SECTARIANISM HAS WON OVER THE VOTE OF SOUTHERNERS
5 min readBy Kiir Garang Kuir (Kiir-Agou), Canada
November 9, 2015 (SSB) — When peace agreement was signed in 2005 between the North and the South, currently the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan respectively, the desire was for the Southern Sudanese to have their own independence and bring about the peace and harmony that was so badly needed in the region. However, things have not actually gone to plan. Tribal differences, apparently, have been magnified.
Economic prosperity is doomed and crippled badly; thanks to our corrupt officials in Juba spearheaded and led by none other than President Kiir Mayardit. The idea of one people, one Nation seems a forgone agenda. The future looks bleak and to add salt to already existing wounds, the president decides to divide the country even father; a move that I strongly believe will dwarf Junubiin forever.
This is another bull’s eye episode in South Sudan’s faltering status as a country. It is not a bull’s eye targeted for any good reason but rather for the worse. Every Junubi alive today and has a grasp of its history will attest to the fact that, we the Southerners, have always been divided along tribal lines and that has, on so many occasions, bred hatred and bloodshed. It worries me even more as a southerner when a president wakes up one morning and decides, with the help of his cohorts, to create an extra number of states. What were his intentions?
That, I have no clue. But my gut feeling is telling me that the creation of 28 states is an absolute ludicrous decision. Not only is it dividing the “already divided” communities, it has created an even greater divide and the prospects aren’t pretty. It is sectarianism at its very best and any conflict between neighboring factions will be magnified and the bloodbath will be a nasty one.
If President Kiir could not handle 10 states during his tenureship, how is he going to cater and sustain the 28 states? In my opinion, Junub is, forever, stuck in utter failure. The future looks bleak with no hope in sight. Are we doomed forever? Only future can tell although i have a feeling that, as a result of these separations based on tribes, one can only admit that we are hopeless about the future.
Bringing the argument close to home, I must say that I have been so disappointed by my brothers from TWI community. Some well-known leaders from “Bor asili” sad down in their hidings and came up with a crazy idea that the office of the governor shall, this time round, be held by someone from Twi community making the case that Kuol Manyang and Philip Thon Leek have held the office having come from Bor and Duk respectively. It falls in the same trap of sectarianism.
Aguer Panyang, Deng Dau Malek and Manyok Barach all rushed into this utter nonsense and supported it. You people already have jobs in the government and I see no reason as to why you all have to compete for governorship. Whoever came up with this silly idea thinks along the same line of division and sectarianism and you just have to stay away from it. If anything, you guys are creating conflict among youth. Because of the vicious contest between the three nominees i.e. Deng Dau Malek and Aguer Panyang (all from Ajuong) have severely divided the youth.
Deng Dau and Aguer Panyang’s supporters are viciously involved in war of words whether it is in their social gathering or on the internet and that is damning. This has to end. People are tired of talking about your contest. This quest for power is doing very little to bring peace to our community. It is about time that you make decisions for the betterment of youth and not for selfish gains.
And to the youth supporting either of these leaders, you have to realize that you are doing yourself no good at all. You have nothing to gain after all. Think about picking up leadership and send these old guards to retirement homes. They are damaging our futures.
In a conclusive remark, we should not allow these old guards to exist as a blockade among us. They are almost everywhere either at state or national offices. We cannot preach quagmire to this generation of young people. This is a message from a concerned citizen and we all have to wake up and start thinking for ourselves.
Garang Mabior once said you will be free when you have learned. The warriors or fighters in battlefields will free you; the educated will develop the country. Many of us have learned and have fought, therefore, I feel we can free ourselves and develop our own state and live peacefully.
From a concerned citizen Kiir Garang Kuir (Kiir-Agou), reachable via his email: kiiragou77@gmail.com
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