The 2 parallel Things President Kiir should do to win minds and hearts of South Sudanese
11 min readThe two parallel things president Kiir should do to win the minds and hearts of South Sudanese.
By David Aoloch Bion
The seven things to evaluate South Sudan political crisis.
1 South Sudan is now the contended child by two women before King Solomon in the Bible. The presidency is the contested child. The SPLM in Government is the mother of the child. The SPLM in opposition is the mother of the dead child. The IGAD is the King Solomon, hearing the case of two women. The rebels or the mother of the dead child (failed coup) says “if I don’t get presidency, South Sudan (the living child) must be cut into two. Cutting into two means South Sudan should be restructured under federal system of governance, South Sudan should break up into autonomous states that could become independent countries, should one ethnic group still, continue, to dominate the politic and monopolize the resources.
2. Dinka Domination, it have been planted in the minds and hearts of 63 tribes of South Sudan that Dinka tribe has established itself or is trying to establish itself to dominate other tribes as the Arab did in the old Sudan.
3. President Kiir has lost legitimacy and support in Greater Upper Nile. Even if he gives them honey and milk or he makes the rain pour in dollars in Upper Nile, they will not recognize him as the legitimate president.
4. President Kiir has lost diplomatic support in the region. This is why the Kenyan, welcomed rebel leader Riek on the red carpet with full military honours. This is why Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea secretly supply the rebels with guns and ammunition.
5. The US, EU and UN have put president Kiir on the top of the “list of shame”. This is the list of the South Sudanese political and military leaders who will be tried by Hybrid Court either inside South Sudan or outside by the ICC in The Hague for their role in current crisis. This list of shame would have been published by UN Human rights and then forwarded to the ICC for indicting but was delayed, put on hold because it was going to jeopardize the peace process in the country. As soon as president Kiir signed and restore peace in the country, he will be indicted immediately by the ICC. This is what the UN chief Hilde Johnson in South Sudan meant by ‘’accountability at end’’
6. In Juba, on December 15, 2013, a fighting broke out between the soldiers loyal to president Kiir and soldiers loyal to former Vice President Riek Marchar. The history shows that if such scenario occurred, it is called a “coup”. When president Kiir announced that the coup was attempted in Juba. The World rubbished Kiir’s statement. The World says “it is not a coup”. What if those soldiers force president Kiir out of Juba, what would the world says? .wouldn’t they say president Kiir was overthrown in a coup? This proven that president Kiir is the ‘’most hated man’’ in the world today.
7. The rebels win support from Greater Equatoria because of their call for federalism.
With these underlying background in mind that the region and the world are trying hard to failed the people of South Sudan as leverage to bring down Mr. Kiir Administration in Juba. Mr. Kiir on the other hand, should apply his political efficacy to do two parallel things.
a. He should continue with peace process in Addis Ababa mediated by IGAD as an indirect ploy to get breathing space around the World. This is to gain trust, confident of the world leaders because the decision made in other part of the world affect us in one way or the other , because we are not an Island; we are part of the wider international community. This international community is the mirror we can see and evaluate ourselves.
b. On the other hand, he should immediately start the political reform aim at moving the country forward and out of the mess and frustration instead he waits until the peace is reached. Mr. Kiir should initiate the change, the change his people want in order to win their minds and hearts. Mr. Kiir should not insist “on his no reform, no change policy’’, because he is strong militarily or the SPLA have defeated the rebels in Nasir, the rebels stronghold. Mr. Kiir must know that she is the mother of the living child, the rebels are the mother of the dead child and for that reason, he should compromise and concede at the extreme end of the argument to avoid the child cut into two. President Kiir has something to lose. The rebel leader Riek has nothing to lose.
