kiir in 2005 as the president of the then Government of South Sudan after the plane crash that claimed the life of Dr. Garang Mabior, and endorsed him in 2008 as the SPLM flag bearer. They then began to consider Kiir a comrade, not a president. Because of this, Kiir turned to NCP’s “weaned children” and worked collaboratively with them. Today, as many of his comrades continue to oppose Hon. Tut, he decided to bypass them and turn to the Red Army officers. He has now brought in H.E. Benjamin Bol Mel.
Wait, as the old adage goes, “A new broom sweeps cleaner.” This is a new era of leadership—a shift in political power. Before I continue, let me provide some context. The smooth bilateral relationship between South Sudan and the UAE was built by Hon. Tut and Hon. Adhalbagi Ayii. The recent trip of President Kiir to the UAE occurred after Hon. Tut’s appointment as special envoy to Arab countries, including the UAE. When President Kiir returned from his five-day trip, he dismissed Tut and Mr. Ayii Akol. The reason remains undisclosed. This decision has effectively removed NCP leaders accused of hijacking the SPLM. So, why complain when a Red Army veteran (an SPLM-groomed son) like Benjamin Bol Mel is brought in as a replacement? Isn’t this confusion and contradiction?
As for the SPLM hierarchy, Hon. Bol has yet to be appointed as first deputy chair of the SPLM. While we wait, I believe there’s no need for excessive noise. Therefore, my concern, as a mere citizen of this country, is service delivery. I honestly do not have evidence of Benjamin Bol’s mismanagement or corruption, aside from street rumors and the U.S. sanctions imposed on him. Sometimes, sanctions are politically motivated when foreign relations are weak.
Politically, I advice my fellow youth at 40 years old, your future in politics is now or never. The president’s recent decision suggests that opposing it may limit future chances of securing a political appointment. Do not let public reactions divert your political strategies. Stop and follow the current. His Excellency, Bol Mel, has arrived to stay.
The rise of Benjamin Bol Mel marks a political turning point. It’s a reality that some members of the current SPLM high command must face: they have dug their political graves, and the cement is now being poured. The leadership that once carried the hopes of the nation now finds itself giving way to a new generation that is ready to shape the future of South Sudan. The country is entering a period of transformation, and only time will tell how the new leadership will respond to the challenges ahead.
~ Marial Mangar Akol
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