Jonglei Watch: A Dark Chapter is closed by 28 States!
3 min readBy Malith Alier, Juba, South Sudan
January 22, 2016 (SSB) — Jonglei, the erstwhile largest state in the country was also a petulant kid on the block. If south Sudan was a small child as always advanced by politicians, perhaps the crisis in Jonglei contributed to that reference.
Jonglei was always inhabited by complicated folks who had no understanding of issues that may preserve harmony among peoples.
Six languages are no simply matter as conceded by former governor of the state, Mr. Kuol Manyang Juuk. “I had language problems in communicating certain messages,” he said to the celebrants during the reception of the new Jonglei Governor in Bor on the 2nd of January 2016.
This was an acknowledgement that can generally be termed as failure of the ten (10) states. It was more than just failure of communication but also of other things including free movement of citizens for commerce and education.
The other problems of Jonglei that the past governors failed to address are the usual cattle raiding, child abduction, and wanton killing of members of other tribes, all of these characterise lawlessness.
One singer whose name I don’t remember exposed it all in a song which goes thus;
Every year, every time,
We kill ourselves,
We brutalise one another
Wives are widowed
Children are abducted
What has happened to us?
This was the nature of Jonglei before the break up as a result of twenty eight states. It is too early to tell whether the new state is going to shed away its past baggage.
However, at least now people are delighted as shown by the massive reception of the new governor and the prior joy at the time of the announcement of the break up, to the disappointment John Koang and Baba Medan, the defacto rulers of post 2013.
The above rulers had no stake in Jonglei and it was therefore unfortunate for them to rule over the area for close to three years. Both John and Baba had rebellious constituencies who didn’t feel great about Jonglei. The latter’s constituency had separated by May 2014 and it was therefore, mind boggling why they continued to be part of old Jonglei thereafter?
Protesters went to the streets to voice their concerns but as usual, in this country nobody listens to voices of reason save for political interests. The protesters demands were not mere accusations but real concerns that could have alarmed the leadership in a democratic society.
Some of the accusations included; lack of interest in suffering of greater Bor people, confinement of governor at government house with huge security detail involving nation security personnel, more interest in his Nuer community in UNMISS camp, sacking of charismatic Bor County Commissioner, retention of Greater Pibor officials in government,
On the surface, John and his administration seemed detached from the suffering of the people of the three counties scattered to neighbouring states such as Mingkaman in Lakes States.
One important thing that people had forgotten was that, in everything you do you must feel to be part of it otherwise you won’t to do much. Clearly, the defacto rulers had nothing to lose in Jonglei and by the time they left, the city of Bor remained in ruins.
Neither will anybody ask John or Baba questions nor will their descendents. They went like colonial masters who we never see today. Good riddance John and Baba.
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