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"We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, with so little, for so long, we are now qualified to do anything, with nothing" By Konstantin Josef Jireček, a Czech historian, diplomat and slavist.

Open letter to President Salva Kiir Mayardit on the TGoNU

Your Excellency, President Salva Kiir Mayardit,

Ater Garang Ariath, Juba, South Sudan

riek machar in juba, april 26

April 29, 2016 (SSB)  —-  As  the  nation move  toward  its  dream  of hope   for  Peace, stability and  sustainable  development  upon  return  of  Dr.  Riek Machar Teny to South Sudan as First Vice President, South Sudanese peoples foresee realization of harmony again in the country. Mr.   President,   when you, (Dr.  Riek and Igga) shook hands aftermath  First  Vice  President  took oath of  office,  it  far demonstrated a  sign that you  are  partners in peace and  yesterday announced Transitional  Government  of National  Unity.

The Transitional Government of National Unity, should of now work to embrace  healing and reconciliation  among  all South Sudanese common men and  women that were  psychologically  fractured  in different  areas during  the conflict.

The  genuine  realization of peace  and  national  cohesion  among all  South Sudanese  within and outside  the country, can  only  be achieved if  your  leadership  appoints   competence , skilled  and experienced   Advisors  in recent   cabinet Like  any  other  South Sudanese  citizen,  I  would   like to  take this  opportunity  to  call  for appointment of  Presidential Political  Advisor, whose  of  his/her  credentials  were  of  course impeccable, highly intelligent , a superb linguist and  a born diplomat to revamp  our  diplomatic  relations.

Appointment of  senior experienced and  political acumen  South Sudanese man or  woman as  Presidential   Political Advisor  after the formation of  Transitional  Government  of  National Unity(TGONU) will be of  great  asset toward  refurbishment  of  South Sudan politically exposures within and outside the region.

The Political Advisor with strong vision of South Sudan  loyalty  as nation ” first”  should  work  on programs  that will  revamp South Sudan’s  diplomatic  and  political  exposure in the region and beyond.

As we move together as nation to rebuild damages that were brought in our societies by recently elapsed civil war, there is a high need to appoint an impeccable Presidential Political Advisor in the Transitional Government of National Unity.

The crises faced by our country are merely political one, which needs your leadership to fix by ensuring that white-headed South Sudanese, who care for national interest, are appointed to hold strategic presidential advisory roles in order to avoid another pitfall path caused by recent concluded war in our history as nation.

Mr. President, behind every successful leader, there are sharp  and wise handful or bevy  of  strong advisors ,  whose their  appointments based  on skills,  competence  and  professional  experiences , especially  to harness  direct areas  whereby  a leader lack certain abilities.

We had suffered from inadequate leadership , in all spheres of life, political, social, economic, religion and so forth and so on, they (leaders ) whom  you  bestowed  national trust upon them,  raised our expectations  sky high only to disappoint  us  in many  occasions, however,  as  citizens,  we are patiently  waiting  upon  recently appointed  authors  in  your  cabinet to introduce their chapters to the nation.

Worse still sufferings caused by unprincipled leaders, who seek scapegoats for their failures and gross incompetence by stringed up tribal hatred among our beloved  communities,  well-known  example  is recently  concluded senseless  three  years’  war  that  eroded  our social  fabrics  as  South Sudanese society,  which  I  hope  the Transitional  Government  of National  Unity  should  first  address problems  of  internally  displaced  citizens   that  are   in United Nations  Camp before  any  other  thing.

As committed  and  staunchest   member  of  the country  ruling  party Sudan’s People  Liberation  Movement  (SPLM), I felt  that South Sudan after attained  her  hard –fought  sovereignty should not followed  painful paths  experienced  by  most  African revolutionaries  liberated  countries.

Therefore,  what had  happened , has happen  and  you  are  now brought  together  by  the  Compromise  Peace  Agreement  on springboard  as  leaders  not  opponents  in  the   helmet   of  South Sudanese  system  again,  of  which  critical scrutiny is  requires during  selection  of  various  Presidential  Advisors.

Mr.   President,   South  Sudanese  are   desperate   to  see imminent  reforms   in  the  system , whereby   political  appointees should  value  most  national cohesion,  rather  than promoting  their narrow  political interests  that override  core  principles  of nationalism.

As  South  Sudanese  common  men and women,  we  are  yearning  to see  leaders in  the system  , who internally  question themselves, what  does South  Sudanization, a kind  of our   nationalism as  South Sudanese  people means to them and the country that the belong to?

In fact, we have a long journey as South Sudanese people   to understand or  forge  nationalism, the  spirit  of  nationalism is still hovering  in South Sudanese thin air ,though  with  hope  and determination , it  will take hold  in the sub- consciousness  of  our people.

“The  roots of nationalism are  nurtured by people who share a common identity in the form of historical memories,  pride,  humiliation, pleasure and  regrets”  , attached   to common incidents  of  the past,   According  to   Historian  John Stuart  Mill,   however, South Sudanese  past  from  Arab rule,  would  provide a platform  for cohesive  ideology to command  the loyalty of all  peoples  of  South Sudan.

The country   Mr.  President need devoted Advisors, who will begin to devote vast energies to  build a  nationalistic  ideology, which  will command  loyalty  of  all South Sudanese  people  toward  their country and  the leadership.

South Sudan as  nation  indeed  needed  fearless  Advisors, with extra  astuteness of  judgments and  ability  to make fast decision on spot,   of  which  a nation like  of  South Sudan always  on  edge of tribal wars  desperately  require.

The Presidential Advisors are the first layers of the government, who commit  themselves  to noble course of  the leadership,  and  more especially  to the country  and  the people  whom  they  serve.

The  great leaders  know  limit  of  their  own  abilities, therefore,  they  surround themselves with  bunch  of  others  capable men and women who can share objectives  and  work  together with, to  achieve them.

It  is  on  this  same  context  that  I urge, the leadership  of Transitional  Government of  National  Unity to remove obstacles  and mistrusts  been  engendered  during  two years  conflict,  just  to pave  way  for  sufficient  will  of  implementing  the Compromise Peace  Agreement  on  the  Resolution on  Conflict  in  South Sudan.

Nevertheless,  steering  nation  from  current  dire  situation faced by  our  people to prosperity ,  will  not  only  be  left to President  Salva  Kiir   Mayardit ,  First  Vice  President,   Dr. Riek  Machar  and   Vice  President   James  Wani  Igga,  but all members  of  the  cabinet  along  with South Sudanese masses  should amicably  engage  hand in hand  to  achieve  it.

Mindful of the heated debate stirred by poor representations of  some states  that emerged  after the formation of  Transitional  Government of National Unity  on  Thursday   28Th   April ,  2016  by Presidential  Decree , but   such  nonstop debates  will  not  bring sufficient  solutions , unless  we  put aside our  bitterness  and rally support  to the appointed cabinet to deliver desire  results  by all South Sudanese  people.

To  conclude  my  argument  here,  as  one  of  the concern South Sudanese  citizens, I  call  upon  the  international  community, Troika  countries,  IGAD  ,  China  and  Japan, which  are  the immediate  guarantors  of  South Sudan  peace,  to step up measures of  reinforcing  peace  implementation ,  through  financial  support for amelioration  of  economic shock  experienced  by  the country.

This peace is only our hope of finding justice, freedom, happiness and prosperity that is in fact our inalienable right as South Sudanese people   to enjoy.

By Ater Garang Ariath, the Author is South Sudanese journalist living in Republic of South Sudan. For any comment, contact at atergarang452@gmail.com

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