In the political reform, Mr. Kiir should do two things;
a At the grassroot level, he should convene the conference of the Paramount Chiefs and Chiefs of South Sudan in Juba
b At national level , he should authorize the Parliament to write the permanent , federal constitution that he could not interfere and manipulate like the first ones , he interfered and manipulated until the day he sign it into law , He should do it before the rebels come to deny them a chance of taking part in constructive ,political process in country as punishment for their violent strategies . He should not wait for the rebels to come and write the constitution with him or allow the constitution to be written outside the country as suggested by some elements, this disobey the sovereignty of the state
This is the speech he should deliver to the chief’s conference in Juba
‘’Honourable chiefs, you are elders of this country, I have called you to explain to you;
a. The genesis of crisis that started on December 15, 2013.
b. Why am I called “corrupted, failed, weak and murderer” by the politicians and media in South Sudan and around the world.
Before I explain the two issues, I will tell you briefly about the history of SPLM/A from 1983 to 2014.
We founded the SPLM/ SPLA in 1983, we got leadership crisis at the time that resulted into war of SPLM/A led by Dr. John Garang and Anya Anya II led by Samuel Gai Tut. We, John Garang faction defeated the Anya Anya II. That was first phase
In the course of the struggle, many commanders left the SPLM/ SPLA. These commanders who left SPLM/A included Kerbino Kuany, William Nyuon, Glario Modi, Dr. Lam Akol, Dr. Riek Machar and many others. That was second phase.
At CPA negotiation, Dr. John Garang sidelined me. I stayed in Yei for two years without contact or update from him on the peace process. When I asked John Garang on how the peace is progressing my words were manipulated. However, with my good conflict resolution skills, we resolved our differences with John Garang in Rumbek in 2004 peacefully. That was third phase
In January 9 2005, the peace was signed, on July 31, 2005 . John Garang died ( MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE ). I was appointed by SPLM leadership. The same day, I was appointed,
My leadership was undermined, agitated, sabotaged, contempt with by my colleagues who are now in opposition either leading the rebellion or mobilizing resources to bring me down. I just ignore their subversive activities . That was the last major phase I could remember.
In all these circumstances, I remained committed to the vision of SPLM/A which was the liberation and the independent of South Sudan that we achieved in 2011.
Honourable chiefs
My one objective from 2005 to 2011 was the independent of South Sudan. The second was the development that I delegated to your ministers . Millions of pounds were allocated to every ministry yearly.
In 2011, we got independent; we also realized that 4 billion dollars were stolen by 75 officials
Immediately after independence, I was about to begin on development proper, then we had the oil crisis where the oil was shut down and the Helgig war. the economy was in austerity .
No sooner had I solved the oil crisis than the coup was attempted and the subsequent civil war we are in now.
The genesis of the coup , the coup plotters says , I did not make development in last 8 years , for that reason I should step aside and give them the SPLM presidential election ticket in 2015 .They gave ultimatum on December 6,2013 , if I don’t listen to their demands there will be ‘’chaos , disorders and South Sudan will be in abyss’’ . Were they right ? They were not right because they were with me in the last 8 years they said I have failed the nation. If there were no development in last 8 years, it is our blame and failure all of us. If there were development in the last 8 years, it is our achievement and congratulation all of us.
So, On December 15 2013, the so called strong, incorruptible politicians started chaos…
My dear chiefs, I was not given a chance to do the best for the nation. , if the politicians of South Sudan were sincere enough, they would have let me finish my one term in the office, after they should begin asking me to step down.
Where is my mistake here? For the development. There is a division of labour. This is why we have ministers, governors and commissioners, every year a minister is given money for development. he breached trust his people put in him . He did not fulfill his obligation. He took the money and put it in his private account. Is this my mistake or lack of patriotism? It is the putting of money above one patriotism. Look at the MPs, they are given one million pound as CDF every year and in the constituencies, there are no health centers, no schools, and no roads. And this money has been given to the MPs for the last 8 years. Is this my mistake or the lack of patriotism on the part of the MPs? Look, the commissioners are given 3 million pound as grant for development. I will not talk how much money is given to every state yearly for development, and there are no roads, schools, and hospitals in both states and counties around the country. Is this my mistake or lack of patriotism on the part of governors and commissioners?
