Daniel Chol Mading, a former SPLM-IO die-heart and a vocal figure in Cueibet County has spilt beans on why he fell out with the party he wholeheartedly supported and advocated for in his over six (6) years tenure in the party. The aggrieved politician also hinted in his letter that Dr. Riek Machar who is the party’s chairperson had a hand in dismissing him from a seat in the Council of States in the favour of a woman.
Below is an excerpt of his letter published on the social media:
“Your Excellency (Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon),

I extend my warm revolutionary greetings to you and the entire fraternity. It has been a long journey as a member of SPLM-IO, from 2016 to the present day, marking my resignation. I have served the SPLM-IO diligently without seeking any position. However, as a politician, one inevitably gains supporters and must contribute beyond mere followership: One should be entrusted with roles that enable them to assist the party and the nation when they have the ability to do so.

I joined the SPLM-IO fraternity as a political leader, trusted by the members in Cueibet County who nominated me in 2020 to represent them in the National Legislative Assembly. I however, your decision, as Chairman to allocate my seat to a woman in the Council of States left me politically sidelined. Despite this setback, I have persisted in serving SPLM-IO and advocating for the political promises we made to the people of South Sudan. While I do not wish to dwell on the challenges within SPLM-IO, they are well-known to those who have been part of the movement.

Regrettably, despite my dedication, I am disheartened by certain political realities. To my comrades, political friends, and sympathizers, I apologize if my decision brings any disappointment. I believe our paths will continue to cross in the political landscape in the future.

At this point, I wish to formally inform you, as Chairman of the Movement, and the entire SPLM-IO membership, that I have made the political decision to resign from SPLM-IO under your leadership. I submit my resignation from Nairobi via email and social media outlets.

Thank you all,
Cde. Daniel Chol Mading
Former Member of SPLM-IO.”

His resignation has of course invoked mixed reactions on social media from political allies, rivals, friend and a family. “Honestly the resignation of Daniel Chol Mading aches me a lot because he was someone dear to me and a lad we supported ourselves as a cadres and learned politicians. I don’t see a vacuum left by him to occupy,” Ater Akolde, another SPLM-IO cadre from Cueibet County stated.

Speculations about enticement from other political parties and more especially the ones on the negotiation table at the Tumaini Initiative were also the order the day. However those speculations were dismissed on arrival by Nelson Chol Kermac who stated, “To those who believe Daniel Chol resigned due to external influence to join another political party, that’s simply not true. Ideologies in politics can divide us. It’s perfectly acceptable for politicians to switch parties when it aligns with their interests. What’s troubling is your refusal to acknowledge your mistakes, which is a serious issue. Chol made his decision, and he’s not going anywhere. He’s right to focus on other ventures outside of politics.”