Riek Machar Owns Up to Human Rights Abuses and Crimes Against Humanity in South Sudan

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The cat is out of the bag. At least the Tanzanians have made it to jump out of the bag straight to our eyes and ears. No one can longer deny it whether now or in future. The world has also heard. The African Union must have taken heed of it while the ICC prosecutors should be happy and excited that they will not longer delve deep in investigating the heinous crimes in South Sudan in order to unravel the people behind the genocide, mass rape, rampant torture, ethnic targeted killings, disappearance of people, violation of individual rights and mass displacement of people in Bor in 1991 and twice in 2013/2014 making South Sudanese to live destitute lives in their own country.

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If you are still wondering what I am talking about, let me make it abundantly clear that I am talking about the surprising admission by the entire leadership of the SPLM-in Opposition that they are responsible for the crisis in South Sudan. Allow me to quote the Arusha communiqué; entitled: The Arusha Communiqué: Intra-SPLM party so as to clearly illustrate the point and make it abundantly plane to everybody. I quote “The parties acknowledge a collective responsibility for the crisis in South Sudan that has taken a great toll on the lives and property of our people”. The communiqué was signed by none other than Cde Paul Akol Kordit on behalf of SPLM in government; Cde Duer Tut Duer on behalf of SPLM in opposition and Cde Kosti Manibe Ngai on behalf of SPLM detainees, dated October 21, 2014.

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“The great toll on the lives” means the mass killings, torture, rape, displacement and incarcerations and disappearances”. “Great toll to property” means the destruction to private and public properties such as individual Dinka houses in Bor in 1991, destruction of public homes such as the one of the late icon Dr. John Garang De Mabior, destruction of villages in upper Nile and Bentui, looting of peoples’ houses in Bor, killing innocent civilians in hospital beds, churches, mosques and massive destruction and looting of Kenya Commercial Banks in Bor, Malakal and Bentiu by SPLM-In Opposition.

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Right from the start let me make it abundantly clear that the leadership of these tribal factions under the leadership of Dr. Riek Machar, the former leader of Nasir Faction of 1991 have frankly and without shame owned up to the criminal act and brutality that has been meted to the people of South Sudan. My admitting that they are responsible for the “crisis in South Sudan that has taken a great toll on lives and property of the people of South Sudan”, it means they systematically planned, directed and executed all that befell the people. Secondly they are saying that whatever crimes committed by their subordinates that include the rank and file of the Nuer, “white army” soldiers on both side of the divide in this criminal war, was methodically organized, plan and directed by Dr. Riek Machar and his former militia commanders. There is nothing called random killing by rogue and untrained white army soldiers, nothing called revenge killings or being detained innocently.

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All have participated in one way or another in brutally murdering innocent children, women and civilians in hospital beds, churches and mosques. They conspired to exterminate Dinka ethnic groups and planned ethnic killings in the country on the pretext that there is no good governance, service delivery, rampant corruption or federalism as if Dr. Riek and his groups have never been part and parcel of the government since 2005. They smartly planned and uprooted South Sudanese from their residences and made them to be refugees and internally displaced in their country. They directed mass rape as a tool of war. They displaced thousands of South Sudanese and forced them to take refuge in neighboring countries. They carried out targeted killing particularly of those perceived to be obstacles to prophesized ascension of Dr. Riek Machar to presidency although Riek failed to get his Agreement of KPA-1997 implemented by Bashir who is now again supporting Riek’s rebellion. It’s not clear why Dr. Riek cannot flex its tribal muscle against Bashir of Jaylin who failed him in 1997 and made him keep changing allegiance and rebelling without being appointed president, not elected, either in Khartoum or Juba since1991.

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Now that these rebel leaders of SPLM-In Opposition have admitted and owned up to the genocide, ethnic killings, raping, torture and the whole range of human right abuses in South Sudan. Let me be clear on apportioning the crimes. By owning up to these crimes the leadership of SPLM-In Opposition under Dr. Riek Machar has owned up to:

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1.     Targeted ethnic killing of more than 20,000 Dinka civilians in Bor, Bentiu and Malakal, destruction of Dinka property in Bor, Malakal, and Unity state including Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and other Banks

2.     The targeted killing and disappearance of people in Bor, Malakal, and Bentiu such as the killing of Gen. Peter Panom Thanypiny in 1991 because of his loyalty to SPLM who liberated South Sudan from Khartoum when they were militias and used by Khartoum

3.     Torturing participants in failed coup attempts of December 15^th, 2013 which they turned around and sent the wrong message to regional and international audience that the guns were copied and pasted in our hands although they initially tried coup attempt in 1991

4.     Attacking innocent Dinka and killing two (2) UMNISS peacekeepers who were sheltering in UNMISS compound in Akobo

5.     Illegally using of banned chemical weapons supplied by Bashir on Dinka soldiers on Juba-Bor road where hundreds of soldiers died as a result of Khartoum-made cluster bombs

