South Sudan: Power Struggle Peaks as Patriotism Dwindles!
By Sunday de John
July 5, 2015 (SSB) —- A country floating on political sentiments like South Sudan, characterised by political anarchy and specious political groups basing on tenets of tribal jingoism is destined to achieve, if any, very little success.
With continued grooming of warlords and dishonourable political chitchats, there is a glimpse of hope for a prosperous nation. It hurts a lot for a country as young as South Sudan to be this deeply submerged in unending politico-social turmoil where innocent civilians are penalized for crimes they have not committed.
With unending death, tortured mental state, physical harm and a tangible anxiety, it becomes unbearable to an innocent victim to acknowledge that a country acclaimed in the national anthem, one theoretically depicted to be a land of great abundance exist in this continent.
The daily thoughts of a common man on the streets of Juba and beyond are hopes for unforeseen treasures but that withers with every sound of a siren hurrying either a deceased or injured person to the hospital. Of course, political developments in this country are flabbergasting such that a person of low audacity would give up.
Sorry, but let me say this, kleptocrats do not honour stability, they hate peace because calamities are their source of resources and gratification. It is here in this country where everything is a priority and where somebody overnight reacts to his dreams by claiming a seat he doesn’t deserve or that he should get by procedural and peaceful mechanisms.
However, this author who doubles as the streets sweeper developed deep hatred for the flamboyant South Sudanese that love to hate nationalism. It is a torture for a patriotic national to dwell in a country being tethered towards the path of injudicious and impermanent solidarity of tribal jingoism.
Our banes are gargantuan and despite that, tribal sentiments permeates more damage to our tainted national coherence. With war amidst, every warlord gets activated, every resentful quidnunc gets a permission to enhance hatred, unscrupulous political commissars enter into the world of political fabrication, and unwarranted looters get to loot from national or private coffers without being questioned. The whole saga is referred to as the state of lawlessness and its end result is plunging of the country into a lasting cycle of generational underdevelopment.
Instead of peaceful coexistence, we drool for non-existent preliminary peace while politicians grapple over nothing but power and the country gasp for her dear life. Is this South Sudan we should be proud of? Is this South Sudan our loved ones died for? Is this the country we call land of great abundance? Is this…? The questions above aren’t rhetorical, they deserve answers despite lack of answerers.
Despite the status quo, we still have what we should proudly call home. It is our collective responsibility to shame those fighting for power by forging a common ground as informed citizens of a great nation. There is need for attribution of the current faltering state this country is in to tribal jingoism and condemn the warlords with little mercy if any.
Without severing my hopes, I must say, to hell with tribalism. To hell with regionalism. To hell with militia juntas. Whether you are from Avokaya, Bari, Dinka, Nuer, Madi, Shilluk, Mundari, Murle, Kuku, Kakwa… name them, there is this to acknowledge, South Sudan is where you belong and neither of you has a right to eliminate the other and the only option you have in your disposal is to accept each other and coexist amicably with mutual respect and understand as core values for your permanent existence. You are a Nuer because creator wanted it so, the same is true for the rest and so tribes aren’t why we fight; instead, tribes are a portrayal of our rich diversity.
It is my conviction that what makes us fight is tribalism and that is, the use of our tribesmen/tribeswomen to undermine the existence of the others either in a discriminatory way or gratification on superiority aspect. We have to realize quickly that we went wrong somewhere and we need a quick fix to salvage nationalism.
South Sudan is too big for a single man/woman and so we just need to work collectively to make it a better place for all of us. There is no political position as big as a whole South Sudan, even Presidency is far way smaller than this big nation and for this reason, let us stop people from dying because of positions.
With the current mess in place, one mustn’t be pessimistic because our togetherness is still salvageable. My lenses of optimism viewed the future and it seems clear and bright for the good of all and there is this to say, in spite of hardship South Sudanese have been subjected to, there is hope that one day, the desired change shall come. With quest for peace topping the list of wanted changes, let’s work for it now. Till then, yours truly, Mr. Teetotaller!
You can reach the author, Sunday de John, via his email: emmajoson@yahoo.com
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