National Dialogue: A necessity for post-war South Sudan
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By Ambassador/ Dhano Obongo
South Sudan, the newest nation in the world which gained its
independence on July 9th 2011, was supported worldwide including Sudan
that respected the will of South Sudanese people to depart from Sudan.
Nobody in his/her right mind would believe that people of South Sudan
who struggled for decades for freedom from the colonial powers would
now live in agonies within its own self.
Much blame has been given to the postcolonial administration for
instance, (the Anglo-Egyptian administration 1898-1956 and Arab
Muslims successive regimes 1956 -2011). The question remains of what,
if the South Sudanese buried their own country whose responsibility,
for it to be resurrected?“Nationalism” which in my view was written in
the heart of every south Sudanese, in those years of the liberation
struggle, where is it now? Can the South Sudanese not rise up
themselves as new Ezekiel to conjure up the dry bones of South Sudan
to revive them through their respective tradition?(Ezekiel 37).All
South Sudanese people have a role to play, positively and decisively
in this ongoing National Dialogue to address the multi- problems that
have ruined our country.
This “national dialogue” is needed than ever before.This is because,
South Sudanese need to resolve their political differences and
collectively address those issues that have affected the nation, so as
to learn from the past and help in the present and the
future.Secondly, South Sudanese want to retrieve traditional values
that have been eroded during the past decades of colonial and Sudan
Independence so as to contribute to peacebuilding using their own
traditional values toreconcile and harmonize their communities. The
challenge of Addis- Ababa and Juba of August 2015 peace covenant
requires all South Sudanese people to work collectively in its
implementation‘s modalities to achieve lasting peace.
The perception of peace among South Sudanese points to the reality of
historical factors that have frustrated the country since the eruption
of conflict in 2013 in which thousands of South Sudanese lost their
lives and properties. The current processes of National Dialogue that
includes all levels from grassroots to the national, hopefully may
bring peace in the whole country through improving the rule of law and
justice institution, promoting communities’ cultural identities and
harmonization between the cultures for peaceful lco-existence. Address
the causes of conflicts that are related to political and livelihood
issues aimed for better provision of social services to the citizens.
This participatory approach would enable the community move away from
the current relief and humanitarian aid brought out by conflicts and
to focus on self-reliance and sustainable development mode of
strategies. The realization of peace in the South Sudan should provide
motivation for the development of human community in which all
communities are called upon to engage in power encounter against those
unjust structures of authorities that frustrate human efforts towards
development.
Perhaps it is on this background that our beloved President Salva Kiir
Mayardit who is also the Chairman of SPLM ruling party wisely thought
for this national dialogue to bring all South Sudanese people on board
to consider and look at different aspects of the transformation
processes that South Sudanese need to address and resolved. First, the
culture of violent vs. culture of peace and development.Peace
acceptable to all, would replace violent conflict and hatred among the
community so as to heal the wounds that have been caused by these
undesired conflicts in the country. Secondly, rehabilitation of the
war affect people is a crucial need. It would involve developing
strategies to achieve through ‘participatory model’ where the
involvement of local communities is an essential element in
reconciliation processes.
It is to be recalled that the SPLM has good track records in resolving
conflicts since the inception of SPLM in 1983 – 2005 champion by our
late hero Dr, John Garand De Mabior and from 2005 present headed by
President Salva Kiir Mayardit all of whom have embraced South Sudan
and have not failed to unite our people. It is my sincere wish and
prayers that the outcome of national Dialogue will be positive with
new ideas for unity and reconciliation. This is a test of our
creditability and may surprise the world. Peaceful coexistence are the
heritage bequeathed to SPLM and all South Sudanese from our elders and
past leaders. We the people of this new nation would be in a better
place if we heeded the good deeds of our predecessors
The author can be reached via his email address: [email protected]
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