Page 6 - EVOLUTION OF THE SUDAN PEOPLE’S LIBERATION MOVEMENT(SPLM),

ABSTRACT

Historically, resistance and liberation movements have been a major defining feature of political conflicts

in post colonial Africa. However, most of them have failed in the process of reaching political settlements

and actively engaged in post-independence governance. Recently,South Sudan declared its independence

at the time when the country was experiencing a depression accompanied by economic slump. This work

is,an attempt to recount these failures and assess the manner in which the Sudan People’s Liberation

Movement (SPLM) responded to national issues and challenges upon assuming political power. On the

other hand, this workis prompted by the desire of understanding how and why many national liberation

movements fail as governments in responding to the challenges of liberation once in power. Two conceptual

frameworks were used in the study, Amilcar Cabral insights into liberation movements and the trajectories

of social movements. Methodologically, the study relied on both primary and secondary data. Primary data

was sought through oral narratives in the form of field interviews. The purposive and snowball sampling

techniques were used to identify informants while archival sources were sought to supplement the oral

narratives. Three analytical frames were used in the study, including historical reflection, documentary

review and content analysis. The findings of the study were summarily indicated that the SPLM failed in

resolving national issues and challenges in South Sudan due to poor leadership. Secondly, the leadership

failure had negative effects in post conflict reconstruction, thus generating a senseless civil war. Finally, the

study recommends a holistic model of national reconstruction, informed by the historical aspirations of the

masses as opposed to personal and ethnic whims.

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