P2: SPLM Primaries: Internal Democracy or Elite Reshaping?

P2: SPLM Primaries: Internal Democracy or Elite Reshaping? Are the SPLM primaries a genuine exercise in internal democracy, or are they simply a mechanism for reshaping the ruling elite ahead of South Sudan’s December 2026 general elections? This discussion examines the credibility of the primaries, the voice of grassroots members, the performance of incumbent leaders, and whether the process is producing new leadership or reinforcing existing political power structures. The central question: Are SPLM members choosing their leaders freely, or is the party managing the transition of power within the same political elite?