A Response to Mama Junub’s “Are Youth and Intellectuals Failing South Sudan”

By Denis Paul,

Many outside South Sudan pour their hearts out to South Sudanese. Hoping for progress toward constructive nationhood, we see instead tragic suffering and deaths. Aside from hundreds of thousands relocated within, some 300,000 are exiled not only to the squalor of Ethiopian camps but to a squalor of nationlessness.

When asked where their parents were, the ten-year-old holding his eight-year-old brother’s hand answered, “we don’t know.”

The possibility of a measles epidemic in Ethiopian camps sends ripples of fear and anxiety through the region. Will the malcontents in the SPLM and militias – the Dinka and Nuer – own up?

And now the rain.

Dare we ask the malcontents to allow refugees to return to their homes and, one day, plant their crops. Will the malcontents hold revengeful hate in their hearts for the rest of their lives?

South Sudan is crushing already broken hearts.

There is no food in South Sudan. The dependence in NGOs, a flagrant self indignation — the absence of self reliance.  Red Cross, UNICEFF, World Food Program, Oxfam, UNAMIS, work thanklessly as militia and Army force aspirations of South Sudanese into obscurity.

Tragically, the goals of two tribes do not mesh.

And for some, the bush is more comfortable. A question always pronounced in my mind: How can bush and urban unite?

To conflict; solutions are found in agencies that serve all equally and in the establishment of organs of government that guarantee transparency. Solutions are found in the desire to work together – if a new government – toward  common goals of nationhood.

Solutions are also my much to do with illiteracy.  Unopened minds are closed to options and alternatives.  Unopened minds are closed to inspiration and character building.  Illiteracy restricts us from learning from the success and failures of others through literature.

The writer can be reached at dp10608@gmail.com

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PaanLuel Wël

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PaanLuel Wël is the founder and editor-in-chief of PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd, a news website that covers news, opinions, analysis, history, culture and literature of South Sudan and the world. Founded in July 2011 by PaanLuel Wël to create a platform for free expression and constructive dialogue, the website features articles from various contributors, including columnists, commentators, poets, authors, activists and academics. PaanLuel Wël believes that media can play a vital role in informing, educating and empowering the people to participate in nation-building and social transformation. He also believes that media can foster a culture of dialogue, tolerance and diversity among different communities and groups, and hopes to inspire and mentor the next generation of South Sudanese writers and journalists.

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