Why Riek Machar Should Quit Politics in South Sudan
6 min readThese are 5 Characteristics of Weak Leadership of Riek Machar, and he must quit from politic.
By Akim Gatkek, Nairobi, Kenya
1. Hesitating to Take Definitive Action
October 17, 2016 (SSB) — Riek Machar was constantly preparing. According to him, the Army was never quite ready. The troops just needed a little more training. In his procrastination, he refused to engage the enemy, even when he clearly had the advantage. He could just not bring himself to launch an attack. When Salva Kiir finally relieved him of his duties, he famously said, “If Generals in South Sudan army does not want to use the army, I would like to borrow it for a time.”
I meet people all the time who seem to be forever preparing. They’d like to launch a new product, find another job, write their first book—but they just can’t seem to pull the trigger.
One of the most important leadership qualities you can develop is practicing the art of the start. Perfectionism is the mother of procrastination. You’re never going to find the perfect time or the perfect circumstances or be totally prepared. At some point you have to kick into action.
What is it you need to do that you’ve been procrastinating: a difficult conversation, a project to approve, a person to fire, a call to make? Whatever the next step, just do it.
2. Complaining About Insufficient Resources
Riek Machar constantly complained about the lack of available resources. He didn’t have enough men. His men weren’t ready enough. They didn’t have enough heavy artillery. And on and on he went.
Leaders who do this never get very far. I don’t care if you own your own business, lead a department in a major corporation, or head a nonprofit. You’re in place to deliver an outcome, and your job is to figure out how to get the resources or make do without them.
The truth is that, as a leader, you never have enough resources. You could always use more of one thing or another. But successful leaders figure out how to get the job done with whatever resources they have. How?
The one thing potentially unlimited is your imagination. Ultimately, there is no such thing as insufficient resources; there are only unresourceful people.
3. Refusing to Take Responsibility
Riek Machar blamed everyone else for his mistakes and his own refusal to act. He even blamed the president. Every time he suffered a defeat or a setback, someone or something was to blame. He was a master finger-pointer. Great leaders don’t do this. They are accountable for the results and accept full responsibility for the outcomes.
Once, a lecture asked me about my school performance. We missed the exam, and I blamed the school. “I get the exam is tough,” she responded, “but let’s be honest. It’s always tough, right? Akim, what is it about your responsibility that led to this outcome?”
Whoa! I instantly felt defensive, but she helped me along. “As long as the problem is out there, you can’t fix it. You’re just a victim. I’m not trying to shame you; I’m trying to empower you. You can’t change your results until you accept full responsibility for them.”
Once you accept responsibility, you can change the result. You may not control the circumstances you’re in, but you do control your response. Changing the result is as simple (or as hard) as changing your response. Imagine how different your family, church, company, or even the country could be if everyone took personal responsibility for their outcomes.
4. Abusing the Privileges of Leadership
While his troops were struggling in almost unbearable conditions, Riek Machar lived in near-royal splendor. He spent almost every evening entertaining guests with elaborate dinners and parties. He insisted on the best clothes and accommodations. His lifestyle—underwritten by taxpayers—stood in distinct contrast to son, his eventual successor.
Leadership is first and foremost a stewardship. We never hold it for ourselves; we hold it on behalf of someone else. If you’re in a position of leadership, it’s to serve. And guess what? You’re accountable. If you abuse it, you’ll eventually lose it, as Riek Machar did.
As a leader of a students, here’s how I look at potential actions and decisions. “If a reporter or a private investigator was following me around, how would the choices I am making today appear if they were on the front page?” Our bad decisions have a funny way of coming to light, and as a leader you need to live with that prospect in clear view.
5. Engaging in Acts of Insubordination
Riek Machar openly and continually criticized President Salva Kiir, his boss. He was passive-aggressive. Even when Salva Kiir gave him a direct order, he found a way to avoid obeying it. In his arrogance, he always knew better than the president and had a ready excuse to rationalize his lack of follow-through.
Criticizing your boss in public? Never a good idea. As Solomon advised thousands of years ago, “Do not curse the king, even in your thought; do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry your voice, and a bird in flight may tell the matter.” People in authority eventually find out, and when they do, don’t be surprised if you get fired. You were asking for it.
If you disagree with your boss’s direction and feel deeply about it, then confront in private or resign. This really comes down a matter of integrity. Even if your boss is incompetent, you have the duty to respect him. If you can’t do that, you need to resign. Speaking out publicly while you’re still employed is just not an option, and it’s not very smart.
Salva Kiir had the patience of Job. He gave Riek Machar numerous opportunities to correct his behavior and redeem himself. But in the end, Riek Machar either could not or would not do so. He left the president no choice but to relieve him of his duties.
The lesson has been lost on leaders in later generations.
Akim Gatkek is the chairman of the SPLM-IO students’ league in Kenya and can be reached via his email: akimbogatkek@gmail.com
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