Restore South Sudan dignity back to regain her former glory
3 min readGeneration UN and Camp Democracy
By Deng Lueth Yuang, Canada
September 23, 2015 (SSB) — Why do South Sudanese across all walks of life all around the globe ‘belittle, despise, dislike, hate, or reject’ their nation leadership so vehemently like the way it projects itself on social media such as Face Book and other webs?
~ Could it be because this whining generation was brought up in refugee/displaced camps where UN charters were all observed and therefore respected? Recall how, if you were in or heard about Kakuma, Kenya’s refugee leadership tragedies of Buol Lual, Deng Dau, Malaak Atem and etcetera by then!
~ Could it be as one of this gen UN put it as those criticizing the government all day and night are just mere “students”! Literally, learners doing their best to put their acquired knowledge into possible practical use!
~ Could it be because their leaders don’t fit some leadership metrics compared to their peers in the region and beyond?
OR;
~Self-discovery in 21st Century maturity of democracy around the world as in Arab’s spring?
~ Indoctrinated and idealized by virtue of ‘being’ (staying, studying and growing up) abroad especially in Western countries?
~ Past inter/intra communal animosities and ‘wounds’?
~ Comparatively, disillusioned — felt let down to see their country lagging behind the rest of countries in the world especially Africa because of leadership inefficiencies and ineffectiveness to put interests of the nation and her people first?
However, this does not abode well with the sovereign image of the nation. South Sudan is the only place where its leadership is a weakling among its peers. Even smaller Haiti, the only poor black men country in Western Hemisphere has dignity.
Perhaps, the ‘naysayers’ are truthful here – a young nation indeed. Such status does not reflect the true place of South Sudan in the community of nations. It tarnishes it beyond further recognition.
Whether a junior employee of IGAD heads of states called South Sudanese people ‘stupid’; IGAD plus imposed peace; Ethiopian PM’s mantra ‘you must sign it now or you will not go out from here’; SS Ministry of Information Pres Kiir’s schoolboy comment, or president of a sovereign nation sitting down with a terrorist to solve the nation problems…, South Sudanese per se are disillusioned.
It is pitiful for people borne, grew up and led with pride and dignity during the Anyanya 1, and 1983 South Sudan war of liberation led by former mighty SPLM/SPLA now a pale shadow of itself. They are left contending – trying to come into terms with the new leadership paradigm on the land.
In brief, it’s undeniable that the current generation of South Sudanese who grew up in the war are unrelenting and impatient. They have tasted the fruits of good governance and democracy in UN camps and western countries.
Disregard them at your own peril!
That is the clear bigger picture SS leadership must see and work on. Some might be rebels playing propaganda politics; while most are true sons and daughters of the land playing constructive criticism and politics as they see it befitting from their focal point of interest especially where they are.
Restore South Sudan dignity back to regain her former glory.
–
The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The veracity of any claim made are the responsibility of the author, not PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to paanluel2011@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material before publication. Please include your full name, email address and the country you are writing from.
About Post Author
