Page 70 - EVOLUTION OF THE SUDAN PEOPLE’S LIBERATION MOVEMENT(SPLM),

the peace agreement as the SPLM took control over garrison towns from the Sudan Armed Forces.
The state was institutionalized in 10 states. Other armed groups continued to fight the SPLM
even after the Juba declaration in 2006. The later integrated the South Sudan Defense Forces into

the SPLM through the reconciliation initiatives of General Salva Kiir Mayardit, signaling one of
the biggest achievements of the SPLM, in as far as the reconciliation and military diplomacy is
concerned. In 2008, the SPLM government conducted the national census marking the first real
encounter between the government and the ordinary populace. The decentralization system that

was part of the CPA proved to be elusive due to insecurity and lack of resources among other
factors(SAD.533/5/23-25; 533/5/40-42, 48).

The traditional problems that had come to define the SPLM featured prominently in 2005. The most
notable challenges include the following-higher populace expectations, tribalism and nepotism
in government, corruption, insecurity, underdevelopment, and nation building. Other factors
included management of diversity. Resource based conflicts, cattle rustling, resettlement of the

internally displaced persons and socializing the peace dividends. John Garang, for example, had
identified a number of areas of concern that SPLM needed to reexamine and address during the
interim period: security, service delivery, economic and infrastructure development, economic,

social, political and administrative revolution. As one of the respondents responded in favour of this
narrative;

“John Demabior had good intentions on this one. He was optimistic and certain that concentrating
on security, service delivery and infrastructural development will send of good will to the public
and the international community”(OI, Christopher B. Lemi, Juba, 21/03/2016).

These were promises made through the CPA to win over the peace together with the hearts and
minds of the people. These are the basis under which the SPLM would be judged on the interim

and after the declaration of independence following the successful referendum, on 9th January
2011.

5.2.1 SPLM and the melting glue of leadership

The high social expectations and imposition of the state required a transformation of the liberation
from a fighting machine into a modern political movement that could answer to the both social
and national question. The SPLM however lacked public administrative experience and internal

organizational standards and structures. The leadership spearheading the transition was highly
polarized and militaristic in approach and socialization. In addition, the military and political
leadership lacked capacity to govern effectively. Moreover, the movement had not prioritized
civilian leadership and administration as many of the state, county, payam and boma leadership

was primarily drawn from the military with little or no education relevant to their work. The death
of John Garang on 30th July 2005 pushed the movement into political limbo and uncertainty. The
death came at a time when the question of secession and new Sudan was not properly settled.

There was also unresolved tension between General Salva Kiir and. John Garang over his style of
leadership and independence of the South Sudan in relation to the New Sudan. To the critics of

General Salva Kiir, the second commander in chief to John Garang, that he lacked charisma and
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