SPLM Crisis & demise of tribal hegemony: For better or worse?
Jul. 12 Featured, Uncategorized 37 comments
EDITORIAL ANALYSIS, JUL/12/2013, SSN;
With great incredulity and trepidation, South Sudanese are anxiously
witnessing the inevitable transmogrification of the once formidable
SPLM/A edifice and the probable demise of the once-feared and deeply
loathed tribal hegemony that has persistently characterized all
aspects of power in the nation since the end of the liberation
struggle.
Finally, for the majority of the much-depraved South Sudanese, who’ve
become genuinely disgruntled with the Kiir leadership, it’s time now
to see the SPLM/SPLA Empire, like the Roman empires of antiquities,
and their cut throat emperors, simply disintegrate and disappear so
that a better, prosperous and equitable future is built on its ashes.
After two tough years of so-called ‘independence,’ and given the fact
that we are the only country in Africa to ever embark on nationhood
from day one with BILLIONS OF REAL AMERICAN DOLLARS at hand,
deplorably it has become painfully clear that the SPLM/SPLA junta has
failed the South Sudan Nation whilst president Kiir has evolved with
greater alacrity than Museveni into a totalitarian dictator ruling
only by decrees and completely rubbishing all constitutional norms.
In a nation where the president is generally seen as a pathological
liar who has no moral compunction to shamelessly regurgitate his
characteristic verbosity about fighting corruption and insecurity, or
developing the nation, South Sudanese have real cause to worry about a
such leadership.
In a nation where every SPLM/A government official from the president
down to his ministers, all under-secretaries, all chairs of the
useless commissions, all ambassadors, all generals in police, army and
prisons, are rightly perceived by the suffering public as thieves
living on state-sanctioned corruption, there is utter hopelessness in
the future among the oppressed citizens of the nation.
One can’t imagine that today in Juba the few thieves are immorally
owning and driving, not one each but several ‘Hummer’ SUV’s while
their own mothers, sisters, aunts and uncles are still eating wild
vegetables or carcases of cows and sleeping in leaking straw-thatched
mud houses in Kongor or Kuajok.
In a nation where the parliament is but a parody of clowns who’re
solely legislating for or rather legitimizing for the good of the
SPLM/A corruption empire, and selfishly according themselves
exorbitant allowances and privileges for their idleness, enrichment
and greed, the depraved people of South Sudan are right to distrust
this edifice of mockery.
In a nation where the economy is deeply founded on extraction and
exploitation, it’s only the Ugandans, Somalis, Ethiopians, Kenyans,
Rwandans, Nigerians and Sudanese, who’re all the principle
beneficiaries of this extractive and exclusive economy, and they’re
openly or insidiously abetted in the extraction of our resources by
the SPLM/A looters, the future of the nation is definitely in
jeopardy.
These are indeed bad times for the nation. Admittedly, with the
exception of Kiir’s tribal hegemonists and his tribally reinforced
SPLA army, many people including foreigners, are deeply pessimistic as
well as apprehensive about the evolving ‘SPLM Kiirisis’ that is
gripping the attention of the citizens.
First, Dr. Riek Machar now has figuratively fired the first bullets,
once again this time round, against the Kiir’s hegemonic government
and publicly demanded that his SPLM party boss, Kiir, should cede
power to him because, as Machar explicitly explained, Kiir is an
absolute ‘failure as leader of the nation.’
Secondly, Machar has openly challenged and opposed Kiir’s recent
dismissal of Unity State Governor Taban Gai, which was done without
consultation of the vice president himself since such an important
decision like this normally requires ‘consultative’ procedural steps
with the deputy or cabinet.
Understandably, in bitterness, Machar has many axes to grind against
president Kiir, among these were Kiir’s abrupt decision to first take
over the so-called ‘national reconciliation’ process and appointing a
fellow Dinka to head the committee; and then Kiir’s surprising
decision abrogating and limiting Machar executive powers.
And, finally, in another quick salvo of more political gunfire, the
SPLM party Secretary General, Mr. Pagan Amum, who is third in protocol
and succession of the now visibly disintegrating party, came out with
unexpected bravado, to deprecatingly castigate president Kiir for his
poor leadership.
Pagan, himself once allegedly accused for gross corruption, has now
openly come out against Kiir, accusing the president of politically
motivated dismissals of two SPLM ministers for alleged corruption, and
critically remarking that the president should actually have dismissed
his own “Dinka official,” the deputy minister, who’s alleged to be the
real culprit, not the two ministers.
Clearly, these top SPLM leaders tacitly came to a long-delayed
concurrence with the raging anger and expectations of the broad
sections of the people of South Sudan and even foreign so-called
“Friends of the SPLM” and the UN Mission and others, that the Kiir
tribal regime is a disaster.
But the greatest concern to the ordinary citizens in South Sudan and
even to foreign supporters of the nation, is the likelihood that the
perceived and impending contest between Kiir and gang versus Machar
and gang degenerating into another 1991 civil strife.
Poignantly, as implied by Citizen editor and critic, Nhial Bol, this
ominous probability of intra-SPLM/A killings occurring is high
because, as Nhial Bol strongly believes, “the top SPLM members are
planning to use the (stolen) oil money to buy weapons so that they can
kill themselves during the 2015 elections.”
