An Open Letter to President Kiir "Your best option at the moment is not to fight these powerful forces, but to avoid foreign intervention as much as possible." 01 August 2015
By Adhor Abuna Aher Dear President Kiir,- Before I go into the centerpiece of my message, let me set the stage. Mr. President, South Sudan was fortunate to have the support of the United States National Security advisor Susan Rice, and the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power. Unfortunately, this senseless war has disappointed them, and their support to your government is currently questionable. A recent example is Ambassador Rice message during independence Anniversary this month and the United States being muted on the extension of your term by the parliament. President Obama doesn't have lots of knowledge about South Sudan and relies on the advises of his national Security Advisor Susan Rice, Ambassador Power, Enough Project and Sudan-South Sudan Peace Envoy Donald Booth. I don't see these people providing a good rapport for your government in the next course of actions. The most powerful voice when it comes to South Sudan's issue in the Obama's administration is Ambassador Susan Rice. We have seen that power in played during Obama consultation with the regional leaders in exclusion of your leadership. Your government has made numerous Concessions to achieve peace in the country, unfortunately, this efforts have been ignored this month in deciding the fate of our country in the absence of your legitimate government. Your best option at the moment is not to fight these powerful forces, but to avoid foreign intervention as much as possible. Another dynamic is the behavior of many regional leaders. Currently the only reliable partner you can count on is President Museveni of Uganda. Unfortunately, he is currently preparing for re-election next year, and his attention will be greatly directed towards his political survival. The recent President Obama's visit to the region has consolidated the United States leverage in the region, and they will be willing to implement any actions Washington takes against South Sudan. It is my hope your government is studying this dynamic, and strategizing on the option in your powers to protect the interest of your government. Mr. President, every democratically elected leader in this world is desperate to get the kind of political capital you have in your government. You have a support of the South Sudanese who are supporting your government and it is time to put that leverage to good use for the sake of suffering citizens. I thought the biggest obstacle in this peace talk would be how to pay for two armies, but if it is an issue of the government's supporters in The Greater Upper Nile that is becoming an issue, then use your leverage to convince them to take 33%, and let Dr. Gabriel Riek Machar have 53% for the sake of peace. Once we reduce this whole argument to a fight over positions, it portrays the government as not being mindful of the sufferings of its citizens currently in United Nations’ protection camps, displaced to foreign lands, and languishing in abject poverty in the country. Mr. President, let’s dissect the composition of the government's supporters in the Upper Nile. Governor John Kong is a true SPLM's cadre who would relinquish his position for the sake of peace. He is a very humble person, and ready to listen and respect your decision. Governor Simon Kun Puoch is a true nationalist who defied odds to keep government's support in Upper Nile; you can appoint him minister in the national government. Finally, Dr. Joseph Monytui, the man who defeated Taban Deng Gai for SPLM's chairmanship in the state is popular and will come back. In the main time, give him a ministerial position in the national government to clear these sticking points. Finally, all their loyalists will have 33% in their respective states. You have done a good job in seeking broad consultations with the SPLM party, but like President Truman said, obviously the buck stops with you. Your next efforts this remaining few days is to lobby government's supporters in the Greater Upper Nile to support this peace effort. The goal is to clear all hurdles on your part to ease you signing a final peace. As for the question of the Divisional commanders that will be affected by the peace implementation in the Greater Upper Nile, the military under the leadership of Hon. Kuol Manyang in collaboration with the Chief of General Staff Paul Malong need to come up with a contingency plan to keep all affected Commanders in their respective Divisions, and possibly reposition them in Bhar el Ghazal and Equatoria during this transitional period. Mr. President, this current IGAD proposal is only for 30 moons. We have come a long way, from the rebel insisting point of a transitional government without President Kiir as Executive Head to an acceptance of your legitimacy. Mr. President, you are accepting peace from the position of strength because the rebels are fully convinced they will never capture Juba hence toppling the government. What is left now is recognition of your suffering citizens and peace is their only hope to rebuild their lives again. Mr. President, this peace is not perfect, but it provides a better opportunity for the government to redeem itself. Leave the mess in the hand of Riek Machar and IGAD. The biggest mess in Dr. Riek's hand is how to convince warlords under his command. Negotiation, unlike war, is not a zero-sum game, but making sacrifices for the greater good, and your government is poised to make that right decision. Dr. Riek is not a good manager even during this transitional period; he will find it difficult to keep his supporters united. Thanks for your time, Mr. President. Posted in: Opinions <http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/24/Opinions.aspx> -- To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/southsudankob View this message at https://groups.google.com/d/msg/southsudankob/topic-id/message-id For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/SouthSudanKob/CAJb14opvzO05gE%3D57zef4_%3Dc4c87C9XmTz7OC_oJYugAVmEBEw%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
