PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd – South Sudan

"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.

The Greater Bor Dinka Leadership Style

Greater Bor Leadership style: Bor leaders often pursue national interests at the expense of their constituencies

 By Michael Mading Akueth, Panyagor, South Sudan

SPLM/A Founders
SPLM/A Founders

March 19, 2015 (SSB)  –  The community that had sacrificed everything during the liberation wars is forgotten by their leaders who are currently concentrating on national issues forgetting about their constituencies. It is patriotic to think about national interest but should it be on expense of your people? Who have mandated Bor leaders to be the watchdog of the nation? Should the nation not survive if they concentrated working on things that are affecting their communities such as insecurity, cattle raiding and child abduction?

It is not a surprised that in greater Bor meetings, you will find that everyone is talking about national security, rule of law, peace and tranquility, Abiei border issues and peace negotiation process but entirely forget their people issues.

They forget that few vulnerable persons who are residing in the isolated ancestral villages are being raided by Murle criminals almost every day in Dongchak-Duk, Baping-Twic East and Makol-cuei-Bor just to mentioned few areas.

The leaders are busy on peace negotiations and parliament committees meetings forgetting their constituencies’ problems. We elected in 2010 to represent us not national government.

South Sudan is a constituency for President Kiir Mayardit and he is the only legitimate leader to work on the solutions for the nation. He is totally accountable to the people who had elected him to the office. He will seek renewal of his mandated in the next election. Where do Bor leaders come in? They can only support the national leadership after they have satisfied their constituencies.

You must know that we did not elect you to national parliament for other communities or region interests; we elected you to parliament so that you can work for us and our interests as a community.

What are you going to show us in the next election since you have done nothing for greater Bor community? I don’t think the institutions and regions you are very busy working for their interests will give you a chance in the next parliament.

On March 18, 2015, there were rumors that Murle fighters are moving toward Twic East, Duk and Bor Counties but our leaders have chosen to be silent. The Murle have accused Bor communities’ leaders to be responsible for the stop of Pibor road construction which was done by the ministry of Interior.

The minister in this ministry who made the decision is not from Bor neither the director who made the recommendation for Pibor road constructions closure. Where do we come in? Why Murle community turned their anger on innocent Bor communities? The answer is simple; there is unfounded tendency in South Sudan that any decision made in the national level is influence by Bor politicians.

If they are truly not part of the decision; why are they silent? Can they not talk to David Yau and other Murle leaders? Can they not inform them that the decision has nothing to do with them or their constituencies which they are representing? What are they waiting- Burials and Funerals ceremonies?

We are tired with your silent; please stand up and make your voice heard. The danger is imminent if nothing is done the remnants of Bor will be displaced again or kill. Which constituencies will you represent in the next parliament?

I think it is a time for people of greater Bor to think about what is important to them which is now our survival. If we don’t cease from thinking about national agenda on the expense of our community interests; I’m afraid we will definitely cease to exist in this region in the next few years.

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