19 May 2014 - In an effort to renew registration of Sudan People’s Liberation (SPLM) members, Western Equatoria State in corroboration with the Juba SPLM Secretariat began a two-day training of trainers session today in the capital Yambio.

After conflict erupted between government and opposition forces in Juba in mid-December 2013 and spread to other states, the SPLM resolved to begin fresh registration across the country to clarify party membership.

The training drew three participants from each of Western Equatoria’s 10 counties, who will learn new registration ideas and then return to their areas to implement them, according to SPLM State Secretary Manaseh Doboyi.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, Governor Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro urged participants to register SPLM members who had vision and commitment to the party. He emphasized that internal party issues should not divide members, which could result in more people defecting to other parties.

The governor disparaged instances of incompetent SPLM members without commitment standing for election as well as that of using the party for private or tribal purposes. These practices were a “cancer” which must be removed if the party wished to achieve its vision, he said.