Lam Akol nominated for southern Sudan presidency

November 19, 2009 (MAKALA) --- Leaders from eight Southern political parties today said have unanimously nominated Dr. Lam Akol, the leader of SPLM-DC, as presidential candidate against SPLM candidate General Salva Kiir Mayardit for position of the Government of Southern Sudan president in the upcoming election.

The announcement follows a just concluded three days South-South dialogue conference held in Khartoum that establishes an alliance named as Southern Sudan Political Parties Alliance.

The members of the new SSPPA are: SANU, UDSF, United Democratic Party, SPLM-DC, Sudan National Labor Party, USAP-2, South Sudan Democratic Forum, South-Sudan Democratic Front.

SPLM-DC Secretary General Eng. Charles B. Kisanga, applauded the decision taken by the eight southern political parties to pick his party chairperson as candidate for the Southern Sudan presidency.

"I appreciate their decision and interest to relieve the regional government from collapsing, he said adding his nomination was one of the resolutions passed by south –South Sudan dialogue conference held recently."

He further said they agreed that all southern political parties participate in the coming election by declaring their intentions to run for all positions including presidency, parliaments, gubernatorial and county commissioner positions.

In a statement to Sudan Tribune, Dr. Lam Akol on Thursday denounced SPLM intention to deny southern Sudan citizens self determination awareness saying majority do not know the real meaning of it.

"If you ask an ordinary citizen from South Sudan about self determination, the citizen will definitely have difficulties in giving exact answer to your question, because they have not properly educated and prepared," he said.

He continued to say that SPLM leadership are only engaged in political cants and conspiracy against the peace which they claimed to be working for its implementation while "thousands of innocent civilians dies almost every day at their watch."

"How you claim to be working for implementation of an agreement while citizens continues to kill themselves in addition to lack of service delivery and rampant of corruption scandal allegations among leaders serving regional government," he posed.

He also affirmed that the alliance will study the options for the upcoming elections refuting the allegations that there are parties behind the establishment of their association.

The SPLM accused its peace partner the National Congress Party of supporting the newly formed alliance to weaken its influence and support in southern Sudan.

He further accused SPLM creator current sour relationship between north and south Sudan. He also continued to on the regional government to hinder constitutional rights that allow freedom of political activities in the region while applying law against violators for those who violates constitution as supreme law of the land.

Sudan will witness next April its first free and fair general election for the Sudanese presidency, southern Sudan government Presidency, states governors, federal and southern Sudan parliaments and states assemblies.

However western countries push for an agreement between the two partners to run only for Sudanese GOOS presidencies. While the opposition parties and the SPLM also agreed last month to boycott the elections if the dominant party does not pass a series of law to remove restrictions imposed on political freedoms.