The South Sudanese Former Detainees (FD) are just Spectators of the ongoing conflicts in South Sudan

[Elisabeth Janaina]

The South Sudanese Former Detainees (FD) are just Spectators of the
ongoing conflicts in South Sudan
Jul. 10 Politics, Uncategorized no comments
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BY: John Adoor Deng, Australia, JUL/10/2017, SSN;

The South Sudanese Former Political Detainees (FD) also referred to,
as G-10 are not, in my view, helping in the flagging situation in
South Sudan, although I was initially, to some extent, their mild
supporter right from the onset, when they were in jail. Readers can
attest to the article I wrote, published in South Sudan news sites
where I referred to them (FD) as biblical Meshach, Abednego, and
Shadrack who survived the wrath of the Babylonian king.

Unlike the Israelite resilience men who stood the great temptation of
the time and feared none, the South Sudanese Former Detainees are just
spectators of the ongoing conflicts in South Sudan.

Upon their painfully release, they cowardly turned their backs to
those who fiercely and fully advocated for their release including Dr
Riek Machar, Madam Rebecca de Mabior and all South Sudanese who fought
hard mounting pressures to condition their release, alive and healthy.

Unfortunately, on their release, they miscalculated events at hand
thinking that they will through this crisis take on the leadership of
the country. They had believed that the region and international
community would rein in to install one of them as a leader has not
facilitated in the conflict.

In their view, Kiir and Machar were going to be bad people in the eyes
of the international community. Of course, circumstances have now
taught them otherwise, Dr Machar, despite difficulties facing him each
day has continued to grow in his popularity and so is President Kiir’s
tact in Juba despite declining public support for him.

Thus, I have come to realise after a lengthy look at their daily
utterances how they wanted to remain as separate political unit called
FD or G-10 without playing an active part in bringing about peace to
the Republic of South Sudan.

In my view, they are a failed, insignificant forum who wanted to be
regarded as “holy men” who played no part in the conflict, forgetting
that they ironically work harder to ignite this conflict in the
context of the press conference of the 6th of December 2013.

In its entirety, this forum (FD/G-10) should not continue to exist,
they either disintegrate or join one party among the current political
actors (NAS, IG, IO Bush, IO Juba and other political and civil
forces) helping in trying to wage peace in the country.

The reasoning here is widely informed by the following:-

1. FD or call them G-10 have no central position. They act in some
forums as a solid body but in other forums, as distinctive particles
to each other. For example, we have seen how a portion of them rallied
behind a position that calls for UN 10-year Trusteeship of South
Sudan. On the other hands, we have seen those of Dr Majak calling for
regime change through the installation of a Technocratic Government
(TG) while their allied Foreign Minister Mr. Deng Abor, is on their
opposite selling President Kiir’s policies and exerting no solidarity
with his colleagues in the diaspora.

2. They exerted no influence, internally or externally, but are a
bunch of lonely disgruntled leaders trekking in the bushes unarmed.
Internally, they have no sizable following among the South Sudanese
both in the diaspora, displaced and inside South Sudan. Externally,
they have become lobbyists like a civil society with no significant
gain. For example, they have hosted numerous meetings with regional
leaders, international bodies but nothing so far has materialised in
their favour.

3. They are an exclusive forum; in that, nobody can join them unless
one was jailed with them in Juba, they have no agenda and a suitable
platform to engage South Sudanese who are thirsty for meaningful
political dispensation.

Although most of them have a fascinating historical background in
terms of their sacrifices in the 21 years conflict, they have in
recent development become politically ambivalent and opportunistic.

In order to redeem their good selves, the FD must rethink their
political position or opt to become what the Dinka people call “Jong
Abuthic”, meaning a dog who waited in hiding for an offer that never
came through till it saw its death shadow. END

The Writer is John Adoor Deng, Author of the book entitled: The
Politics of Ethnicity and Governance in South Sudan. He can be reach
on dengj...@gmail.com