Fact-check: An alleged fight at the SPLM House over President Kiir’s resignation is false

After the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) convention on December 6, a Facebook page published a post claiming a fight erupted within the party over President Kiir’s decision to resign, a statement the party’s Secretary General rubbished as fake news. 

Writer: Ghai Aketch

Following the SPLM convention this month, a widely shared claim about a fight at the SPLM House emerged on Facebook. It stated that President Salva Kiir, also SPLM Chairperson, proposed to resign, but the party members were divided over the matter.

SPLM is South Sudan’s ruling party that waged the liberation war against the Khartoum-based regime in the 1980s. And it eventually led the country to independence on July 9, 2011.

But later, after the independence, the mother-party splitted due to power wrangles. Some high-ranking officials in the party opted out to form; SPLM – In Opposition, Real SPLM, FDs, SSUF, and others.

“FIGHTING ERUPTS INSIDE SPLM HOUSE; RIGHT NOW!

We received reports that there is ongoing fighting at the SPLM HOUSE between members of the SPLM after President Salva Kiir has threatened to RESIGN in the next upcoming days.

“You people, I have given you everything. I have allowed you to do as you please but you always bring me shame. I will retire Dr. Riek Machar Teny and I will resign so you can continue to fight yourselves. You will come to look for me because you cannot handle running the country.” Said President Salva Kiir,” the page claims.

But did a fight happen at the SPLM house? The claim was looked at by 211 Check:

However, Peter Lam, the SPLM Secretary General, rubbished the claim when contacted to comment on this alleged fighting within the party.

“All fake news from some people. Thank you for letting me know. They can’t believe that SPLM can come together in unity again.” He told 211 Check, in a written WhatsApp reply.

There is no established and credible media reporting on the aforementioned fight, nor are video footages or images in circulation, as there could always be.

Conclusion:

We conclude that there was no fighting that erupted at the SPLM House. The party’s Secretary General dismissed the report as false. Additionally, according to the party official, President Kiir never threatened his party members to resign as the President of South Sudan. 

This fact-check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.