Nhial Deng Nhial quits SPLM and announces launch of new party - courtesy photo

Nhial Deng Nhial, a senior SPLM leader and former close ally of President Salva Kiir, has quit the ruling party and launched a new political force, the South Sudan Salvation Movement.

Nhial, who was a member of the SPLM Political Bureau, said he decided to break away from the ruling party, accusing its current leadership of abandoning the founding vision of Dr. John Garang.

He claimed that the SPLM leaders “have dismantled the SPLM vision established by Dr. John Garang,” and accused the government of blocking elections and violating peace deals in order to stay in power through term extensions.

Nhial called on the public to organise and push for what he described as a “second liberation” to pressure the government into holding “free and fair elections before the end of 2026.”

He also appealed to the security forces not to interfere with peaceful demonstrations.

The former presidential affairs minister said the new political movement will be part of the United People’s Alliance, or UPA, a coalition of opposition groups taking part in the Nairobi-based Tumaini talks.