The Importance of Peace and Political Stability in South Sudan (Part 4)
By David Matiop Gai, Juba, South Sudan
February 14, 2018 (SSB) — Peace, political stability, security, and nation buildings in South Sudan are not only responsibility of government and politicians although the government is a key grantor for effective facilitation; still, citizens have a big role to play. But sometimes ignorance and Misconceptions of citizens about peace and stability in the country is regarded as the work of government and politicians, this ideology affects citizens’ rights and obligations on the peace process. If we think as south Sudanese that bringing back peace is only responsibility of government and politicians, so President Kiir, Dr. Riek, members of parliament, political parties, or IGAD, AU, EU, TROIKA, UN; we fix our eyes on them as the only way for peace without our contributions and commitment, then we are totally wrong. Peace belongs to us, it is our peace and the future of south Sudan presence in peace.
A South Sudanese national was mockery at me about why speaking of peace politics as Church leader that, “David! Are pastors’ politicians?” I asked him, what’s politics? “Dirty game”, he said. I say you viewed it wrong. Politics: management of government affairs and lives of citizens. I asked him again, where do you think politics and government driven from? He said I don’t know, then why do you criticise something you don’t know? I told him, look! Everything was created by God and human being who exercises politics was created in God’s image, so is God not a politician? Fellow countryman, institutions were adapted from God such as government, education, law, agriculture, engineering, and the whole universe, so do you think God is so limited to politics? Then he said to me, man, please continues with peace education, you are right.
If peace is not handled well or not maintained and protected by both government and citizens, its affected all creatures in that particular area. Making peace a reality is our collective responsibility. The reason why other professions join politics is when politics are not maintained to allow other professions function, then other professions join politics to correct the weather. You might be a pastor, engineer, agriculturalist, medical doctor, artist, village’s, teacher, businessman, businesswoman and you might be thinking that politics has nothing to about it but if politics is missing peaceful targets and lead to war like the dark day in Nyakuran Cultural Centre when SPLM ruling party mishandled politics, then politics can affect other professions who have nothing to do with politics. But for the public interest, our favorable vision as a nation is to treat bad politics with peace.
Peace in the time of turmoil: Isaiah 26:3,4, “you will keep in perfect peace, him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal. Philippians 4:6, 7, says,” Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with Thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. In South Sudan, anxious invasive our severely current situations because anxious is a self-centered, counterproductive worry, not legitimate cares and concerns for others. Likely, war occupied Christian’s minds and is a great opposing force to Christian’s peaceful experiences. With war and peace talk’s positions in Ethiopia, Christians nationwide are praying for peace to return back to South Sudan including intercession of Pop.
At the very beginning, we fought against Khartoum but civil war in Sudan did not affect South Sudanese politically, diplomatically, socially, and economically a way it is now. War is destructive with its time. Ecclesiastes 3:8 says, “a time for love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace “. Yes, not all the times situation may constantly be remaining worse. War took place in Dec 15, 2013, and 2016, but 2018 ahead must be years of peace. We don’t know for sure shedding innocent blood, sins, lack of confession, and injustices were too short to save lives. The book of Prophet Isaiah 59:8, says,” the way of peace they do not know, there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks in then will know peace”.
The author is a co-founder of South Sudan Mental Healthcare Organization, (SSMHCO). He holds Bachelor degree in Social Work and Social Administration from SSCUST, Bachelor of Theology from CLT, Bungoma, Kenya/Kalispell, USA, and a fellow researcher. He can be reached at david.matiopgai@gmail.com.
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