Letter to President Salva Kiir Mayaardit
6 min readPEN LETTER TO H.E. GEN. SALVA KIIR MAYARDIT, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN
By MAJOK MABIOR
majokmabior@gmail.com
Dear Sir,
I write to you today not as a journalist, but as a truly concerned South Sudan citizen.
As the president of our country, I expect you to defend our national interest in the region and world over but I have a question: Where is our national interest and our national security target?
An order issued recently by minister of labor and public services has awaken us, the South Sudanese, from a long sleeping and I hope your government will look into it as a matter of national interest. The government has being cheated by foreigners at different levels.
We, the ordinary citizens, had been patient enough not to disturb you at the back but time has come for us to talk to you as our president.
You may have seen the cause of Arab spring and the consequences. At this time of fighting Riek Machar’s rebellion, you would not welcome a riot from within and I hope you will listen my president.
To foreigners working in the organizations, South Sudan was not created for funs. We lost 2 million lives of our own citizens to have this state. So attaining independence on 9th July 2011 was not a coincidence.
Every state is responsible for its survival. Each state is the final judge of its own course. Any state may at any time use force to implement its policies. Alternatively, a state must constantly be ready either to counter force or to pay the cost of weakness.
We they citizens of south Sudan will not accept to be mistreated by our friends from Kenya and Uganda for reason not know to us. We have been in the same classes with them while being displaced to their countries. But when they come to our country, they are called specialists at our disadvantage.
Our skills are not valued just for being South Sudanese in our country. No single minister in the government has ever thought of asking this question: Why do we prefer foreigners to young educated?
But I know the answer. All their families are either in Uganda or Kenya and our country is a ‘field’ where resources are raised to sustain those families. But my dear President, our people in Kenya or Uganda or anywhere in the world are merely spending.
They pay rental fees, school fees and medication expenses on their own. In fact, from the money made from our country. So, they are source of revenue for those countries. The foreigners here in Juba and other main towns of South Sudan don’t spend a single piaster or South Sudanese pound in our land.
In fact, they come with their food and wire all money to their countries at the end of the month. Believe you me Mr. President. If they leave South Sudan today, we shall not experience any economic vacuum. But South Sudanese return home, those countries will suffer.
I say these because it is no secret. Indeed, it was heartbreaking to see the dreams, aspirations and hopes of the south Sudanese youth, which took to the streets in 15/Dec/ 2013 to defense this country from our common enemy, known as Riek Machar, be left at the mercy of foreigners.
When they foreignness were busy at the airport and all the routs existing the state of south Sudan going back to their country while we were in fighting defending this nation, it is really heartbreaking to see our own people’s being subjected to hard condition by foreignness just because our ministers are awakening up.
Sir we have acquired ourselves with enough knowledge to develop the country rather then they foreignness and it’s a threat to our national security for a foreigner to be a secretary to our minister or whoever.
Mr. President, it is also no secret that you have been granted a very rare opportunity to be a momentous man as you assume your duties at a crucial turning-point in South Sudan history. Alliance yourself to the youths and the future of this country will look more brighter.
Indeed, you sir have a chance to turn the tides and to put south Sudan on the track that we deserve. Not only to safeguard our national interests, future and dignity of your own people but also become an inspiration and a model for the entire region.
As such must excuse observers and analysts for wondering what sort of president you are going to be.
As a concerned South Sudan citizen I hope for you to be the leader that breaks this curse imposed by rebellion of Riek Machar to demonstrate that in this country, a democratic and accountable government can exist. Work for the benefit and prosperity of its people.
Breaking this curse will be quite a remarkable achievement, not just for South Sudan but for the entire East Africa and Africa to save your own citizens. Accept the ministerial order from public service for a benefit of your own people’s and the state.
Do not allow those fearful ministers to backtrack and give away our country to foreigners. NGOS must act according to government plans and directives. All they countries have different policies and no one should force us.
Mr. President, I followed you with great interest your inauguration speech at the Dr Garang De Mabior’s Ground in 2010 and I wish you all the best in achieving all that you have vowed to do for your people on the economic, social and security levels.
But unfortunately it seem the government is being remote from fare distance by whoever is doing it for his interest
Long years of favoritism, corruption and chaos have left too many south Sudanese too frustrated, too handicapped and too keen to emigrate in search of a better future very soon.
Mr. President, Foster Dulles said in the mid-1950s that “if you are not with us. You are against us.”
To be with us, you must accept our views of how to address current problems. And I say this whilst wishing to clearly emphasize that there is an awful load of responsibilities and deliverables that are expected of your government.
However, there is nothing that can possibly accelerate the reform process and yield results much quicker than tapping into the power of your own people.
I say this, Mr. President, because South Sudanese – despite the current turmoil it is in – was and always will be an incubator for brains and talent. I say this not only as your supporter but as a concern citizen who has had the pleasure of personally meeting some of South Sudan’s brightest minds in science, business and politics.
Once again, you have an opportunity to change all that and the beauty of it is that it is all possible.
My conclusion is that no one can shape another destiny and don’t allow greedy people to take advantage of your kindness.
Good luck, Mr. President!
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