6.     Carrying out rampant rape of Dinka women in Bor by rebel soldiers, white army and operatives just because of their ethnicity

7.     The fact that Dr. Riek denied a coup attempt because he has PhD in killing since 1991 and deliberate denial before they fled to Khartoum as usual for logistical support

8.     Consciously recruiting, training, arming, directing and commanding tribal militia groups such as untrained Lou-Nuer “white army” in particular to carry out genocide and commit serious human right abuses in Bor in particular and in South Sudan at large

9.     Hiring mercenaries from their terrorist friends LRA, Messeriya, SAF and northern Sudan to deny its genocide and ethnic cleansing policy beautified by Khartoum-made weapons

Likewise by signing the communiqué, the leadership of the SPLM-in-opposition has again owned up to:

1.     Brutal killings that occurred in Akobo in the UNMISS compound.

2.     Killing of innocent people in hospital beds and in a church in Bor

3.     Innocent killing of captured civilians in Bor, Malakal and Bentiu

4.     Ethnic killing of innocent Dinka, Chollo people because of their refusal to join Riek’s rebellion

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Lastly the leadership of the SPLM-in-Opposition in collaboration with the other detainees (G10) has owned up to the rampant corruption, tribalism, nepotism, molding a dictator, mismanagement of state affairs, inability to render services to the people of South Sudan while Riek’s and his cohorts denied they were not at all in the government that they rebelled against.

What is the implication of this admission to the future of South Sudan? First these SPLM-In Opposition leaders have admitted that they created chaos in South Sudan since 1991 because of their power greed and failure to stay the course of achieving Nasir Faction objectives of liberating South Sudan from oppressive regime in Khartoum and provide effective leadership although they were in Khartoum. They have admitted that they are criminals, thieves, tribalists and dictators who are repugnant to democracy since 1991. Above all they have committed crime against humanity and human right violations, not only in Bor, Akobo (where they killed two UN peacekeepers), Malakal but also in Bentiu.

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They have disunited and completely broken the bridges that had made the people of South Sudan to stick together. They have admitted that they have failed the people of South Sudan especially when they were in Khartoum from 1991, signing KPA of 1997 and returning to SPLM who stay the course of liberation of South Sudan. KPA just to be forgiven by Dr. John Garang de Mabior in Nairobi, Kenya. They have admitted that they cannot unite, lead and administer the nation other than their stomachs and their cronies who often survive on shifting allegiance to Khartoum. They have above all admitted that they have failed the peoples’ mandate and instead turned to kill and maim the very people who forgave them when they were militias designed by Khartoum to keep South Sudan destabilized politically and economically.

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The question is whether in any meaningful way these SPLM-In Opposition leaders have any legitimacy left to continue preaching good governance or service delivery when they failed in Khartoum when they were in bed with KPA-1997 and in South Sudan? The fact is that any returned to South to be forgiven through amnesty and later turned against their own brothers and sisters and massacred them, plunger their wealth and property, displaced them, raped and tortured them, in the eyes of those who truly liberated South Sudan from 1983-2005 and up to 2011. They have lost their legitimacy of being forgiven since 2002 and can no longer purport to lead and speak on behalf of the people of South Sudan.

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They deserve not to speak on behalf of the people of South Sudan any more without considering their record of shifting allegiance since 1991. Since they have collectively taken responsibility for the heinous crimes against humanity and human right abuses in Bor in 1991 (and again in 2013/2014), Akobo, Malakal and Bentiu, their only option is to stand up and answer to their crimes before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. As they stood boldly in their gray suites in front of Kikwete; the Tanzania President and owned up to their crimes, they should likewise stand tall, boldly and upright in front of the ICC to defend themselves individually or collectively.

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On the other hand they should also face their victims and relatives of their victims to whole heartedly apologize to them as Dr. Riek did to Bor people at Rebecca Nyandeng’s house before like the great men and women in South African who faced their victims and relatives of their victims and apologized under the tutelage of Bishop Tutu truth and reconciliation commission. Unlike Zulu, most Nuer failed to stay the course but ended up in Khartoum. No zulu or ANC leaders ended up in Apartheid-led regime in Pretoria as Nuer, Nasir Faction or SPLM-In Opposition leaders did in Khartoum.

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Finally what is my advice in this circumstance? My brotherly advice first goes to these SPLM-In Opposition leaders to tell them that this is a decision time. Either they make South Sudan to take the path of reconciliation and embark on peaceful co-existence and development of the country or they would like this great nation to sink with them during this period of their demise. Taking path of reconciliation and peaceful co-existence means the SPLM-In Opposition leadership in Hotels should immediately resign or seek no leadership position in the transitional administration.

