South Sudan: Don’t Tribalize Everything
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Elisabeth Janaina
Aug 3, 2017, 2:03:58 PM8/3/17
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South Sudan: Don’t Tribalize Everything
Posted: August 3, 2017 by PaanLuel Wël in Commentary, Contributing
Writers, Junub Sudan, Opinion Articles, Opinion Writers
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By Nhial Bol Aken, Juba, South Sudan
Nhial Bol Aken1
Nhial Bol Aken is the former Chief Editor of the Juba-based Citizen Newspaper
August 3, 2017 (SSB) — When I cautioned fellow citizens not to waste
their time on tribal politics it is because all our 64 tribes that
formed this nation are victims of the current situation. I wrote this
article, the story of “domesticated monkey” in good faith and not in
support of any group.
The argument is simple, we are victims but for some reasons of
misinterpretation in the usual way of ethnicizing my argument, the
choice of getting our country out of the current crisis is in our
hands. IGAD or western countries will not provide any solution to the
crisis we are in.
The fact of the matter is that we are divided and atrocities of 2013
and 2016 justified these divisions among our communities but the
question is how do we get out from these divisions? Will the solution
come from the mediators or we can craft our homemade initiated
solution?
The war had engulfed the country, the majority of our people are
displaced from their homes and they are in the refugee camps, others
are internally displaced in the country? Are these not a concern for
some of us to talk about issues that will bring the solution to the
crisis? Miracles never resolve political divisions.
Instead of tribalizing me because of peaceful argument, please focus
on the fate of our country. It is high time for you fellow citizens to
change your minds set and work for genuine peace and stability of the
country. Hoping for IGAD to bring peace is a dream which is not
achievable.
IGAD experts and leaders whom I met described our war as a war between
Dinka and Nuer, which is not true. Others told me it is a war between
President Kiir and Dr. Riek but some of us have the belief that the
cause of the war is around the issues of governance.
Some argue that President Kiir has a tendency of dictatorial policies
but, no, I have the belief that Kiir does not have the inclination to
be so for anybody wishing to become a dictator, one needs ideology and
vision to protect the dictatorial regime.
I have rarely seen that in Kiir’s style of ruling. What I have
observed in him is his decision to divide the ten states into smaller
states such that he has unfortunately and potentially touched on
ethnic issues.
His action in empowering communities to become surveyors in internal
borders of the states has spread insecurity in some parts of the
country.
As for those who argue that Dr. Riek is a leader of Nuers, well it is
the choice of Nuers to claim if they want to shed their blood in vain
for a man not representing them. Riek is closer to Dinkas in practices
but he always exploits the emotions of the Nuers for political
mobilization.
When the current FVP Taban Deng Gai arranged for me to meet Dr. Riek
in his residence in Jebel, I was welcomed by the Dinka generals
notably Gen. Achok Kulnyin, Gen. Mathew Awojong, Gen William Elario,
and Elijah who told me he is from Ngok Lual Yak and many others.
The Nuer generals were deployed to sit outside the fence. If a Nuer
leader is being protected by the rival tribe then we need to watch
out.
My experience about our politics is our leaders need people to take
them to power by all other means, violence, food or peaceful means.
The part is that if Dr. Riek is a Nuer leader, how possible did he
manage to transport war from Nuers lands in Upper Nile region to
Equatoria and Bahr El Ghazal regions?
My observation of Dr. Riek is that he is a good architect of anarchy
whereas President Kiir is not but a good distributor of crisis without
realizing.
With this little explanation, the two principals can both be
unpredictable if we fail to employ techniques. I am of the view that
we campaign for pretty pensions to our leaders instead of using force.
South Sudan will remain hostage for many years to come if we don’t
mobilize for pretty pensions meaning retirements with benefits and
kind of respect.
As of now, let us focus our debates over issues of governance and
possibilities of federal autonomous regions. We have to come to the
open and suggest to them what is in our minds so that we are helped.
Most politicians, particularly from Upper Nile and Equatoria regions,
talked of Federal republics autonomous as a system of governance to
end the crisis whereas the majority of Bahr el Ghazal politicians
argue for the highly centralized system. All these are not discussed
in the formal forums.
South Sudan will never be the same, the old argument that we are one
people is no longer popular slogan as it used to be. The new slogan
among the elites is that we are people of one destiny, not one people.
We must come with a proposal for distributive justices by either the
proposed federal republics within united South Sudan or initiate
policy of affirmative action to protect minorities.
Instead of killing innocent citizens, let us come to open and demand
autonomous states to the three regions that formed South Sudan: Bahr
el Ghazal, Equatoria, and Upper Nile regions.
