SPLM-FDs: Expel Isaiah Hakim Garang After VP Criticism

• The SPLM Former Political Detainees (SPLM-FDs) expelled Isaiah Hakim Garang, revoking his membership after he criticized Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior.
• Garang, a parliamentary representative, had urged South Sudanese to support the government and reject confrontation, contradicting the SPLM-FDs' stance.
• Vice President Nyandeng had questioned oversight of President Salva Kiir and encouraged youth to speak out against wrongdoing.
• SPLM-FD leaders stated Garang violated the party's code of conduct by making unauthorized public statements on behalf of the group.
• Garang is no longer authorized to represent the SPLM-FDs, and relevant parliamentary bodies will be notified of his changed status.

The revocation of Isaiah Hakim Garang's membership carries immediate and significant consequences for his standing.

The SPLM Former Political Detainees (SPLM-FDs) have moved to expel their parliamentary representative, Isaiah Hakim Garang, revoking his membership just one day after he publicly criticized Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior. Garang, who also served as the group's chief whip within the transitional parliament, had condemned remarks made by the Vice President and rejected what he characterized as calls for confrontation with the government. His public statements, delivered to reporters in Juba on a Monday, urged the South Sudanese populace, particularly its youth, to eschew conflict and instead support the government as the nation prepares for elections scheduled for December 2026.

Vice President Nyandeng's original comments, which prompted Garang's reaction, were made the previous month during a requiem Mass for the late former Finance and Planning Minister Kosti Manibe at Juba's All Saints Cathedral. During her address, Nyandeng questioned the current advisory and oversight mechanisms for President Salva Kiir, recalling a time when senior figures from the liberation struggle, such as Dr. John Garang, Deng Alor, Elijah Malok, and Kosti Manibe, fulfilled such critical roles. She pointedly asked, "Who’s watching over President Salva Kiir now?"

Nyandeng, who holds one of five vice presidential positions in the transitional government and is the widow of former Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM) leader John Garang, further revealed that she sometimes experiences periods of up to two years without meeting President Kiir. She also encouraged young South Sudanese citizens to speak out against perceived wrongdoing. Nyandeng was appointed to her vice presidential role in 2020, having been nominated by the SPLM-FDs themselves.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the SPLM-FDs clarified that Isaiah Hakim Garang lacked the authority to speak on their behalf when he made his critical remarks concerning Vice President Nyandeng. The group, a signatory to the 2018 peace agreement and a participant in the transitional government, emphasized that Garang's position as a parliamentary representative did not grant him permission to articulate the organization's views without prior approval.

A joint statement from SPLM-FD leaders General Gier Chuang Aluong, Madut Biar Yel, and Majak D’Agoot, accompanied by a letter dated September 8, confirmed that Garang's membership had been revoked immediately. The leaders cited alleged violations of the SPLM-FD code of conduct and internal rules as the basis for this decision. They specifically accused Garang of making public statements on behalf of the group without the authorization or consent of its leadership and members, deeming his conduct inconsistent with the expected discipline and accountability of its members.

The revocation of Isaiah Hakim Garang's membership carries immediate and significant consequences for his standing. The SPLM-FDs' letter explicitly states that Garang is no longer authorized to act in the name of the group, represent it in any official or public capacity, or identify himself as a member. This development underscores the strict enforcement of internal party discipline within South Sudan's transitional government, particularly concerning public statements by parliamentary representatives.

Furthermore, the SPLM-FDs, which rejoined the ruling SPLM after the formation of the transitional unity government, indicated that relevant institutions would be informed of the change in Garang's status. These institutions include the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission and the Revitalized Transitional National Legislative Assembly, signifying potential South Sudan parliamentary representation changes. Garang had also held a position as the FDs’ representative on the committee tasked with overseeing the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement. The party leaders have directed him to return all SPLM-FD resources and records, along with any government materials in his possession, to the appropriate authorities. Garang himself could not be reached for comment regarding the revocation of his membership.

This development underscores the strict enforcement of internal party discipline within South Sudan's transitional government, particularly concerning public statements by parliamentary representatives. Lawyers advising political figures or parties should review internal codes of conduct to understand the grounds for disciplinary action and its potential impact on an individual's parliamentary standing and access to party or government resources.

Source: Original reporting via local news outlets