Crises and deaths of citizens as politicians get rich on South Sudan
natural resources
Sep. 21 National, Uncategorized 1 comment
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BY: Daniel Juol Nhomngek (Lawyer), Kampala, Uganda, SEPT/22/2017, SSN;
Since the vote for independence and ultimate secession from Sudan in
July 2011, the Republic of South Sudan, a nation graciously gifted
with an abundance of natural resources, like oil, water, gold…etc, has
witnessed plenty of huge sufferings caused by the war.
The war is caused by struggle over resources. This is because the
higher one is in power the closer he is to resources and control over
these resources. Looking at the power and resources as the ultimate
goal for leadership in South Sudan makes the conflict the most
important conduct of the leaders and their supporters.
Apart from oil, other natural resources available in abundance are:
Gold, diamonds, chromium, uranium, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, marble,
and other various rare earth metals, which were discovered but
quantified yet. Moreover, various rare earth metals that were
discovered are not yet quantified to determine their values. However,
prospects for diamonds, gold, chromite, copper, uranium, manganese and
iron ore are optimistic. These minerals plus other natural resources
make South Sudan and her citizens potentially rich.
For that reason, the conflict in South Sudan is not likely to end
easily since those who need power will never give or compromise to let
power go. This messy situation of South Sudan puts South Sudanese
ordinary citizens at a tight corner.
In fact, the conflict is further being aggravated by the fact that
some leaders in South Sudan have found it to be more beneficial than
attaining peace. The clear evidence for the war being turned into
lucrative business by our leaders is that the oil is now being
controlled by some individuals in the heart of the government for
their own benefits.
As the Sentry Report and other commentators on oil, war and business
in South Sudan have been pointing it out, oil is now being supplied or
hoarded by some of the top authorities in the country for their own
benefits while sustaining the war at the expense of the ordinary
citizens.
In the same way, rebels are not free either. For example, one the
reasons which I believe to have contributed to the indefinite
detention of Riek Machar in South Africa is due to the discovery that
he went into oil Agreement with Ukraine and Russian businessmen.
This discovery was made after the July 2016 conflict when he ran and
left some documents somewhere.
As a matter of fact, oil and conflict in South Sudan like in other
countries have become synonymous. This shows that in South Sudan,
there is likelihood that the war will not end unless the illegal
business in gold and oil is ended or unless the politicians realize
earlier enough that there is a need for compromise and also learn how
to control their conflicts of interest that make them conduct illegal
businesses in oil and gold while holding public offices.
The situation of conflict in South Sudan is further complicated by the
fact that the illegal mining of gold in Eastern Equatoria has provided
for the incentive to war among our top leaders.
Government officials are illegally mining gold in Kapoeta and other
areas where gold is found in South Sudan. For instance, there is a
clear evidence to show that some ministers in the government have big
mining companies involved in gold mining in South Sudan.
The said companies are headed by foreign individuals but behind the
curtain are big men and women of South Sudan.
Moreover, our citizens who are not well informed or due to poverty are
selling hundreds of kilograms of gold to foreign business men and
women in the same areas for just one bag of maize flour.
Hence, selling million of dollars with one hundred thousand Uganda
shillings bag of maize flour while our authorities do not care for the
misuse of this fundamental natural resource. This is because as long
as they are also benefiting from this black business then everything
is left To Whom It May Concern.
The whole scenario prevailing in South Sudan in regard to business in
oil and gold can be properly described thus: the authorities have
ganged up with foreigners to rob South Sudan and her people with
precious resources.
Unless South Sudanese pay attention to this illegal business and if
possible raise an alarm against this serious illegal action by the
authorities, the war in South Sudan may continue deep into the future.
The fact is that natural resources if mismanaged as seen in many
countries. Democratic Republic of Conflict (DRC) is a clear example,
they are always a source of violent conflicts, deaths of the citizens
in large numbers and enrichment of politicians amidst crisis.
In summary, as intimated above, politicians and foreigners in South
Sudan are maintaining the war as a means of accessing resources to
enrich themselves by selling oil and gold illegally which the war
provides space to do so freely.
In short, some of the government officials in South Sudan are
exploiting natural resources for their own benefits. Oil and gold
mining companies are being controlled in the heart of the government
for the exclusive benefits of the government officials. This provides
incentive for war and maintenance of war in South Sudan.
The Author is a lawyer by profession; he graduated with honors in law
from Makerere University, School of Law. He participated in various
workshops and training in community mobilization in awareness of their
constitutional rights in Uganda. He is the member of Public Interest
Law Clinic (PILAC) and NETPIL (Network of Public Interest Lawyers) at
Makerere University; he is currently doing research with NETPIL on
private prosecution; he is trained in Alternative Dispute Resolution
(ADR); he participated in writing Street Law Handbook on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights in Uganda. He is practicing with Onyango
and Company Advocates Bunga—Ggaba, Road Kampala He is currently
staying in Kampala Uganda where he is undertaking bar course training.
He can be reached through juoldan...@yahoo.com or +256784806333.
——————–
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1 Comment
Beek
September 22, 2017 at 9:27 pm
They should be ashamed of themselves. Dark Days and our people
warmly with 98 % vote to free us all.
Money makes no happiness than a only easy life, but it is a
happiness for who have nothing.
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