South Sudan: Independence from Tyranny to Tyranny

The independence of South Sudan from its Northern part was a victory to every South Sudanese, especially, those who account for the 98.83% of ballots casted for secession from Sudan in the historical January 2011 referendum. On July 9^th, 2011, South Sudanese from all walks of life celebrated the fruit of their decision, including those who didn’t take part in the referendum for some reasons and the few that voted for unity. However, the celebrations didn’t last long. The people of the now four-year-old country have been plagued by the manifestation of the satanic nature in mankind by those they praised as living heroes.  

Abruptly after South Sudan general election in 2010, which preceded the popular referendum and subsequent independence, Lieutenant General George Athor Deng, of the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA), rebelled against the Government of Southern Sudan. Mr. Athor wasn’t satisfied with the pronouncement that he lost his bet for governorship of Jonglei State to the current minister of defense. Mr. Kuol Manyang Juk. A similar story of suspicion over the electoral process was also echoed in Eastern Equatoria State, but didn’t trigger a rebellion like in the case of Jonglei. Anyways, George Athor and those loyal to him orchestrated a number of attacks against his former comrades. According to BBC, Athor was accounted for killing of several SPLA soldiers and about 200 civilians in one attack before he was fatally killed on the 20^th of December 2011.

Although George Athor’s rebellion ended with his death, the government of South Sudan saw many more episodes of deadly armed rebellions by the so-called “Living Heroes”. The Authoritarian Government of Salva Kiir survived rebellions from Peter Gatdet Yaak, David Yau Yau, Johnson Olony, and many more. Most of these armed confrontations against the government were silenced by meaninglessly offered amnesties that brought rebel leaders to golden stars and very generous rewards. The president of the republic, Salvatore Kiir Mayar, made it sound like rebellion and killing of innocent civilians were commendable acts worthy of national recognition. However, the apparent practical lesson to South Sudanese here is: For one to have the government’s attention, he must criticize the government, run a parallel government, open and run home-based prisons, and pretty much anything that endangers everybody, the government, and the state.

Moreover, the painful fact here is: none of these/then “Living Heroes” chose to rebel for the sake of it. Some were unjustly treated within SPLA/M; some had their ownership rights violated by their higher ranked comrades; some saw their relations tempered with; some rebelled to fight attributes of tribalism and corruption in the country; some saw their jobs taken from them by presidential decrees for unknown reasons; and some witnessed avoidable death robing their families on their watch while the president and his Ugandan counterpart abuse the use of alcoholic drinks. Other members of the government, on the other hand, a league of former rebels and favor seeking statesmen, are blindfolded by some concepts of protectionism and the weaknesses of job-baggers’ unconditional support. Everyone is working for his personal or group interest, while the majority civilian population is subjected to all forms of live taking insecurity. Despite all these, Salva Kiir demanded another term in power after 10 years of apparent failure in governance. Just like a vampire wanting to preside to ensure continues bloodshed.  One couldn’t resist asking the following question:

Why celebrate this Anniversary while being deliberately subjected to various insecurities by these “living heroes”?

South Sudan: The Anti-Troika Participation Rally Speech

The government faction of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) organized an Anti-Troika Countries participation peace rally at Dr. John Garang Mausoleum on Wednesday, March 18th, 2015 in Juba. The turn up and upshot of the rally epitomized a decade long failure of the ruling clique to build functional governing institutions in South Sudan. This was succinctly embodied in president Kiir’s sloppy speech read during the rally.

Arguably, the urge for the rally was necessitated by Intergovernmental Authority for Development’s (IGAD) newly suggested strategy for mediating South Sudan’s waring parties, SPLM in government (SPLM-iG) and SPLM in Opposition (SPLM-iO). The new strategy calls for the involvement of Troika Countries (US, Britain, Norway) in the next round of peace talks happening in April this year. SPLM-iO welcomes the new strategy due to direct involvement of some IGAD members in the conflict; however, SPLM-iG, the beneficiary of the IGAD members participation in the conflict, is against the new strategy. Hence, the peace rally was made necessary to sell SPLM-iG’s objection of the new strategy to the public, which is an attendance of commanded government employees and mostly coerced civilians.  

Considering forces behind the realization of an independent South Sudan since 1955, the demonstration was nothing but sheer negligence of historic allies of the country. For instance, without direct involvement of the Troika Countries, especially the US, the popular Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that yielded the independence of South Sudan, could not have been. SPLM-iG, under the leadership of Salvatore Kiir Mayar, is being inconsiderate of the perpetual solidarity of the Troika Countries with the people of South Sudan. This is evidence of the party’s (SPLM-iG) sloppiness and inability to govern the country. Other factors may have contributed to this, but it is likely attributed by the tribal chiefdom administration model adapted by Kiir in running the affairs of the heterogeneously populated country, which certainly cannot work.

However, despite the monopolistic advantage SPLM-iG has in persuading the majority of the people of South Sudan, the president failed to realize he was addressing fellow humans. He claimed that the leader of SPLM-iO, Dr. Riek Machar, requested the position of Vice President (currently held by James Wani Igga, an Equatorian), in allegedly proposed structure of a Government of National Unity (GoNU). Furthermore, Mr. President also claimed that the currently heated turmoil could have been halted if not for Riek’s intransigence. According to a publication on Sudan Tribune, Dr. Riek denied ever requesting a vice president position and upheld his long standing slogan that “Salva Kiir must step down”. Obviously,  Salva Kiir himself is the one bargaining with the vice president position, so he could maintain being the president of South Sudan. Now that, March 5th deadline ended without a deal, he (Kiir) is twisting the story to enrage the people of Greater Equatoria against SPLM-iO, which is unlikely to sell. 

Similarly, before uttering the accusation that Dr. Riek is being intransigent to strike a peace deal, Mr. President forgot that he complained of Dr. Riek demanding too much in several occasions. He outcried this in his last interview on CNN and in at least two appearances on SSTV, after March 5th. These disagreeing statements are not only misleading, but they actually indicate that Mr. President is the one unwilling to make concessions for peace in South Sudan. These statements also rightly depict him as the one behind all the well received signals behind the current war. This man, Salva Kiir should be driven away. He allowed rampant corruption in the country, which accounts to lack of infrastructure, lack of basic human services, high rates of mortality and escalating insecurity in the entire country, you name it. He cannot govern a country.  

Worse of all, the speech was insensitive of the still mourning people of the Nuer tribe, including those who returned from Dr. Riek’s led opposition, and those caught in crossfire. Being the president, even if he claims he did not cause the war, Salva Kiir should at least be considerate towards the victims of December 15th and 16th, 2013. However, Mr. President, insinuated that the massacre of Nuer in Juba was a revenge for what happened to the Dinka in 1991. Hence, it is logical to conclude that happenings of December 15 and 16 were deliberate actions Mr. President has been lurking to execute. He confirmed that he masterminded the deadly acts against the people of South Sudan, especially the Nuer, and 1991 is his reason. 

All in all, Salva Kiir had a decade to demonstrate that he is able to govern; however, he proved incapable and lacking integrity in his actions. South Sudanese should not heed to his calls against the participation of Troika Countries in the upcoming peace negotiations.