"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.
March 16, 2015 (SSB) — When South Sudan attained independence from Sudan many had hope that having finally escaped from tyranny of the North, the young Nation would quickly unite and make up for the lost time spent in decade-old conflict and put up necessary reforms and structures that would put it on a recovery path.
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However, the fledgling state has become an embarrassment and big letdown to Africa as a whole. Surely, why can’t president Salva Kiir Mayardit and Dr Riak Machar swallow their egos for the sake of their suffering citizens?
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Could it be that because they conduct their ‘peace talks’ in comfy hotel in peaceful neighbouring countries – far removed from the challenges face by their fellow countrymen, they don’t feel the magnitude of the problem?
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By the way, why has the International Criminal Court (ICC) kept off the South Sudan case where tens of thousands of people have lost their lives and many more displaced, yet it immediately descended on Kenya. Where less than two thousand people died due to the post poll conflict of 2007/2008?
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Also, why can’t the rich South Sudanese diaspora could bring its clout to bear and force the two leaders to settle the crisis? Kiir, Machar and their cohorts should to hold their so-called peace talks under the scorching heat of the sun-baked fields of South Sudan until they agreed.
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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.