JUBA – Veteran South Sudanese politician announced his resignation from the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) on Tuesday and the formation of his new political movement, the South Sudan Salvation Movement (SSSM).
Nhial accused the SPLM leadership of straying from the founding vision that inspired South Sudan’s independence struggle and said the new party will focus on “restoring national unity, accountability, and good governance.”
“Our nation stands at a crossroads,” Nhial stated in the 18-page declaration. “The SPLM has lost its moral compass. The people of South Sudan deserve a movement that prioritizes peace, justice, and prosperity over personal power and corruption.”
The formation of the SSSM marks a major turning point in South Sudan’s political landscape. Nhial, once regarded as one of President Salva Kiir’s most trusted allies and a key architect of the country’s foreign policy, now positions himself as a reformist voice seeking to redefine South Sudan’s governance.
Political analysts suggest that Nhial’s move could attract reform-minded SPLM members, civil society figures, and disillusioned youth who feel excluded from the nation’s political process.
Nhial’s declaration comes amid rising internal tensions within the SPLM and growing public frustration over the slow implementation of the peace agreement and continued economic hardships.
The South Sudan Salvation Movement (SSSM), according to Nhial, will serve as a “platform of hope and renewal, dedicated to building a just, peaceful, and united South Sudan.”