Who really cares if these SPLM/A kleptocrats would only ‘kill’
themselves? However, unfortunately the reality is that they, the
SPLM/A top members are going to use their common supporters to do the
killing while they will be in some safer foreign hideaways.
Machar, the potential president-to-be, in his latest hottest ever
letter to president Kiir, has strongly raised two important issues.
The first problem raised is that Kiir’s latest blunders “might
heighten tension and aggravate the prevailing state of insecurity in
the country and that may lead to political instability in the
country.”
Obviously, it’s very apparent that the contest between the two won’t
be a peaceful transition, and the nation is hereby forewarned of the
grievously mortal predicament that might lead to a probable ‘civil’ or
better call it ‘tribal’ internecine fighting with serious consequences
to our country.
In addition, Machar again in the same letter inferred to the
‘consolidation of the democratic decentralized system of government’
in the country to preserve the integrity and dignity of the people of
South Sudan.
Here, we are once again confronted by Dr. Machar’s duplicitousness on
the issue of what’s the best modality of governance in the country
that can really and permanently bring integrity and dignity to our
people.
Inarguably, the current system that the tribal hegemonists have
dictatorially imposed on the country is utterly fallacious (after all,
there wasn’t any plebiscite, for example, conducted by the SPLM/A
regime with the people of South Sudan concerning as to what modality
of governance they wanted).
‘KOKORA,’ call it ‘decentralization,’ ‘devolution,’ ‘federalism,’ or
any political name appropiate, was the system prevalent in South Sudan
from 1983 up to 2005 when peace was achieved and the Kiir-Machar junta
arrived in Juba.
Contrary to the blind and bitter opponents of ‘KOKORA’ who took to the
bushes in 1983 in an attempt to militarily revoke its imposition after
all political attempts had failed, this political system based on
devolution helped greatly to mitigate tribal tensions and fighting
then in South Sudan.
Now, given the current political tide since the Kiir-Machar regime
took power in Juba and the subsequent rise of disenchantment with the
hotly perceived ‘tribal-domination’ of the current governance in Juba,
perhaps a new rethinking on what’s the appropriate and acceptable
modality of good governance needed.
Rightly or wrongly, it can be strongly argued that our political
evolution into a one-nation is still rudimentary, we, more or less,
see ourselves and the deeds by others from the tribal lenses, as this
is evident today in Juba, and whether you accept or deny, the Kiir
government is perceived as a Dinka dominated government.
Again, like it or not, it’s always the fact that in most situations,
it’s highly probable for the Dinka army, security or police officers
and men who’re most likely than not, to show uncouth and violent
behaviours and aggression against other fellow citizens.
Speculatively, as it’s again the same community that has majority
domination in all government services, including the economic sector
by the same domination of their tribal ‘nouveau riches.’
Now that we have unfortunately and unwittingly come around to a
situation very much akin to the pre-KOKORA era, where one tribe has
unfairly presumed the illegitimacy of domination of all facets of
governance, and the perpetuation of state terror contrary to the laws
prevailing in the books, drastic change of minds and hearts is needed
if we are to survive in peace as a nation.
Yes, we’re southerners or now better known as South Sudanese, but are
we really a nation? The answer could possibly and finally be found in
the redivision of South Sudan into particular federal units that felt
they could separately live in peace among themselves due to some
particular commonalities found among them.
Regrettably, Kiir and others still morbidly suffer from short or total
loss of memory. Last time in 1991, when the same Machar and cohorts
seriously warned Garang and the same Kiir and others of the simmering
dissatisfaction within the same SPLM/SPLA, they inevitably and
painfully paid a big price for ignoring the advice.
As a ‘failed’ leader, president Kiir must voluntarily abdicate now and
let the nation transition peacefully, and hopefully the future might
and would surely be better for the nation.
Should that happen, however, a would-be president Machar himself is no
better or much different leader than Kiir, for the nation since he has
been very dubious and dodgy about the prevalent corruption,
insecurity, or why the constitutional review process has taken so long
to be finalized and passed, among many other shortcomings of his.
Furthermore, if he, Machar, had the moral imperative, he would have
been the first to openly declare his and the family assets or stop his
habitually greedy and big appetite for land grabbing, as evidenced by
his gluttonous and questionable acquisitions of Bari and Mundari land.
His utter and apparent lack of moral compunction or lack of sense of
shame doesn’t strictly bode well for someone literally crying to
become president of the nation at any cost. This is sinful and dirty
in the eyes of many and smacks of gross lack of moral turpitude.
Since crawling back to the SPLM/A over the skeletons and souls of
hundreds of thousands of those he had intentionally and
unapologetically misled to their deaths, and then rising upwards
opportunistically to his current position in this corrupted tribalized
monopoly called the SPLM/A, Machar owes a lot to the people of South
Sudan.
If Machar’s ambition to ‘succeed’ Kiir accidentally leads to and
speedily catalyses the break up of the SPLM/A corrupt empire, then
that’s even more propitious for the nation. From its ashes, hopefully,
the marginalized people across the nation would see a better future
for South Sudan.
