Willy Angok Ngor, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Youth League member and former chairperson of Amiol Gemdit Youth - courtesy

Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Youth League member and former chairperson of Amiol Gemdit Youth, Willy Angok Ngor, has stated that he has not defected to the SPLM-In Opposition (SPLM-IO).

Speaking during the 18th Commemoration of the Fallen Heroes, Heroines, and Martyrs of Twic Mayardit at the Munuki Playground in Juba, Angok responded to individuals who label him as opposition, stating that his critics are the ones with spouses holding positions in opposition parties.

Angok’s clarification follows statements he made last week, where he urged politicians seeking support ahead of elections to focus on service delivery rather than the distribution of campaign materials.

Addressing the crowd, Angok stated that loyalty to the party comes from the heart, not from clothing symbols.

“People who say I am from I.O. have their wives in different parties,” Angok said. “My wife, when there is no food from the SPLM government, we wait for six months for it to come and we eat. But others, when there is no food from SPLM, food comes from I.O. and they eat. When it is not in I.O., it comes from SPLM. I love SPLM from my heart, not from the t-shirt. This is the truth.”

He reaffirmed his commitment to the party, sending a message to citizens: “I am a supporter of SPLM, the SPLM that we know. And I’m going nowhere. Our OYEE must remain as the roads, schools, and hospitals that we need.”

As South Sudan prepares for elections, Angok urged the SPLM Youth League to focus on grassroots mobilization and internal assessments. He called for a study of the youth wing’s membership records to determine its strength before the polls.


“We were supposed to do a data study,” Angok explained. “How many members in the SPLM Youth League have a valid ID? How many have an expired ID? How many members that are recruited into the SPLM Youth League have been awarded IDs? From there, we do the total and ask ourselves: Is this total going to support the SPLM Party in the election or not?”

He added that if the numbers fall short, the Youth League must convene a general assembly to strategize on recruitment.

Angok emphasized that recruitment efforts must extend to areas including Akobo, Yambio, Maridi, Wau, Torit, Yei, Leer, Pajut, and Nasir. He argued that youth in these areas deserve engagement regardless of location or background.

“They are all South Sudanese. But because we don’t see them, they were relocated like the way they have done to me. We need to go for them and bring them. Explain to them why SPLM matters to us all,” he stated.

The youth leader criticized politicians who provide education opportunities to their own children in cities while youth in rural areas face exposure to conflict.

“There is no point where an 18-year-old child is graduated and given a gun in Akobo, in Leer, in Pajut, or in Nasir by their politician, while these politicians give their own children certificates,” Angok stated.

“The Nuer boys and girls calling themselves IO are speaking the truth because they did not choose to be members of SPLM-IO; they were forced. The people who branded me as SPLM-IO are trying to force me to leave SPLM and join SPLM-IO.”

Angok concluded by addressing the trend where youth who express views on public issues or accountability are labeled as opposition supporters.

Reiterating his message to the communities of Twic, he maintained that demanding development, roads, schools, and leadership should not be interpreted as opposition politics, but as a call for service delivery for citizens.

He urged youth across South Sudan to participate in processes that contribute to national unity, peace, and development.