An Open Letter to President Uhuru Kenyatta: The Fate of South Sudan is in your Hand Sir
7 min readBy Deng Kur Deng (Raan-Mangar), Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Dear Hon: Uhuru Kenyatta, the president of the Republic of Kenya,
August 8, 2015 (SSB) — I would first like to take this moment and opportunity to say thank you for facilitating the South Sudanese peace negotiation with the leaders of IGAD. We the South Sudanese — living both inside and outside of your country — are grateful for your consistency in tackling our problems. You have become deeply influential in the peace process, and we have been longing for even more intervention on your part and from the Kenyan government as a whole. In fact, your participation in the South Sudanese peace process is a symbol of hope among the people of South Sudan.
To be exact, we the South Sudanese are watching your contributions closely with optimism. Recently, you were featured in pictures with South Sudanese students; this gesture alone denotes your sincere involvement in our community, and it symbolizes your positive relationship with us. Many of the South Sudanese believe that you are building a well-guided relationship with our country. As an advocate for better education for all children, irrespective of gender, I personally appreciate that you invited those students into your office. The South Sudanese students in your country and in other countries have been empowered by the position you have projected recently.
There is even further proof that you are serving Kenya and other East African countries well. In fact, you have been “voted Africa’s President of the year for…outstanding leadership.” Time and time again, you have proven how much you know about the direction of Kenya and her people, and we are astonished by the way you have channeled the country towards a brighter future. You have astonished us with the amazing team you have built since you took your oath of the office, and the exceptional way you have strived to fix Kenya’s problems. These significant improvements are the result of good decision-making and responsible governance.
In terms of the South Sudanese populations around the world, our people are looking for ways to turn our country around. We have fought hard, but our goals went unfulfilled as a result of greedy politicians — politicians who are symbols of destruction. Their selfish agendas endanger the welfare of the people. They have made a lot of diplomatic and economic mistakes amidst the crisis in the country. As South Sudanese, what we need more than anything is peace and the revitalization of the economy and a reconfiguring or restructuring of the country’s economic system.
You have seen the lack of responsibility first hand in your capacity as a leader. In exchange, I have indeed pledged total allegiance to you, and to our current president Kiir to find solution to our problems. As we speak, the enthusiasm of the younger generations — an enthusiasm fueled by the independence of our country — has begun to subside. In fact, the behavior of the South Sudanese youth has reached a certain level of indolence and disappointment.
Equally disappointing is the fact that our politicians have not maintained certain measures of respect for the citizens who they first introduced to a well-earned freedom. Regrettably, our country’s hard-fought independence has brought us nothing but death after death, and even the mass killing of innocent people. Many of the decisions made by some of our politicians are disconcerting and unguided, so we must appeal to you, President Uhuru Kenyatta, and to IGAD’s leaders in order to bring peace to our homeland and to protect innocent lives.
After the independence of South Sudan was secured, we have faced as many disadvantages as advantages. For instance, a select few, dirty-minded, individuals own our natural resources and our collective freedom. During the civil war, many individuals relied on those leaders, as foolhardy as it may seem now. Unfortunately, this decision still plagues us today. Like every South Sudanese person, I am concerned about when the peace will return to protect the innocent.
In search for peace for South Sudanese, we are also very appreciative about the return of some members of the G10, which is a great sign of peace. Generally, little has come out of the peace process between President Kiir and Riek Machar, but those negotiations have been held repeatedly under your watch and under the other IGAD leaders. The combination of appeasement and collaboration has failed, and with every passing day, the inaction continues to make us incapable of real progress and vulnerable to our enemies at home and abroad.
So far, we have not seen a confident solution to the crisis in our entire country. But we do also acknowledge that everything involved in peace negotiations isn’t always straightforward, because the roads are blocked by the continuation of violence beyond the cessation of hostilities signed and revisited repeatedly. This reality allows me to ask you personal questions, Mr. President: Due to the lack of constraints among the warring parties, I ask you, what have you been talking to our leaders about? Why has the peace negotiation not materialized militarily on the ground?
I am not trying to say to get these two men by their ties, but many South Sudanese are growing frustrated, due to how less trustworthy they have become. We the people can no longer downplay our downfall as a country. I remembered when you stepped in the office; you have accomplished a lot, including trust the people have built for you and helped you through the years.
Instead of reflecting on some of the things you are doing for your country, our politicians are only interested in unattractive duties, such as killing of innocent people. Our politicians are remorseless, and this is one of many reasons why we remain vulnerable in this country: We dearly pay a huge price for. All things considered, it is inconsequential to even blame our politicians for the wrongdoing. Kenya is progressing tremendously and we the South Sudanese are indeed one of many reasons why Kenya is economically thriving. But if peace comes to South Sudan, Kenya’s economy will eventually boom as a result.
Our concern is the restoration of peace in the country. We need courage from our politicians and military generals to accept peace. Yes President Kiir have accepted peace over violence, but he must sign peace to validate his position. As you may know by now, we share much with Kenya and its people and their emotions and with this in mind one of Kenyan politicians name Weston Wanjohi has become frustrated and vocal toward Riek Machar. However, Wanjohi calls are meant to help us restore peace in the country. Like honorable Wanjohi, we are prompted to work against the tactics that would affect the average citizen. As we speak, many of our politicians are busy self-promoting themselves, but we are already tired of their strategies because everything they do ends up killing members of our families.
There are harsh realities of what is going on in the country — with the exception of certain politicians who see things from the average citizen. As you may have heard or seen graphic pictures of the mass killing in the country; it left us wondering what the message is to us. For too many of the citizens, mass killing has become a popularity contest to the ruthless generals and politicians. Our politicians would like to win us over using blood bath as the major way of doing so. Both President Kiir and Riek Machar made a dreadful move recently in regards to peace and they must be pressured to sign peace, now. Tendency of polarizing our people must be ended.
These two men have produced an environment that is unpredictable and hard to regulate country. That is why it is very importance for these two men to be subdue from using violence as a way to convey their messages. Mr. President, our people seriously need peace and we would like you to with IGAD’s leaders, President Kiir, rebels, and members of G10 to help us achieve peace once more.
This letter was written by Deng Kur Deng, AKA Raanmangar. You can reach him at pananyangajak@gmail.com.
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