END
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37 Comments
Malou
July 12, 2013 at 9:31 pm
The SPLM liberated South Sudan; The SPLM has both good and bad,
The SPLM are the people of South Sudan; you can never have South Sudan
without SPLM and the reason is the SPLM are the people of South Sudan
who liberated this country. If you need a country without SPLM; then
your country will not be South Sudan; I believed you’ll find it
somewhere else!
The notion that somehow the SPLM is needed to crash and burn in
order for this country to be a good country is just highly irrational!
This is like saying; “let’s kill everyone who liberated this country
and everything after that will be better for everyone else who has
nothing to do with the liberation of this country”!! The idea couldn’t
be any more unreasonable than that!
This is my opinion and everyone else has the right to disagree or
agree with me without any obstruction whatsoever!
Reply
Dr JAC Ramba
July 13, 2013 at 6:53 am
Dear Malou
I can see how an SPLM diehard you are. You just reminded me of
how once the people of Darfur and the Jallaba united under the slogan
of “Allah Akbar” in the so-called Jihad Holy War against the Infidels
of South Sudan. Today the two can still be heard shouting the “Allah
Akbar” slogan, but only to fight one another.
Don’t be surprised to hear two SPLM camps shouting “SPLM
Oyee”, and charging against each other, if it has not already started.
When this trend of events intensifies, there will come a moment when
the eyes will be blinded and ears blocked. When that time comes, no
sounds will be heard above the sound of the battle.
If you also fail to see the relevancy here, of course you can
still be able to see it when the current battles of words for J1
finally gives way for physical confrontation. There a lot of
brinkmanship here, and one of the two either Kiir or Riek must
chicken, to restore the normalcy.
Reply
Kenyi Lo Equatoria
July 13, 2013 at 12:49 pm
Malou,
it is that South Sudan you have in your mind that
GOSS=SPLM=SPLA. But the one we voted for and struggled to buy at 2
million lives will healthily, happily, peacefully and prosperously
live without Kiiriminals/kiiruption elements of SPLM=SPLA=GOSS.
In Uganda today if you ask about UPC they will asked you; what
do you mean sir? as if it is not the party that brought them
independence. Thank God Nelson Mandela’s decision to leave power to
others made ANC to live till now.
If kiir fears Machar to contest, Do you think this party
belongs to others apart from Kiir and his children? Let me tell you,
Democracy is really what Machar is doing. Let Kiir and Machar both
stand and accept the result of votes! SO that we go ahead
democratically.
Reply
Elhag Paul
July 12, 2013 at 9:54 pm
Beautiful presentation of the unfolding situation in our beloved
country soiled by SPLM/A, the party of thieves. Many thanks for this
in depth analysis. No doubt it will enlighten the masses during this
time of crisis.
Reply
Tyson
July 12, 2013 at 10:46 pm
Editor
Your analysis is a deep reflection of the misery South Sudanese
endure under SPLM/A led Jieng and Naath hegemony.
There is nothing for poor South Sudanese to yearn for under this
criminal leadership of Kiir and his cousin Dr Hitler.
Corruption, poor governance, abuse of human rights, land grabbing,
cattle rustling, insecurity and lawlessness and killing of innocent
people are now chronic and probably malignant.
The social services are back to colonial era while the economy is
shinning in the hands of pseudo foreigners baptised flimsily as
in-laws.
Why did we shed the blood of our innocent martyrs if this is the end result?
God save us from this carnage!
FROM EDITOR: THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENT.
Reply
Manyok R.
July 12, 2013 at 11:42 pm
I like Editorial analysis of S. Sudan’s politics. But, I struggle
to understand unnecessary big words in his writing. For goodness sake!
What are these words.. incredulity, transmogrification, and
trepidation? Who writes like that? And when is the last time you saw
these words in use anywhere? Get back to basics. Editor’s job is to
simply convey the message as clearly concise to the point. Study other
Editors such as those of New York Time and Time Magazine, you will see
how they simply express their messages in every day language in
writing. And that’s what count! Sorry I’m not trying to be rude other
than trying to voice out my sincere frustration in your writing.
FROM EDITOR: YOUR POINT TAKEN IN GOOD SPIRIT.
Reply
Manyok R.
July 14, 2013 at 11:27 pm
Thank you so much, Mr. Editor.
Reply
monyluak D. Kur
July 13, 2013 at 2:05 am
Dear Editorial writer:
In fact, your article has summarized all the pending political
wrangle within the ruling party known as SPLM, but it isn’t about the
tribalistic politics on side of the South Sudan’s Pres. Salva Kiir
Mayardit, especially when I scrutinize his political misundertstanding
with the VP Dr. Riek Machar. However, Dr. Riek Machar is the problem
himself, if he is politicizing the President Salva Kiir for failing
the SPLM Party, why he doesn’t give up his VP? Then start forming his
own political party if he is really for a change! I don’t think he
could talk about changes gibberish like that, while all the messes
within the SPLM Party is also the part of it. Not president Salva Kiir
alone?
If there is going to be a second tribal war in South Sudan ONCE
AGAIN, then Dr. Riek Machar will be held accountable since this
tribalistic politics within the SPLM leaderships seem to be more
dangerous than 1991 spliting within the SPLM/A movement, as turned it
out to be a worse genocidal war in South Sudan. To me, if we want a
real change in South Sudan not by tribalistic politics resorting then
we must learn from those people who live far on the brinkmanships.
