After the recognition of the new First Vice President: What is next for President Kiir and Taban Deng Gai?
By Ariik Atekdit Mawien, Juba, South Sudan
August 30, 2016 (SSB) — It had been hard talk in Juba and elsewhere in South Sudan, in the foreign cities and indeed among foreign diplomats and politicians of interest in South Sudan’s politics when quickly war erupted once again in Juba.
The process of the Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (ARCISS) that had then designated Dr Riek Machar to be the FVP in South Sudan has been indeed bumpy. The road has never been smooth and flat from the time signatories put down their signatures on the paper of ARCISS agreement.
Both South Sudanese warring parties had blamed many times the IGAD mediators for their bad intentions to impose an agreement that reads their interest on the country against South Sudanese interests. Analysts and writers had tried to speak out the truths that should have been done but all that went into their deaf ears and we ended up saying that ‘bad peace is better than good war’.
We all realized that something was fishy when Dr Riek Machar got appointed on Feb 11 as a FVP only to arrive in Juba 68 days later than expected to take up the post he had been longing for. His delay to return to Juba has re-introduced a lot of mistrusts among the politicians with resumption of scorching politics and speeches of critics.
After April 26 the day Dr Riek landed in Juba some hope was restored among the citizens only to realize that President Kiir and Dr Riek could only work for 73 days to ignite another new conflict in the country later on July 8. So you can truly see that the trust between Riek and Kiir merely lasted for 73 days at J1 Residence before they lodged artilleries to attract the coming of another 4000 more UN troops into the country against the will of the citizens.
South Sudanese are always given inappropriate definitions by the neighbouring countries and western governments. And for that reasons they region has continued to give us agreements that don’t read our style.
The then Northern Sudanese had said severally that we are those that can’t govern ourselves. Western regions have adopted corruption, nepotism, lack of democracy and incapability as what can correctly define us.
While yet, within and outside South Sudan some people think that we are more tribal-minded to work cooperatively together. The Nuer and the Dinka take the majority of any bad thing being said about South Sudan. We have refused to make the definitions that can correctly suit us in the region.
When Kiir sacked his troubled deputy, Dr Riek Machar for the second time on July 23 like he did in 2013 and appointed Gen. Taban Deng Gai; it became solely a South Sudanese politics in making. Nobody could say that the appointment of Gen. Taban Deng Gai is an IGAD intended business. It was not also influenced by the West.
This time, it was entirely a home based politics and Mr. Gai took over his post waiting for Machar to return. After a lot of critics from Machar’s camp, IGAD and maybe some western diplomats it became conscious that South Sudanese alone and only they are the ones to decide who to be appointed not anybody anywhere on earth. So it became neither Machar’s loyalists nor foreign allies’ concern to appoint replacement.
Of recent news headlines have shown that IGAD and the region backed the appointment of Gen. Taban Deng Gai when their commanding officer, Mr. John Kerry said that it was legal to replace Mr. Machar who decisively fled J1 Palace in July. The Head of JMEC, Festus Mogae returned to Juba and decided to show out his face to admit the appointment of the second top man in government. UNMISS has said that they will work to support TGONU in recognition of the new First Vice President.
This means that the current government of national unity is legal with Taban Deng Gai as the First Vice President. Voices within the closed circles of President Kiir and Gai have spoken that there is more spirit of cooperation in J1 these days than before. That the working environment in the palace has been made conducive as Gai and Kiir took the responsibility of leading a nation in peace.
However, what next after the regional recognition of Taban Deng Gai? Do we need to rely again on the regional politics and international influence to govern South Sudan at this transitional period?
Our leaders need to understand that we cannot import peace to countries of war but we always should create more peaceful situations alone and only alone. The presence of 4000 UN troops in South Sudan is never a final formula for peace. You cannot bring warriors to a war ragged country and claim that you are keeping peace in that nation. Obviously, the rivaling fighters can fight among themselves with the claim that 4000 strong forces can now fight harder to defeat both SPLA-IO and government forces. That alone is not peace; it is rather a complication of war. But then who are these 4000 troops to come and kill South Sudanese in their own nation?
If Taban and Kiir have really created a favorable environment in the Presidency, they must then extend that to the whole country. We very much need that in the residential areas of Juba, in our workplaces, in the states and villages across the nation. Now there will be no reason to send us 4000 UN troops.
The two military generals, Kiir and Gai should now bring security in the city and beyond. It won’t sound any good for the two generals to announce that they are enjoying their peace in the palace when millions South Sudanese scream in fear of deaths that may be caused by diseases, hunger, and senseless war or at the hand of merciless popular unknown gunmen.
No man can bring peace to hungry population as the country witnesses a dangerous economic crisis that has badly derailed the standard of living in Juba, the states capitals and villages. This means that unless Kiir and Gai agree to work together to help their country out of hazard will they enjoy their advantageous environment in the Palace. South Sudanese have hopes and expectations beyond implementation of this peace agreement and it is upon Kiir and Gai.
Our children have stopped going to schools because they cannot afford it any longer. Thousands have fled the country to the neighbouring countries and yet they are there suffering. Services to local population have since halted and hunger has declared control over the South Sudanese daily cost of living.
Mr. Kiir and Gai should labor hard to rescue the dying economics of the country. This is the time the government should question those who take public resources into their private ownership. This should be the time to get rid of those who don’t give services to the people but only to appoint members that can deliver to their fellow South Sudanese.
Again it will sound irrelevant for thousand South Sudanese to remain in UNMISS protection of civilian sites (PoCs) for years when the country claim the implementation of ARCISS. Gen. Taban Deng Gai and President Kiir should make it a positive campaign to attract out IDPs to return to their residences and into the states. Keeping this big population in UN camp is badly disheartening. Until when will they be out of POCs? Gen. Gai should make it a task that must succeed.
The problem of our country today includes: poor services delivery and insecurity across the country. Again, the sovereignty of this country is being badly shaken by outsiders who claim to have read the pages of democracy before us. The economic crisis is top and prior, lack of justice and accountability must be immediately looked into
After the recognition of Taban Deng Gai as the South Sudan’s First Vice President by the region and the International Community, the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGONU) must objectively serve the suffering population of South Sudan.
You can reach the author via his email: Atekdit Mawien <ariqdudic@gmail.com>
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