The gov’t has a war to wage against the rebels in the bushes. The gov’t has a peace to make with the rebels in Addis Ababa. Instead, it is busy talking of moving the national capital from Juba to (not Ramchieel as previously proposed) either Wau or Rumbek. How could that be the gov’t priority in the midst of death and destruction?
Recently, the rebel military spokesperson, Lul Ruai Koang, attacked the legacy of Dr. John Garang and questioned the value/contribution of Mabioor de Garang to the rebels’ cause. Today, Mabioor released an article in which he attacked (not Lul Ruai but) Pagan Amum and his group for allegedly claiming the legacy of Dr. John Garang.
Surely, something does not add up there, for among Pagan Group is Madam Nyandeeng and the person that Mabioor urgently need to respond to is Lul Ruai, not Pagan. Don’t Pagan and his comrades have a right to abstain from the killing spree under the watchful eyes of President Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar?
The nation has a deadly war to cease, the peace to achieve, the reforms to initiate and the reconciliation to make. Yet, it is embroiled in a meandering debate over federalism. How will federalism solve the leadership question (the constitution of the interim gov’t) between Salva Kiir and Riek Machar? How could federalism be a priority in the midst of war when its rightful place shud be under the “reforms to be enacted” agenda?
But this is South Sudan. As Dan Warabeh would put it, mai fipol har bery puni. Deadly puni por dhat matta.
By PaanLuel Wel, Juba.