I would like Dr. Riek Machar to distance himself away from
criticizing Pres. Salva Kiir if he has failed the Country. Then Pres.
kiir will be asked by the international communities for not running
the Country in a fair way. The SPLM Party itself with its GS. Pagan
Amum must find a really solution that would revitalize the Party from
its failing , because all those differences within the SPLM ruling
party are known by its liberation councils who should summon the Pres.
Salva kiir, if his isn’t heeding attention to the SSLA, SPLM’s
liberations councils, and SSSC. These are the three bodies fundamental
to functioning that could impeach the Pres. Salva Kiir when he doesn’t
follow the right directions the country needs to be run since there
has been a lot of challenges echoing everywhere in the young nation’s
corners that need to be solved.
Monyluak Kur
Reply
Michael Abu
July 13, 2013 at 2:14 am
The facts are powerful in this analysis and many will agree that
country needs a change from the top leadership if we want to be better
off. However, we need unifying voices to be able to exist as one
people and to avoid pushing one side of the tribe to stand with their
person who is in leadership. It would been good if the editor
addressed the grievance of all South Sudanese as he started that
majority of Dinkas from Kongor to Kuajok are living in a horrible
situation that need a good leader who will bring the changes that will
improved the lives of the all people South Sudanese.
But if you will define the problem that’s facing the nation as
whole and then starting twisting the analysis that Dinkas are the ones
that screwed up the nation, then you’re declaring the war against the
whole tribe who experienced the same hardship like the rest of their
brothers or sisters in the country and they will stand with their man.
In our tribal societies, no any tribe that will like to be blamed
for something that they have nothing to do with. But if some of the
professionals like this writer who wrote their analysis keep blaming
Dinka tribe who don’t have any idea about what is going on in Juba,
the KORAKOR/Division will continue and it will be hard to find a
better leader, who will bring us out of the mess which had existed
since Joseph Lago and Abel Alier.
The only way to have a good system of governance is to accept
ourselves as one people that need a nation where the voices of every
one needs to be heard regardless of their beliefs, tribe, and region
and want to co-exist without prejudice. Also, we need to point out the
weakness of the leader as a leader not because he is from a Dinka,
Nuer or other tribes.
Reply
Kenyi Lo Equatoria
July 15, 2013 at 8:07 am
Bravo Micheal Abu,
I like the reasoning you put here but, our leaders use their
tribes members to strengthen their positions. So as long as we are
getting aware of their tricks, they will have nowhere to lay their
heads because we shall cut them. Riek as a South Sudanese and SPLM
member has a right to compete with President on free and fare basis.
If Kiir mobilizes his tribesmen against Dr. Riek the reverse
will be counter productive and even those who feel the heat of Dinka
Dominated Goss will seek ally in Riek’s Camp.
So as ordinary citizens, your advice works if we support Kiir
or Riek as leaders on free and fair basis or their current and past
political performances. Warning, Should All Dinkas show support Kiir,
Nuers plus Other tribes will show Support to Riek. Should Dinkas
declare war if Kiir fails to go through then the other Camp will
defend themselves.
Reply
Itikwili
July 13, 2013 at 10:47 am
Thanks for this deep analysis, Editor. I thought the SPLM, the
subject of the analysis refers to, by necessity, the party and not any
more the liberation movement we had been used to when the country was
united and fighting a common cause for a common destiny. if that truth
should hold, SPLM the party cannot be the people of South Sudan, any
more. there are many parties in South Sudan.
it is quite rational that such a party now fully under the custody
of tribalists should crush for this great nation to move forward. the
signs are nearly there. the alternatives may not be favourable, but if
your are a believer in Hegelian dialectics, it is through these
contradictions and their resolutions that you move forward albeit at
slow pace. great analyses from you.
Reply
Peter
July 13, 2013 at 11:45 am
Brother Malou,
SPLA/M did not liberate South Sudan as you’re saying, South
Sudanese are the genuine ones who liberate the country, South Sudan
will be better without so called SPLA/M. In fact, SPLA/M is destroying
the country, stealing the country`s resources, killing / abusing the
citizen of South Sudanese, shooting innocent people in Jonglei state,
shooting peaceful protestors in Wau city. South Sudanese people will
not be silent any more.
Kiir should step down and let the country to be led by people who
love and want to develop the country. Should he refuse, we better go
to war than give him another moment to destroy our lovely country. All
these killers and corrupt leaders will be held accountable for what
they did to this nation. Long life South Sudan
Reply
Andrew Modi
July 13, 2013 at 12:31 pm
Dear Readers,
The crises have started within SPLM/A party by showing no respect
to their leaderships or each other as the member of the ruling party
in the newly born Nation of South Sudan. What the hell in such a
country which shows like this? Where are you heading this country to?
Criticism is not the solution but instead firing the nation to the
world that you as the Leaders could not/ failed to lead this newly
nation of the South Sudan.
This shame to our Leaders by doing these unhelpful words and
causing tension as well as fear to the innocent people because of this
poorly ruling system in the country.
Please have good faith to lead but not failing the country. A good
leader always is chosen by people but not forcefully to be a leader to
the people who do not want you. You should have the good system in
your mind as well as logic ruling and not forcing oneself to lead.
