Peter Lam Both, spokesman of the SPLM faction led by President Salva Kiir, says their report on reunification of the ruling party is currently before President Kiir for approval.

The SPLM fractured into different groups after the civil war erupted in December 2013.

Those who announced the reunification process include the SPLM faction loyal to President Salva Kiir, another faction that calls itself the SPLM-IO which is led by first vice president Taban Deng Gai, and a third group made up of senior party officials who were detained when the civil war erupted in 2013.

In February, the SPLM leadership gave missing members a 30-day ultimatum to return to the capital Juba for the reunification of the historical party. 

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, Lam said the committee formed to work out plans for the reunification of the divided SPLM party had presented its final report to President Kiir.

He pointed out that President Kiir has not yet approved the reunification report. “The president is very busy because he went to Bahr al Ghazal region and then to the Vatican. He is currently busy with issues related to the peace process,” he said.

“The report is currently before the president who is also the chairman of the ruling party. I don’t know when the president will approve it. But what I can say is that the various factions agreed to reunite,” he added.

 According to Lam, their report says SPLM members who were dismissed from the party’s highest organs when the conflict erupted will return to the posts they once held.

“Even Riek Machar has the right to return to the SPLM party. But we have not received any response from him, “he said.

The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) is the governing party of South Sudan initially founded as the political wing of the Sudan People's Liberation Army which fought for South Sudan independence.