"We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, with so little, for so long, we are now qualified to do anything, with nothing" By Konstantin Josef Jireček, a Czech historian, diplomat and slavist.
President Salva Kiir with SPLA top Commanders at Bilpma, Juba, South Sudan
Today is Veteran Day, August 18th of every year. We should appreciate President Kiir and his gov’t for not trivializing, personalizing our national holidays.
Martyrs Day is on July 30th, the day Dr. John Garang died. Instead of calling it John Garang’s day, we all remember the sacrifices made by all our martyrs including John Garang.
SPLM Day is on May 16th, the day Kerubino Kuanyin Bol fired the first bullet of the second armed struggle leading to the founding of the SPLM/SPLA, the CPA, Referendum and the independence. Instead of calling it Kerubino Kuanyin’s day, we all commemorate the launching of our second liberationary struggle in the footsteps of the first one.
Veteran Day is on August 18th, the day the South Sudanese launched their first armed struggle against Khartoum in Torit in 1955. Instead of calling it Torit Day, we all remember and pay tribute to our veterans and war heroes/heroines.
in the company of Dr. John Garang: once upon a time, we were united.
Among our most senior war veterans in Juba today are President Salva Kiir Mayaardit of both Anyanya one and the SPLM/A and Uncle Joseph Lagu Yang’a of Anyanya one.
Happy Veteran Day Wende Mayaardit, Happy Veteran Day Wende Yang’adit, Happy Veteran Day folks.
PaanLuel Wël – Founder and Editor-in-Chief of PaanLuel Wël Media
PaanLuel Wël is the founder and editor-in-chief of PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd, a prominent news and commentary platform dedicated to covering the news, history, culture, literature, and socio-political affairs of South Sudan and the world. Established in July 2011, the website was born out of PaanLuel Wël’s vision to create a space for free expression and constructive dialogue during a pivotal moment in South Sudan’s history.
Through PaanLuel Wël Media, he has cultivated a vibrant intellectual forum that features a diverse range of voices, from poets, authors, and academics to activists, commentators, and community columnists. The platform is rooted in the belief that an informed and engaged citizenry is essential to the project of nation-building and social transformation.
PaanLuel Wël is a passionate advocate for the power of media to educate, empower, and connect people across political, ethnic, and generational divides. He is committed to fostering a culture of dialogue, tolerance, and inclusivity and is deeply invested in mentoring the next generation of South Sudanese writers and journalists.