Avoid all these unhelpful words exchanged for the people benefit all.
Thanks,
A. Modi
Reply
Kenyi Lo Equatoria
July 13, 2013 at 12:51 pm
Mr Editor,
God bless you abundantly for this truthful analysis without fear or favor.
Reply
Toney Toney Matot
July 13, 2013 at 1:59 pm
Paul Elhag,
All in all we have no Elhag in South Sudan. second to it, you and
your editor who wrote this article knew nothing about SPLM/A. if
SPLM/A was a failure movement, we would have not reached to the
present day. SPLM/A was almost dead when whom you support declared a
coup in Nasir. it has taken SPLM/A time to regain its momentum. as
Malou mentioned it above, do you think those who did fight for the
course of this nation are the people who have right now? South Sudan
will not be ruled by Dinka for ever but some day another president
will emerge from another tribe and all of us must recognize him as our
president.
Reply
Manyok R.
July 13, 2013 at 4:54 pm
Mr. Editor,
stop being tribal editor. Separate our Dinka community from few
immoral criminal Dinka officials serving in the GOSS. Their criminal
actions don’t reflect nor represent our community of Dinka. They come
from us, but that doesn’t mean we condone their immoral behavior in
the government. We don’t like them just as much as you do Equatorians
wannabe politicians or next leaders. We in Dinka are equally powerless
to do anything to get rid of them. If there are any ways you know how
to do away with them. Do it! Some of us in Dinka community would never
mourn them. Start with president Kiir himself to the last Dinka man
serving under him in Juba. But don’t replace them with your
Equatorians or Nuers who had served together with these corrupted
Dinka. This includes vice president Riek Machar and the rest. We want
totally different capable leaders who have the ability to lead us to
achieve what we desired and that is the highest standard of life in
the world.
Reply
Big O
July 14, 2013 at 4:50 pm
Manyok, exactly! Well said. Get rid of them all, regardless of tribe.
Reply
Manyok R.
July 14, 2013 at 11:39 pm
Big O
Thanks man, I was giving up. Some of these Equatorian
intellectuals don’t get it when they try to frame the root cause of
FAILED LEADERSHIP OF THE SPLM PARTY. I don’t know what they hope to
achieve if they demonize Dinka with SPLM PARTY which are totally
different entities.
Reply
Big O
July 16, 2013 at 7:42 pm
Manyok, just keep reminding them that it’s not about
the tribe, we- any of us- come from. Sometimes it’s like people
playing the game ”My thief is better than your thief” because s/he
comes from my tribe, and they weaken their case that way. Don’t give
up, Manyok. I myself will vote for anyone from any tribe as long as
they are not among the lootership. God bless.
Reply
Kenyi Lo Equatoria
July 15, 2013 at 8:29 am
Manyok R and Toney Toney Matot,
Today I congratulate both of you for talking on behalf of
South Sudanese in this parliament. We love every South Sudanese to be
peaceful in this Country; Oh God, save Murle from the hands our
Leaders. But the current leaders keep knocking our heads against each
other. We must remove them. I heard In Western Equatoria Citizens in
2010 National Elections voted for good leaders not necessarily SPLM.
Do you know what SPLM Government is putting them on political Bench as
reserve players indefinably.
In this Government Dinkas who are suffering only being heard
by NGOS are more then those thieves raiding our resources in Juba; we
must surrender them including that party of theirs. Yes we can.
Reply
Bentiu Ramaran
July 13, 2013 at 6:37 pm
Manyok,
No Equatoians, no Nuer, okay go for it.
Reply
Choromke Jas
July 13, 2013 at 6:42 pm
Wonderful analysis. What amazes me is how Kiir and his cohorts
continue to think that they have a chance to be elected again to lead
this damned country. I just cannot understand. The Armageddon is
beckoning.
Reply
Issack Deng
July 14, 2013 at 3:23 am
Dictators worldwide have no regard for law and order, and nothing
will stop president Kiir from excising his useless decrees day out and
day in since he has absolute power in his possession. Let us all live
up to the fact that South Sudan today has earned itself a failed state
status next to Somalia and Kiir’s irresponsible government and naive
leadership should be held accountable for letting down the new
country’s decades of hard earned freedom through difficult struggle.
History also taught us that no matter how bumpy and dark the road
ahead is becoming, dictators do fall down and the sun will rise again.
Reply
Malith Alier
July 14, 2013 at 7:25 am
I have been a fan of this website since its inception. However, I
fail to comprehend its ideology at times. It should be understood that
the editorial part is a primary instrument to put the issues in their
right perspectives but alas it has failed miserably like the SPLM
under KIIR, MACHAR and PAGAN. Mixing issues or inciting tribal hatred
is the worst sin in South Sudan. We could score better if our thinking
does not invoke tribal sentiments like what the editorial put forward.
If one starts such divisions from the top then I believe that he
certainly will come down to his very family and say this brother of
mine was born during the day and I was borne at night therefore, we
are not the same.
Lastly, I do not see Kiir’s presidency as a Dinka presidency, far
from that. What Malith Alier who is a Dinka and works in his
professional capacity in a private sector has to do with the
government under Kiir? be objective and you will win over lots of
people even from other tribes who have nothing to do with what is
going wrong in South Sudan at that moment in time.
