Creation of 28 States a Blessing to Dinka of Marial Baai in Western Bahr el Ghazal state
6 min readWhy Ustaz Anyar Anyar Should be the new governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal state
By Atem Sijin, Juba, South Sudan
December 4, 2015 (SSB) — There is nothing wrong with being ruled by the majority community in a particular area but we have to admit the fact that there is no one ethnic group which is born to rule other ethnicities. Before I hammer the last nail into the coffin, I would like to briefly explain the historical set up of Sudan as a whole and how we ended up with ten states.
In 1972 after Addis Ababa accord Southern Sudan as a region was divided into three provinces namely; Bhar el Ghazal, Upper Nile and Equatoria respectively. However in 1983 the provinces were upgraded into greater regions, when Bashir came to power he divided the whole of Sudan into 25 states. Fifteen in the North and ten in the Southern region as called back in the days.
Bashir’s division of the Sudan into states remains intact till the signing of the comprehensive peace agreement in 2005 and remains in place thereafter. However some communities felt marginalized all over the ten states and one of them is Marial Baai dinka community in Western Bhar el Ghazal, who are placed between the armpits and pressed badly by Fertit and Jur Chol ethnic groups. Marial baai ethnic group must be one of those groups who refused to remove their dancing boots since the announcement of the presidential order until now.
Despite the looming doubt that the decree will not hold water because of the pressure from international communities and SPLM/IO; the party is still on for dinka marial baai in Western Bhar el Ghazal especially after the president ask the parliament to pass the order. The sons and daughters of marial baai ethnic community believe beyond doubt that their patience is about to pay! And if it pays who will be the preferred governor to be? To other communities it divides them when selection is done but to marial baai dinka it was one voice.
Though there are hundreds of capable brains for the position, only one humble, discipline, educated and loyal son of marial baai was leap out. Comrade Ustaz Anyar Anyar Mel was chosen by his people for the popular demand of a governor from the patient community whose opportunity is now. Anyar Anyar graduated with bachelor of education, measuring in English and Geography.
Pursued his masters in Geography at the University of Khartoum as well; after which he has worked with the government at different levels; he was the former commissioner of Western Bhar el Ghazal in 2000, former state minister of Physical planning in 2001-2005, former minister of youth, sports and social development in 2012-2013, he was also the mayor of Wau municipal council in 2013-2014 and currently a lecturer at the university of Bhar el Ghazal, college of education.
A person of such charisma cannot run short of ideas meant to improve the wellbeing of his people as he has been doing throughout his brilliant career both at his home state and SPLM as a party. If SPLM is serious about taking towns to the people, then people like Ustaz Anyar Anyar must spear head the movement for change.
In the party he was the SPLM Youth league chairperson in 2006-2008, delegate member in the SPLM 2nd national convention in 2008, he is currently the deputy secretary for training, research and planning in the SPLM, head of SPLM campaign team to Western Bhar el Ghazal during the general election in 2010. However, the list is too long hence the rest will be left out.
The purpose of this article is not to praise comrade Ustaz Anyar Anyar but to enlighten the public about the right choice made by the people of Western Bhar el Ghazal! I was honored to meet Ustaz Anyar Anyar two years ago, and there was something impressive about him unlike his comrades. He is down to earth man who is humble and honest. Additionally, he speaks with sense and brilliance; the first time I had a discussion with him, he was calm to admit facts where needs be and put empathy where needed.
However if South Sudan could identify its brilliant sons and daughters, there will be hope and prosperity ahead of us. When the amendment of the bill implicating the creation of 28 states was passed in the parliament, it was eagerly stated that it was a popular demand of the people and most of us believe for sure that it has been a popular demand of the people indeed.
I was very pleased upon hearing that comrade Ustaz Anyar Anyar was among the aspirants for the post of governor in Western Bhar el Ghazal. And has one of the youth who is yearning for change, I have every reason to believe that people like comrade Ustaz Anyar Anyar are the agents of change in regards to South Sudan’s case.
Hence I would like to add my voice to the voices of those who entrust Ustaz Anyar Anyar with the burden of leadership. It is a task that is always given to the people of tolerance, patience and focus. It is about time to develop our country which we messed up for the last ten years, we were going through the era of errors but we are now shifting to the era of development, transparency and accountability which needs leaders like Ustaz Anyar Anyar.
Last but not least I am blessed with meeting influential intellectuals of South Sudan. In the mid of this year I wrote an article about Ustaz Dr. Luka Biong because of his charismatic effort toward the building of this nation. Dr. Luka and Ustaz Anyar Anyar have one thing in common; they are ready to serve the nation at any capacity even outside the government without pointing fingers at the government after removal.
Both of them are lecturers at Juba University and Wau University respectively that shows how contributive they are in the building of the nation. Unlike those who rebel when removed from government positions, the two moves on with the vision of building the nation which can’t be achieved by other means rather than education.
May God protect the likes of Dr. Luka Biong and Ustaz Anyar Anyar. However, not all the wishes are horses but at least one wish can be a horse hence seeing Ustaz Anyar Anyar giving needed services to the people of Western Bhar el Ghazal and South Sudan at large.
You can reach the author via his email: atem sijin <atemsijin@gmail.com>
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