President Kiir and Riek Machar require new thinking about the viability of South Sudan statehood
By Ring Mayar, Juba, South Sudan
June 27, 2016 (SSB) — Nowadays, it seems fairly natural for the general public not to talk about the suffering so many South Sudanese citizens experience on a daily basis, as long as First Vice President Riek Machar resides in government.
Unfortunately, the term ‘ordinary citizen’ is at risk of being forgotten and used as a divisive slogan in South Sudanese public debate. Its proponents invoke the term to raise important issues concerning ordinary citizens – from war prevention through to eradicating hunger and starvation, to building state institutions – in 28 states – and explaining away the purpose of a large government when the state is lacking funds to pay public servants’ salaries.
Safeguard ordinary citizens, in the current political environment, requires radical measures, a high degree of commitment from both leaders, and the willingness to accept the risk and burden of small scale investments for the greater good of ordinary citizens.
The opponents of large government, on the other hand, also find it a convenient and multifaceted formulation. Too often, they use ordinary citizens’ suffering to justify their large numbers in government – to receive pay checks and disregard policy measures enacted for the benefit of ordinary citizens.
We cannot afford to keep quiet when our people are suffering. The transitional government of national unity (TGoNU) has failed its citizens massively with a dead economy, rising inflation (at 229%), and the civilian protection still ranks at zero level in some parts of the country.
Yet, politicians use people’s suffering as a catch-all for gaining foreign financial aid while ministers continue to waste millions of dollars by overstaying in hotels, justification which – they claim – should be reject as a needless affront when helping ordinary citizens and providing food security and ensuring safety for everyone.
This has led the opponents of large government in South Sudan to portray small government as a policy imperative that opposes democracy, liberty, and compassion.
Holistic national security not only ensures the safety of citizens but it indirectly contributes to a viable economy, healthcare, education, including providing basic services that make up the public goods of most democratic nations.
Securely managing South Sudan’s borders will be beneficial to the nation’s economy as accounting for those entering the country with nothing but exit the country with billions of dollars will become a lot more reliable.
Ring Mayar is a National Security Policy student at the Australian National University. His studies include Policing, Criminal Justice, Policy Development, National and Global Security. He published numerous academic journals. He can be reached via the following email: naydiet@yahoo.com.au
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