FROM EDITOR: MR. MALITH ALIER, AS YOU ASSERTED THAT YOU’VE
FOLLOWED THE SITE SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2003, THERE IS NO HIDDEN
AGENDA AT ALL. THE WEBSITE WAS TO PROVIDE SOUTH SUDANESE AN
INTERNATIONAL FORUM TO FREELY EXPRESS THEIR INDEPENDENT VIEWS THEN
ABOUT THE LIBERATION, LIKE IF SOUTHERNERS WANTED TO FIGHT FOR UNITED
SUDAN OR FOR SEPARATION. THE EDITOR, WHO PERSONALLY BELIEVED IN AN
INDEPENDENT SOUTH SUDAN, AND NOT A SO-CALLED NEW SUDAN AS GARANG
SEEMED TO HAVE ASPIRED, STRONGLY BELIEVED AND PROPAGATED FOR AN
INDEPENDENT NATION, THAT WOULD RIGHTLY BE CALLED ‘SOUTH SUDAN NATION,’
AND NOT SUCH ALIEN NAMES BEING PEDDLED THEN BY THE SPLA/M, LIKE ‘NEW
KUSH’ OR ‘NEW SUDAN.’
Reply
Gatkuoth Goar
July 14, 2013 at 7:34 am
To liberate people from oppression is a great achievement. But
Oppressing the people you liberate means you are nothing, but
Dictator. SPLM/A has lost its direction as the nation ranked number 4
failed state.
Reply
Makor
July 14, 2013 at 9:58 am
Dear Editor,
This is a anlaysis of the situation in S. Sudan right now. The
criticism coming from VP Dr. Riek and SPLM SG Pagan Amum makes me to
reflect on what the late Dr. Garang stated in 2004 during the Rumbek
leadership meeting. Dr. Garang is reported to have said that the new
political provisions for South Sudan as per the CPA will assuage
against coups and allow for multipartism.
Dr Garang mentioned Dr. Riek by name and said Riek will not find
it appealing to stage a coup if he disagrees with the SPLM, he should
just resign and form his own party. I think those who are fed up with
a too-much deformed SPLM to be reformed have a viable option to launch
their own party if they think they have a constituency outside there.
Anything short of that they must work to avert generating into useless
debates and work together to mend the party they wrecked.
Reply
Peter Adwok Nyaba
July 14, 2013 at 6:51 pm
The editorial piece is interesting and requires much reflection. I
am interested in the last paragraph which I quote below: “Yes, we’re
southerners or now better known as South Sudanese, but are we really a
nation? The answer could possibly and finally be found in the
re-division of South Sudan into particular federal units that felt
they could separately live in peace among themselves due to some
particular commonalities found among them.”
And I want us to problematize ‘federalism’, because it seems many
people believe ‘federalism’ is a panacea for all our failures. There
are many people who have been thrusted onto the political theatre who
barely possess a political culture to appreciate the intricacy of the
social and political situation in South Sudan. ‘Federalism’ or
‘democratic decentralised system of government’ are all empty words
given the current situation in South Sudan.
The schism within the SPLM leadership is indeed worrying. And I
agree that it can embroil the nation in a fireball that will be South
Sudan’s unmaking. I don’t think the problem is between Salva Kiir and
Riek Machar struggling for power. It is much deeper than that. It is a
problem that is as old as the SPLM. It is an organisational problem
i.e. lack of institutions. It is the failure to emancipate political
power and its exercise from the person.
It characterised the split with Anya-nya II in 1983/84. The
SPLM/SPLA did not learn a lesson from that split in order to create
space for reconciliation and reunification in 1988. This led to the
Nasir Declaration when Riek and Lam Akol declared that ‘Garang must go
now’.
Again there were no lessons drawn and they came back in 2002 and
2003, they’re just welcomed into the fold. Political contradictions
don’t dissolve, they must be resolved and are likely to resurface.
This is what happened in Yei in 2004. Rumbek meeting just fudged the
contradiction. It is the same contradiction springing back in the form
of Riek Machar-Salva Kiir schism.
I would advise that nobody should be ensnared into believing that
she/he will benefit from this dangerous situation and begin to
celebrate in hope of inheriting the realm. The only beneficiaries will
be the enemies of the people of South Sudan.
Mr. Editor, Nobody in the government of South Sudan [executive and
legislature] can claim innocence. We are all guilty by commission or
omission. I respect your editorial opinion but it would helped us a
lot if it at least provided a way forward.
For instance I am completely at a loss when you prefer
‘federalism’ to ‘decentralisation’ without providing as to whether you
are going to manufacture leaders or it is the same brand of leaders
now in South Sudan.
Secondly, the problems we encounter today in South Sudan are
products of the ‘democratic’ decentralised system of government
implemented since 2005. It’s greatest disadvantage lies in being
counter to nation building and state formation which require political
centralisation. I will come back.
Thanks
FROM EDITOR: THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT, DR. NYABA. I REFERRED TO THE
FACT THAT THE SOUTH WAS IN THE KOKORA (DECENTRALIZED) MODE PRIOR TO
THE ARRIVAL OF SPLM TO TOWN, SO, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOME
CONSULTATION DONE BY THE GOVERNMENT AS TO WHAT POLITICAL MODALITY WAS
PREFERRED BY THE CITIZENS, INSTEAD OF SPLM MOVING INTO TOWN AND
IMPOSING A DECENTRALIZED SYSTEM UPON ANOTHER DYSFUNCTIONAL
DECENTRALIZED SYSTEM.
