South Sudan Conflict: A War of Greed and Self-Interest
By Jok Nhial Aguet
When I say I’m proud to be a Dinka, Bari, Nuer, Shilluk, Latuho, or Acholi, you call me a tribalist. When I ask which tribe you come from, you get offended and call me a tribalist. Does being proud of my cultural heritage make me a tribalist? Does being proud of my tribe makes me less patriotic as a South Sudanese? I’m seeing signs with “South Sudan is my tribe” slogan. What a nicer way to shove it down my throat? My culture and cultural heritage are huge part of my identity. I was raised and taught to have a consistent respect for human life and nature. I’m not going to change that I am. The current conflict should not be blamed on tribes nor should we use it to taint our tribal identities. If we are proud of Sudd Sudan’s diverse ecosystem then why are we ashamed of our human and cultural diversity? Isn’t diversity a beautiful thing that we should all celebrate?
South Sudan has abundant natural resources, but our human and cultural diversity are what make our country unique. Diversity is a beautiful thing and we should not be ashamed of it. In the United States, Native Americans celebrate Powwow each year. Natives dress in traditional regalia to sing, dance, and socialize. Powwow brings together many people from diverse indigenous nations to honor their cultural heritage. The event helps strengthen and promote solidarity toward a peaceful co-existence, not only between Native American tribes, but also in the whole world. My cultural identity defines who I am and how others view me. I am proud of it. Who doesn’t remember the days in Kakuma refugee camp when we waited anxiously for World Refugee Day just to watch our favorite traditional dances and cultural performances? Our diversity is our strength and pride. It is something we should all be proud of.
Biblical teaching of unity in diversity is something we should all carry in our hearts. The importance of diversity is revealed in every God’s creation. “The body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,” Corinthians 12:12-13. In another scripture, Revelation 5:9, it says, “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.” Just like the body and the Church, South Sudan is a very diverse country made up of 64 tribes. It is then the duty of these 64 tribes to appreciate their respective tribal and cultural differences and unite as one people. Diversity is our pride as a nation.
If Satan can commit evil deeds in the name of God then what makes you think a man wouldn’t commit horrendous crime in the name of his tribe? Do not blame the current war on tribes, but blame it on those who are obsessed with power. Our people were misinformed and fooled to kill each other by those who want to use piles of dead bodies as a ladder to the throne or hold on to it. You can call it a coup or power struggle, but I call it a war of greed and self-interest that will benefit only a few and not the nation. Politics is far more complex than it seems, especially in a country like South Sudan where more than 85% of the population does not know how to read or write. What we are facing today is the cost of high illiteracy rate. The self-interested individuals took advantage of high rate of illiteracy to mislead the people to achieve their political goal. Politicians are the most clever and cunning animals in the world. They can just sign useless peace agreement today after thousands of innocent lives have been lost, and reward themselves with high positions to enrich themselves, and we just have to suck it up and deal with it.
I shall not live in the shadow of fear of being labeled as a tribalist. My tribe is my identity and it is what defines me. Erik Erikson rightly said; “In the social jungle of human existence, there is no feeling of being alive without a sense of identity.” My identity either in society or Christ means everything to me. It is what I breathe in and out. South Sudan is bigger than my tribe, but that doesn’t means I should hide my identity. I have a conviction that I shall do things that are in the best interest of all the tribes to live in unity and harmony.
What we need as a country in order to achieve peace and unity is to instill a greater sense of nationalism among the people of South Sudan. Nationalism comes with less corruption, prosperity, pride, and it unites communities and tribes against external threats. No tribe is important than other tribes. We need to respect others’ cultures and appreciate our differences in order to live in peace with each other and the nature. There is also a need to educate South Sudanese for them to see things from a less tribal perspective. The government should invest in education not bullets. The 40% of national budget allocated to the army is what has killed and still killing innocent civilians who do not know anything about the Juba politics.
You can reach the author via his email address: joksudan@gmail.com
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