The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The
veracity of any claim made is the responsibility of the author, not
PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to
submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to
paanlu...@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material
before publication. Please include your full name, email address and
the country you are writing from.
Posted: August 3, 2017 by PaanLuel Wël in Commentary, Contributing
Writers, Junub Sudan, Opinion Articles, Opinion Writers
0
Rate This
By Nhial Bol Aken, Juba, South Sudan
Nhial Bol Aken1
Nhial Bol Aken is the former Chief Editor of the Juba-based Citizen Newspaper
August 3, 2017 (SSB) — When I cautioned fellow citizens not to waste
their time on tribal politics it is because all our 64 tribes that
formed this nation are victims of the current situation. I wrote this
article, the story of “domesticated monkey” in good faith and not in
support of any group.
The argument is simple, we are victims but for some reasons of
misinterpretation in the usual way of ethnicizing my argument, the
choice of getting our country out of the current crisis is in our
hands. IGAD or western countries will not provide any solution to the
crisis we are in.
The fact of the matter is that we are divided and atrocities of 2013
and 2016 justified these divisions among our communities but the
question is how do we get out from these divisions? Will the solution
come from the mediators or we can craft our homemade initiated
solution?
The war had engulfed the country, the majority of our people are
displaced from their homes and they are in the refugee camps, others
are internally displaced in the country? Are these not a concern for
some of us to talk about issues that will bring the solution to the
crisis? Miracles never resolve political divisions.
Instead of tribalizing me because of peaceful argument, please focus
on the fate of our country. It is high time for you fellow citizens to
change your minds set and work for genuine peace and stability of the
country. Hoping for IGAD to bring peace is a dream which is not
achievable.
IGAD experts and leaders whom I met described our war as a war between
Dinka and Nuer, which is not true. Others told me it is a war between
President Kiir and Dr. Riek but some of us have the belief that the
cause of the war is around the issues of governance.
Some argue that President Kiir has a tendency of dictatorial policies
but, no, I have the belief that Kiir does not have the inclination to
be so for anybody wishing to become a dictator, one needs ideology and
vision to protect the dictatorial regime.
I have rarely seen that in Kiir’s style of ruling. What I have
observed in him is his decision to divide the ten states into smaller
states such that he has unfortunately and potentially touched on
ethnic issues.
His action in empowering communities to become surveyors in internal
borders of the states has spread insecurity in some parts of the
country.
As for those who argue that Dr. Riek is a leader of Nuers, well it is
the choice of Nuers to claim if they want to shed their blood in vain
for a man not representing them. Riek is closer to Dinkas in practices
but he always exploits the emotions of the Nuers for political
mobilization.
When the current FVP Taban Deng Gai arranged for me to meet Dr. Riek
in his residence in Jebel, I was welcomed by the Dinka generals
notably Gen. Achok Kulnyin, Gen. Mathew Awojong, Gen William Elario,
and Elijah who told me he is from Ngok Lual Yak and many others.
The Nuer generals were deployed to sit outside the fence. If a Nuer
leader is being protected by the rival tribe then we need to watch
out.
My experience about our politics is our leaders need people to take
them to power by all other means, violence, food or peaceful means.
The part is that if Dr. Riek is a Nuer leader, how possible did he
manage to transport war from Nuers lands in Upper Nile region to
Equatoria and Bahr El Ghazal regions?
My observation of Dr. Riek is that he is a good architect of anarchy
whereas President Kiir is not but a good distributor of crisis without
realizing.
With this little explanation, the two principals can both be
unpredictable if we fail to employ techniques. I am of the view that
we campaign for pretty pensions to our leaders instead of using force.
South Sudan will remain hostage for many years to come if we don’t
mobilize for pretty pensions meaning retirements with benefits and
kind of respect.
As of now, let us focus our debates over issues of governance and
possibilities of federal autonomous regions. We have to come to the
open and suggest to them what is in our minds so that we are helped.
Most politicians, particularly from Upper Nile and Equatoria regions,
talked of Federal republics autonomous as a system of governance to
end the crisis whereas the majority of Bahr el Ghazal politicians
argue for the highly centralized system. All these are not discussed
in the formal forums.
South Sudan will never be the same, the old argument that we are one
people is no longer popular slogan as it used to be. The new slogan
among the elites is that we are people of one destiny, not one people.
We must come with a proposal for distributive justices by either the
proposed federal republics within united South Sudan or initiate
policy of affirmative action to protect minorities.
Instead of killing innocent citizens, let us come to open and demand
autonomous states to the three regions that formed South Sudan: Bahr
el Ghazal, Equatoria, and Upper Nile regions.
The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The
veracity of any claim made is the responsibility of the author, not
PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to
submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to
paanlu...@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material
before publication. Please include your full name, email address and
the country you are writing from.
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