PROFESSOR, I HAVE NEVER BEEN AN SPLM MEMBER BUT AS YOU CORRECTLY
IMPLIED, THE PROBLEM IS INSTITUTIONAL. NONETHELESS, WE ALWAYS HOPE
THAT THE WISE PEOPLE LIKE YOU WOULD LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE SO THAT THE
RIGHT REMEDIES FOR OUR PREDICAMENT ARE INSTITUTED.
Reply
Choromke Jas
July 15, 2013 at 6:58 pm
I really do appreciate the attitude of Dr Nyaba of responding
to discourses in this and other sites. It gives us hope that there are
some people in that closed and uncaring SPLM behemoth who read and
think about the masses. However, on this occasion I beg to disagree
with Nyaba’s view. I am actually dismayed that he still recommends
“centralization” as a panacea for nation building. In fact, what has
been masquerading as decentralized system since CPA is actually
centralization. If it was not, how come the President can dismiss
Governors just like that.
Furthermore, key appointments at the state level are actually
approved by the President. So, I do not think it is honest to
recommend the same dish of centralization to the Southerners.
Federalism, if respected, has a lot to offer for the governance of
South Sudan. For example, why should judges and inspectors of police
in Torit be sourced from Bor or some far places and not vis versa?
Other examples abound.
If we continue to believe in abstract ideology of
nation-building for its own sake as Dr Nyaba seems to imply, and I
know he can be very ideological, then the governance problem of the
South will continue to be the obstacle for the unity of our people.
Reply
Big O
July 16, 2013 at 8:04 pm
Dear Dr. Nyaba,
Thanks for sharing your views on this site. It is said that
almost 3/4′s of the South Sudanese population is under the age of 30,
so many of us are easily confused by the elders who are battling for
power all of the time. We often have limited or no context in which to
place their current parochial skirmishes — especially since we have
been forced-fed the narrative of liberation since birth but are now
seeing our elders wallow in the cheap and false substitute of
Materialism.
I am particularly happy to hear your admission that ” Nobody
in the government of South Sudan [executive and legislature] can claim
innocence. We are all guilty by commission or omission.”
You are, it seems, the only cabinet member strong enough to
admit this and this admission goes a long way. I do agree with
Choromke that South Sudan has not been decentralized –just follow the
money trail and procurement processes for proof…and it’s so
interesting that a Movement that continues to call its members
‘comrades’ is so fearful of relinquishing even an iota of control to
brothers and sisters within and outside of the party.
On a last note, it’s impossible to present a way forward to
people who are not open. It’s not about having a good plan anymore in
South Sudan — they’ve had good plans thrown at them for the last eight
years.
Reply
Simon T. Dahel
July 14, 2013 at 8:03 pm
Mr. Manyluak, you are a type of person like Salva Kiir and you are
the very people who are polarizing this young nation by introducing
tribal politics. Dr. Riek Machar could abandon the SPLM due to the
fact that, SPLM does not belong to Kiir nor belong to Dinka, it was
for all South Sudan compatriots and Riek has a right to contest any
post in the Republic of South Sudan. if you mean to tell us that South
Sudan belongs to Dinka alone, you are wrong, my friend, and regardless
of your propaganda that Kiir should be left alone, it’s baseless and
nobody would regard what you intented for your support to kiir would
save your corrupt system and the culture of tribalism.
Reply
Kuir ë Garang
July 14, 2013 at 8:18 pm
Dear editor,
I’ve been writing for this website for close to a decade now and I
have great respect for both the mission of the website and the editor
himself. He’s given South Sudanese unfiltered, impartial avenue to air
views that’re very dear to them.
However, I’m becoming increasingly concerned with the manner and
the language in the editorial, notwithstanding the message. The
message is excellent, however, the use of words such as ‘tribal
hegemony’ and ‘Dinka’ and ‘Jieng’ is a wrong and very dangerous
precedent for our country. We are all against the rotten system in
Juba for the destruction the SPLM has unleashed on our country.
However, to regard them as ‘Dinka’ or ‘Nuer’ is a dangerous precedent,
which is beneath the stature of the editor of this wonderful website.
The editor could convey his message without resorting to
tribalized langauge. Majority of us, who’re Jieng, criticize the same
SPLM day and night. Calling the government Dinka is to regard us as
part of the destructive system; something I think isn’t the editor’s
intention.
Let’s see it as SPLM crooks vs. South Sudan for that’s what it is.
If this is a Dinka government then why was Isaiah Diing Chan Awol
killed? Why is Nhial Bol considering going to exile? While is John
Penn de Ngor not in Juba?
This is a friendly advice for the editorial begrudges the intention of SSN!
FROM EDITOR: MR. KUIR E GARANG,
YOUR FRIENDLY ADVICE IS HEARTILY TAKEN. I NEVER INTENDED TO MAKE
ANY ETHNIC GENERALIZATION THAT’S WHY THE TITLE OF THE EDITORIAL ONLY
REFERS TO TRIBAL HEGEMONY, BY WHICH I WANTED TO IMPLY THE
PREPONDERANCE OF INFLUENCE OR DOMINATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OR SOME OF
ITS INSTITUTIONS BY A PARTICULAR GROUP OR GROUPS.
