Where are we heading with this bloody war in South Sudan?
By Yom Mayen Awan, Bor, South Sudan
April 12, 2017 (SSB) — Syria is the country currently in the minds of humanity: big or small, young or old, poor or rich, black or white. It’s not for the right reasons; it is for the worst reasons and occurrences that can occur in human existence.
Before the onset of the war, most people did not either know a country called Syria existed and if they did, not many knew where.
The happenings in Syria are possible in any other country in the world, South Sudan included. We all know the black history of South Sudan. Starting from the time of our forefathers to our fathers and now extending to us, with a great fear of it reaching our future innocent children.
This can be the scary trend if not extinguished early. The young people who have never experienced any serious war apart from the 2013-2014 scare have been made to view it as a norm or fun now.
Take a good example of Jonglei state, where currently gunshots are all over the state suburbs. Many people are claiming that it is a sign of vigilance or a wake-up call to its people to protect and prevent further more attacks from their rivals Murle from Boma state.
Most young men are being armed and trigger-happy ready to attack their enemies. What amazed me is a current calm in my state despite the increasing gunshots, a serious war is being planned; shops are closed, businesses are breaking down due to tension of looting…where are we heading?
We all know, war worldwide has been a source of great suffering, misery and pain. We must all remember that this country belongs to us all, our ethnic, social, religious and economic affiliations not withstanding.
We all call South Sudan a home. Neither of us is immune to war, suffering, death or despair. No one is custodian of monopoly of violence. We are all equal candidates of impacts and outcomes of civil strife should it prevail, as dire as the latter may be.
If we don’t stop these small tribal conflicts like the one between Jonglei state and Boma state people, South Sudan can be the next Rwanda, Liberia, Siera Leone or even Syria.
We just need to fiddle with ideas of war, violence and ethnic cleansing, and actualize it with zeal and vigour.
It is time for us to all say NO to violence and war. We must sit down and come up with a good way of co-existing peacefully. Dividing ourselves shall fall us.
Let’s all rise up and protect our national sovereignty as a whole. THANK YOU!
The author, YOM MAYEN AWAN, is an aspiring journalist and can be reached via her email address: Yom Mayen <mayenyom025@gmail.com>
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