President Salva Kiir chairs the SPLM Working Committee meeting at the party secretariat in Juba, April 22, 2026. The leadership resolved to maintain Rumbek Senior Secondary School as an independent institution. | Photo: SPLM Secretariat

The SPLM Working Committee, chaired by President Salva Kiir, resolved on Wednesday to cancel a directive that proposed donating Rumbek Senior Secondary School to the University of Rumbek.

Meeting at the SPLM Secretariat on April 22, the leadership organ determined that the school will remain an independent institution.

The committee noted that the school serves as a site for the children of those who died during the liberation struggle. To support the growth of the University of Rumbek, the leadership directed the Ministry of Higher Education to raise funds for a new campus on land allocated by the local community.

The Secretariat emphasized the decision to maintain the school’s current status in a formal statement: “Rumbek Senior Secondary School shall remain an independent secondary institution and must not be tampered with.”

During the session, SPLM Secretary General Akol Paul Kordit briefed the committee on preparations for the national elections. Kordit reported on the development of a new SPLM Manifesto and a political program.

The leadership formally endorsed the SPLM Policy Framework 2026–2031. This roadmap, authored by the SPLM Institute for Strategic Studies, will serve as the party’s guide for governance and development.

The committee also announced plans for the 43rd Anniversary of the SPLM on May 16, 2026. The event is scheduled to take place at the Dr. John Garang Mausoleum in Juba.

Kordit called on party members and supporters in the capital to mobilize for the celebrations to mark the history of the movement.