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Similarly the leadership of the SPLM-In opposition and SPLM detainees must negotiate in good faith for peace and transitional government under the leadership of democratically-elected President H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit who will still forgive them as usual to go through extensive political orientation to ensure that tribal rebellion with or without support from Khartoum is not the way to violently grab power. Elections, not violent tribal rebellion, will determine good leadership based on record and nationalism. Genuine reconciliation will not happen in South Sudan if IGAD mediation effort is to appoint leaders instead of elections. It would be like covering a fire with mud without extinguishing it completely.

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Secondly, I must advise these SPLM-IN Opposition leaders that they either face peoples’ truth in elections campaigns and reconciliation commission to ask for forgiveness from the people of South Sudan because there is no South Sudanese who has not been aggrieved by their reckless leadership since 1991 or wait to present themselves to the ICC where they can have the opportunity to clear their names as individual or suffer the consequences of their action. This is the only way to end the impunity that has been the order of the day in South Sudan since 1991 Bor massacre.

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My advice to the IGAD peace negotiators is that peace and reconciliation can only come to South Sudan when the root causes of the current conflict are fully discussed, agreed upon and future roadmap for thorough reforms including the institution of “definitively defined” federal system is drawn up because the current system is more or less federal. It is the people of South Sudan to define the federal system which will not negatively affect the wellbeing of South Sudanese people. Once this is achieved then a transitional government without these tribally self-confessed SPLM-In Opposition butchers of South Sudan since 1991 can be established.

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Excluding the entire SPLM-In Opposition leadership is crucial so that reconciliation and building of the social fabric of the people of South can begin. The SPLM-In Opposition leaders should be offered the chance to seek forgiveness from the people of South Sudan through truth and reconciliation commission or face the ICC to clear their names. By considering or allowing these leaders to participate in the transitional or future leadership in South Sudan without reconciliation or not answering to the heinous crimes they committed against the people of South Sudan, means IGAD itself is condoning impunity in South Sudan and in fact the South Sudanese will view this as if IGAD is adding salt on the bleeding wounds in South Sudan since 1991. Certainly this will not go unchallenged because there are many patriotic South Sudanese out there who will take over the mettle of liberating the people of South Sudan from the York of murderous tribal leaders, looters and plunderers of the country. It does not matter how long this will take but the people have to be liberated from these tribal criminals supported by Khartoum and impunity must be ended.

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My advice to the friends of South Sudan including the troika is that they should continue to stand firm in supporting the people of South Sudan during this trying time. There is no quick fix to the issues in South Sudan neither can there be quick fix by reconstituting SPLM-In Opposition of self-confessed criminals and looters. The current SPLM-In Opposition leaders are bent to continue with their determined efforts to propagate chaotic crisis in the country for their comfort and comfort of their tribes and cronies in expensive Hotels.

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South Sudan is not devoid of leaders but the country has been taken hostage by leaders who have no future of the country in their hearts since they signed KPA in 1997. For eight years, after being forgiven by SPLM leadership, they have been in government; they have only perfected the art of looting, corrupting and balkanizing the country into tribal enclaves. Nothing is acceptable than allowing and accepting the impunity that is striding the breath and length of entire South Sudan because of one man’s greed for power. Riek believe that he’s the only educated Nuer with PhD in killing who could govern South Sudan better than any peaceful PhD holders.

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What about the Tanzania government. I must extend my sincere congratulations to the government of Tanzania for bringing these SPLM-In Opposition leaders together to finally take responsibility for the crimes they committed in South Sudan since 1991. They have been denying this for long and now they have owned up. My sincere advice is that Tanzania should question the political record of Riek’s in particular and make these SPLM-In Opposition leaders to realize that the confession they made is not the highway to violently assume leadership of a country at any cost but it is the rough road for them to stand up and face their victims or their relatives and say we are sorry or else they must face the law at The Hague in order to end impunity in South Sudan. There is no middle road for these SPLM-In Opposition leaders. They either succumb to the law or are forced to face the law since the record of Bor massacre of 1991 besides of 2013/2014 is clear.

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For the AU commission tasked to investigate human rights abuses and crime against humanity in South Sudan, I would say that the Commission‘s work is made easier. The people have already taken responsibility for these crimes. The only work you are left with is to identify who bears the greatest responsibility of massacring people of South Sudan since 1991 so that the law takes its course. There is no time to waste now because the people of South Sudan need closure for their sufferings caused by one man who is always greedy for power and hides behind the word democracy and good governance or federalism. Last but not the least please ICC take up the case of South Sudan as soon as the AU commission presents it to you because Dr. Riek’s political prostitution, power greed, tribal rebellion since 1991 is well recorded in both Khartoum/Sudan and in Juba/South Sudan, but not recorded in capitals of the Regional/East African Bloc, AU and Western countries. South Sudanese are yawning for peace, security, economic development and justice, and they want to see justice prevail for this second-time failed coup attempt of December 15^th, 2013 and this should be done as soon as possible for any justice delayed is justice denied.

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