BELIEVE ME, KUIR, IT WAS WITH A HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY THAT I
CARRIED IN WRITING THIS PIECE ESPECIALLY IN REFERENCE TO THE UNFOLDING
SITUATION THAT MIGHT ADVERSELY IMPACT ALL GROUPS OR NATIONS IN THE
COUNTRY.
I AM SORRY IF IT HURTS SOME COUNTRY MATES, BUT LET’S SOMETIMES
CALL A SPADE A SPADE. PERSONALLY, I WOULD BE THE LAST TO ENCOURAGE ANY
FORM OF VIOLENCE AGAINST OTHERS.
BEST REGARDS.
Reply
tut
July 15, 2013 at 5:18 am
we southerner, let us pray for our nation to be a peaceful nation,
leave alone difference amoung us except those who are misusing our
country’s funds. God may be punishing them in a peaceful manner.
Reply
knockme down
July 15, 2013 at 7:50 am
Hey guys, stopping saying that if machar is opposing your corrupt
salva then let him form his own party. entitle him to his opinion as
any other concerned citizen besides being the vice. if i can remember
pretty very well when the late chairman wanted to re-shuffle salvar in
2004 in new side in yei, why didn’t you salva people form your own
party rather you wanted to revolt against the system that time?
plse, if he fails let him take the credit as failure and accept
and let things go head. Rather than building a propaganda platform
calling people with names nyagat, foreigners, while you’rr the must
nyagat to this nation and foreigners who sold their piece off to the
Arabs, if ever this word can be used in a proper way.
Reply
Chief Abiko Akuranyang!
July 15, 2013 at 2:03 pm
Dear Editor:
I read your explanation in your analysis very well! There have
been nothing new to know from you instead of old Stuff that have been
spoken for long time repeatedly again and again! But I do not want the
way how you have constructed your words that you do not know the
definitions onto them because the words you have said, there were not
good at all TRANSMOGRIFICATION, TREPIDATION, and many more.
As you know, I concur with a fellow contributor Kuir e Garang in
my own opinion. I do not see any hegemony in the Dinka tribe. The
government belongs to South Sudanese people since they have opted to
separate from the Sudanese society. There is no need to call a country
a Dinka country in the tribe in the government because it is not fair!
Better to judge things that are going bad in the nation in the
government without singling out only one tribe as a hegemonic! If we
are going to govern the country based on tribal affiliations, it is
not going to unite Southerners in the country from local level up!!
Now, I come to Riak issue with president Salva Kirr on his failure
at his administration in the government in the country. He said Kirr
administration is a failure. He would like to replace him so that he
would build a new nation well without him! But he is talking a child
talk! In what way he is going to build South Sudan better in Kirr
administration?? AND HOW??
I KNEW VERY WELL WHAT IS GOING ON- ON GLOBAL POLITICS IN THE WORLD
BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO SPEAK OUT LOUD IN THE FORUM TO KNOW!!!!!!
Thank you. Your website have made a great different to the people of
South Sudanese because it has freed people minds from being rigid to
fair-minded! I very much sincerely appreciate! Take care! God bless
you!
Reply
Ajo Dadora
July 16, 2013 at 12:47 am
All have said enough and no solution to the problem. The Arab
spring in Libya, Tunis and Egypt succeeded only M. Morsi was stupid
and more than stupid to give hand to the Hamas that contributed
greatly to his overthrow by the army.
Can our army behave wisely like the one of Egypt? Brothers and
sisters, Dinka of GBG will rally behind Salva Kiir and those who love
Riak Machar will rally after Riak.
Equatorians will decide their own but definitely not Kiir.
Reply
majongdit
July 15, 2013 at 7:24 pm
This is my first time to find out that people are celebrating the
birth of a child that is still in the mother’s womb. SPLM still rules
South Sudan. Those other things are mere predictions. Anybody
interested in leading South Sudan needs to give himself/herself time
and patiently wait until SPLM breaks up and lose elections. You can
only brag after that. SPLM/A split into two in 1991, but the SPLM
Mainstream still won. SPLM again broke into two in 2009, with Dr Lam
Akol taking his part, but SPLM still won in the 2010 elections and
finally gave you independence in 2011. SPLM can still break into SPLM
Riek Machar and SPLM Mainstream but it will still win elections. If
you seriously want us to talk then wait until the next elections.
Point at me in the eye and prove that somebody won the elections not
SPLM and I will be very obliged to say I was wrong. In the meantime,
there’s one South Sudan led by SPLM. Period!
Reply
majongdit
July 16, 2013 at 11:41 am
Dear Editor,
No one has ever been so sincere about Riek and his wild ambitions
like you. You have my credit for that.
I differ with you only in an area of SPLM demise. Riek’s departure
from SPLM cannot be the ruling party’s demise. Instead it can be a
blessing in disguise.
Thank you.
FROM EDITOR: THANK YOU, MAJONDIT, FOR THE COMPLIMENT, LET’S PRAY
FOR THE BLESSING IN THE AFTERMATH
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