Vision of Equatoria for the Republic of South Sudan "On governance the vision of the Equatoria Conference 2011 is a federal system that will strengthen the unity of the people of the Republic of South Sudan".18 April 2011 By Jacob K. Lupai
Between 14 and 16 April 2011 the States of Equatoria, Eastern, Central and Western, held a conference in the city of Juba, South Sudan. The conference known as Equatoria Conference 2011 was held with the theme: justice, unity and prosperity in which the topics were governance, development and security. The Equatoria Conference 2011 was unique because for the first time in self-governing South Sudan it brought Equatorians from all walks of life and corners of the States of Equatoria and also Equatorians from the Diaspora. The three Governors of the States of Equatoria delivered speeches emphasizing the vision of Equatoria for the independent Republic of South Sudan that would soon be formally declared on the 9th July 2011. The Equatoria Conference 2011 was indeed historic. Before touching on the vision of Equatoria for the independent Republic of South Sudan, I would like to make a couple of observations on the organization of the Equatoria Conference 2011. In the circumstances the organization was marvelous and the conference ended with a note of high satisfaction. However, the criteria of inviting delegates to the conference were difficult to understand. For example, office managers were invited as delegates to the conference. Strangely enough prominent Equatorians were not invited as if protocol was not taken into consideration. A prominent Equatorian and an undersecretary in one of the Government of South Sudan ministries told me that he was very disappointed that he was not invited to the conference. Subsequently my friend did not attend the conference. This author who was well known to the organizing committee and is the Chairman of State Food Security Commission in Central Equatoria was not invited either to the Equatoria Conference 2011. However, when the author went on his own initiative he was barred from entering the hall. It was only after a protest that the author was hurriedly issued with a handwritten badge or identification (ID) to enter the hall to attend the Equatoria Conference 2011. This was disgraceful. On the last day of the conference when resolutions were being made the contribution of the author was also ignored. Although the author repeatedly put up his hand to contribute in refining some of the resolutions, the chair simply ran his eyes left and right probably pretending not to see the author as though the author did not exist. The author had wanted to refine the resolution on federal system to read as: The three Governors of States of Equatoria should direct the formation of a committee of experts in constitutional law to prepare a model of federal system as the position of Equatoria in the constitution of the independent Republic of South Sudan. On development the author had wanted to refine the resolution on agriculture to read as: The budget of the agricultural sector should be from 10 up to 25 per cent of the total budget. It is hoped that there will be some improvement in organizing an Equatorian conference in the future. Personal dislike of somebody should not play a part. The vision of Equatoria for the Republic of South Sudan is the realization of justice, unity and prosperity for all. In the conference, Equatorians expressed their unconcealed disappointment with how they have been taken for a ride and marginalized in the affairs of the state. Equatorians, however, recognized their virtues of tolerance and patience hence would continue with those virtues for the unity of the Republic of South Sudan. Nonetheless it was also recognized that unity could not be sustained at the expense of Equatoria. It is worth making it absolutely clear that Equatoria was the most separatist province out of the former nine provinces of Sudan. Now with the attainment of independence for South Sudan where Equatoria voted 100 per cent for separation it is unacceptable that Equatoria should not be an active participant and an equal stakeholder in the affairs of the state. The Equatoria Conference 2011 has expressed in no uncertain terms that Equatoria will not be taken for a ride and marginalized again. The Equatoria Conference 2011 noted with admiration the thousands of Equatorian youth who joined the liberation struggle while their parents contributed food to support the liberation effort. Chiefs all over Equatoria supported the liberation struggle with food and manpower at all cost. In addition Equatorian leaders mobilized the youth in refugee camps in neighbouring Uganda for the liberation struggle but what kind of appreciation has been accorded those tireless Equatorian leaders after the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA). The answer is, none. Others claim they contributed the most and so must monoplise the reign of power which is false. On governance the vision of the Equatoria Conference 2011 is a federal system that will strengthen the unity of the people of the Republic of South Sudan. South Sudan had struggled against North Sudan because of the centralization of power in Khartoum and in the hands of northern minority elite. It is therefore unacceptable that power in independent Republic of South Sudan should be centralized in Juba and in the hands of an insensitive ethnic group. Equatorians as separatists voted 100 per cent for the independence of South Sudan. It can be argued that a centralized system of government for the Republic of South Sudan will be counterproductive. This is because it will only encourage separatist tendencies in Equatoria. With its culture of tolerance and patience, and with a high level of civility and abundance of resources Equatoria could be a viable state. Land grabbing was cited as a problem that could not only cause insecurity but in fact had encouraged the people of Equatoria and especially those in Central Equatoria State to push for the relocation of the capital from Juba. Land grabbers are mostly people from outside Equatoria. These criminals sometimes abuse their power to grab plots from legitimate owners. In addition the police and the judiciary are not helpful in addressing the problem. One reason is because of centralization as the police and the judges may come from the same ethnic group as the criminal land grabbers. Another reason is the State lacks the resources to enable the rightful owners to access their legitimate plots. A federal system of government will address the problem because the rule of law will be upheld to the letter. This will certainly promote unity in the Republic of South Sudan as people will be law abiding. Another problem is the pastoralist’s callous and insensitive use of their animals to graze in the fields of sedentary farmers in Equatoria. It was sadly noted that the pastoralists while in their own areas will not cause any problem to crops in the fields of their neighbours but only in Equatoria. There is also an ingenious way the pastoralists get their animals into Equatoria by using vehicles for transporting the animals. The Equatoria Conference 2011 heard that the pastoralists from Jonglei State transport their animals in containers into Equatoria. This should be a worrying problem because this is not only going to cause insecurity but an attitudinal problem that may be long lasting. How will that be helpful in promoting unity in the Republic of South Sudan is difficult to tell. As already mentioned the Equatoria Conference 2011 theme fall on three main topics such as governance, development and security. For governance Equatorians unanimously agree that a federal system is preferable to strengthen unity in South Sudan. Short of this may be friction. The interim period between 2005 and 2011 has tested the tolerance and patience of Equatorians to the limit. However, the tolerance and patience were worth enduring for the sole objective of attaining independence for South Sudan. Now that independence is attained with only about two months away for the formal declaration, Equatoria can now flex its muscles that were taken for granted as weak. No one should doubt Equatoria’s resolve to be assertive at all times and will protect its legitimate share of the national cake. This time Equatoria will not wait until irreversible damage has been done and then only to react and behave like the local sorghum beer that foams in the early morning hours. On development Equatoria has the professionals and manpower. It is exceptionally endowed with resources that may be the envy of Sub Saharan Africa. With a federal system in place Equatoria is confident it will be an asset to the Republic of South Sudan. For now the centralised system applied probably out of ignorance overshadows Equatoria which is aware of its virtues and talents and those will be in service for the common good and prosperity for all. For insecurity it is a temporary worry. As the Equatoria Conference 2011 was made to understand, insecurity is mostly caused by people in uniform from the other states. The moment those criminals are redeployed to their respective states Equatorians will enjoy relative security and peace. In conclusion, the Equatoria Conference 2011 was one of the wonders of Equatoria. It was unique as a demonstration of Equatoria strength and resolve to address issues that matter to the very survival of Equatoria as a united region. Only the repeated flattering clapping was boring. The criteria of inviting delegates for the conference seemed to have shown that somebody somewhere was very prejudiced. However, as an Equatorian I was and am proud and will always remain so in sharing the virtues of being Equatorian with fellow countrymen of the Republic of South Sudan. Posted in: Opinions -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