My dear chiefs, they call me “corrupted, failed, weak, murderer”
I am innocent, I have done nothing wrong. I am just a VICTIM OF BAD TEAMWORK, bad ministers, bad governors, bad commissioners who put money and personal interest above their patriotism.
The only mistake I made was 75 letters I wrote asking the 75 men and women to bring money instead I would have arrested, forced them to bring the money.
They say “I am clinging on to power, I am not, will I live forever? I will not, then why I cling on to power? I am ready to relinquish power when my term ends. For example , if someone just wake in morning and tell you , give me power , I want to be chief of this village in contemptuous manner , will you agree , of course not , this is what my colleagues are doing .
Today, I announce to you that I will not abide by the mess and conspiracies plan out of the country; I stick to my original plan. I will step down in 2020. From 2011 to 2020 is two term. This is in line with the two presidential term limit which will be enshrined in the permanent, federal constitution within one month time from now. Thank you ‘’’
After this speech, Mr. Kiir should take photos with each chief and he should give the golden handshake to each chief. This will win chiefs minds and hearts and the chiefs will win the minds and the hearts of the people in the villages.
On the second day, Mr. Kiir should head to South Sudan legislative Assembly and he should give this speech too;
“Honourable MPs, South Sudan is now the contended child by two women before King Solomon in the Bible. The presidency is the contended child. The SPLM in government is the mother of the living child. The SPLM in opposition is the mother of dead child (failed coup). The IGAD is the King Solomon. The rebels or the mother of dead child (failed coup) says “if I do not get presidency South Sudan (the living child) must be cut into two. This means South Sudan should break up into different autonomous states. These states could become independent, should one ethnic group still dominate the politic and monopolizes resources. This is what they mean by federalism.
Honourable MPS
I don’t understand the different between federalism and the current system we are operating. to cut it short , we are in the federal system , this is why we have 10 states , ,10 assemblies , 10 governors. If the disciple of federalism are not calling for independent under codename federalism then they would have called for the amendment of constitution. Today, I discover one thing, the word federalism is not written in the constitution, and it is the cause of all debates about federalism. .as the legitimate president with political efficacy, I have dissolved the Constitution Review Committee that was going on drafting the constitution. I am not waiting for anyone outside to come and do good thing with me because those guys they taint my image around the world that I am corrupt, weak , failed and murderer Today , I authorize you, MPs to write the permanent, federal constitution of Republic of South Sudan within one month, with following, federal features, controlled by the centre
1. Police, wildlife, prison, fire brigade and national security and army
2 foreign relations
3 National defining resources like oil and gold. These national defining resources should be distributed in the following percents
1 5% to locality like Maluth country
2 15% to state like Upper Nile State
3 80% to federal government and will be converted to 100% and divided by 10 states.
4 2 presidential term limits
On my part as the president of the Republic, I still stick to my original plan. I will step down in 2020. Before 2020, I will construct the triangle road – a tarmac road from Juba to Malakal from Malakal to WaU and Wau to Juba .
Lastly, I thank people of Greater Equatoria for not challenging my government with open rebellion, for that reasons, I will make sure that a presidential candidate from Greater Equatoria set good policies to win the presidential election in 2020 and I will hand over power to him. This is to change the mindsets that believe in the Dinka Domination. It is becoming false belief that Dinka are now dominating other tribes. I will hand power to another tribe in 2020. I will not hand power over to anyone who threats the nation with violence, I am sure 100% if it is by force no one will take power from me , you have seen in last seven months but for sake of justice for all , prosperity for all , liberty for all , I will concede . It is our country all of us , whether you are small tribe like Pari or big like Azande . This is to tell people from Greater Upper Nile that your violence will not take you to the state house. This is to tell anyone who want to be president, you must renounce violence.
Look peaceful people of Greater Equatoria get it before you violent people of Greater Upper Nile. Thank you. ‘’
if Mr. Kiir does this, he will win the minds and the hearts of desperate, frustrate citizens .
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