The Perils of the Proliferation of Political And Armed Rebellions in South Sudan
6 min readReasons Against Rebellion in The Republic of South Sudan
By Deng Kur Deng, Pennsylvania, USA
May 4, 2017 (PW) — It is with gratitude, solidarity, anguish, and desperation for peace that made me take my time and reach out to potential or anticipated rebels in regard to our beloved country—a country we have dearly invested so much in her independence. It takes courage and determination to declare oneself a rebel, but, on the same basis, it takes a man to think constructively for the interest of the people and the country at large.
Many have tiptoed around the idea of rebelling against the people’s government, while many have acted cautiously to initiate new embarrassing tactics only to be elevated or recognized at the hierarchy level. We are equally certain that the ideal reasons for rebelling is supposedly to earn leadership or new identity.
The theme of this very material is not intended to belittle, degrade, or insult the South Sudanese who have rebelled against the government, but rather it should be seen as a product of frustrated and concerned citizens—every single South Sudanese. Since 2005, until now, I have not received a single penny nor benefitted from the independence of South Sudan, but I feel respected as a citizen. This is bigger than selfish interest of recognition. With that said, I, by all accounts remain loyal to the law of the country; therefore, I recognize the President of the Republic of South Sudan, General Salva Kiir Mayardit.
There is a new norm in a cultural society, where things that bring shame are kept at a distance. However, these new norms of entitlement after one’s rebellion have overshadowed positive decision making. This, in and of itself, wouldn’t earn anyone the respect they deserve as men.
It is obvious that individuals are gearing up to make wrong choices, and the responsibility under that is beyond immeasurable. Many are joining rebel movements for some potential dissatisfaction in their lives or in the government. What they, individually, lack is a relationship and the compatibility to approach contentious issues.
They need to, first, reflect on self-discovery, themselves, and thereafter, realize self-development rather than taking a cheap and miserable path. With a rigid outlook, we can each make good decisions because self-judgement can help address anything that has a negative connotation in a real sense.
Of course, being a rebel is something we South Sudanese aren’t new to. However, the mindset is its excessiveness around the idea that you will emerge as something bigger than what you once weren’t. It has been confirmed that it comes with disappointments among the South Sudanese.
With your openness to new chapters, you must bear in mind that those top dogs ideal reasons for wanting more support from an average citizen are to make themselves more appealing. In the process, they are only fighting for one man. On the part of leaders who have taken this, they don’t have good intentions for citizens.
Basically, you are their possession. Get it? You are nothing, and, as such, your desires for rank wouldn’t change from being deficient. Therefore, what is it that you are pursuing when you are more likely to come back empty-handed? Nothing but a self-humiliation. Who, in their right mind, would do that to themselves?
Being hardheaded has so much insignificance to it; however, your likeability will not get any better. Now, young men feel ignored and even rejected by the very country they called their own, and there are no individuals who are fully glorified, from the looks of things, currently, in the entire country.
Our people are experiencing similar feelings. They feel abandoned, uncomfortable with life, incompetent, humiliated, and, therefore, they are obligated to make sure they are recognized. I live a rather solitary existence than to be called names that would stick for making a lukewarm commitment or half-heartedness.
It is generally known that no one’s overinvolvement means anything in the current rebel movement. Look no farther than Taban and Riek to whom unity is not withholding and, in turn, Riek feels humiliated. These two men are going to kill themselves as Riek remains upset and caged because Taban thought he out beamed him.
It is obvious that those who are involved with rebels have the mindset of “notice-me” type of behaviors and we, on the other hand, wouldn’t notice you when you look for recognition in very unusual places.
These kinds of recognitions require the attitude to embrace being bad and have a chance of creating another mass grave—similar to what we have seen so far.
We, as a people, have been very consistent, worshipping people who aren’t sincere and promising. Our greatest privilege of freedom and independence was undermined for the sake of individuals’ deceptive success in their financial capital without avoiding moral dangers to the people.
Rebelling is now an indication of fame when, in fact, it does not provide reciprocity as one anticipated. Yes, South Sudanese are not afraid to express their distress and emotions on social media and even rebel on Facebook, but, in the end, they ended to thwart their outrage and decided to sign invisible peace agreements. Many peace agreements were signed this way.
Anyhow, when reflecting on my personal message, some may wonder how this message is intended to shape the country if what is perceived as a problem is not confronted. Well, there are many questions to be asked and few answers to be provided. As confused as many South Sudanese are, I in my desperation for a united people and for peace to be felt, is far broader than words.
Realistically, though, South Sudanese government has performed and applied some unworthy decision making; therefore, the problems reside in those decisions, and these bad problems are deep-rooted in decision making by only a few. Many are buried in this kind of thinking because people are collectively suffering everywhere in the country. It is largely not their fault, at this stage, that the people are individually rebelling.
This is where my contentious issues tend to bother me. Yes, there are arrays of problems in the country, but I have realized there are a series of rebel movements coming from various regions within South Sudan. Now, I joined the SPLM/A in 1987 as a little boy and I remain a supporter amidst all that is going wrong.
This cemented the idea that our country struggling, and this solidified the number of problems facing the country, but rebelling isn’t a solution. Imagine, our well-earned independence and freedom is twisted. As such, I am horrified and shocked to be blindsided by this kind of history, but I say NO REBELLING for me.
We were successful in achieving our independence. Those who are no longer here must have felt dishonored, violated, and disrespected because what is being executed is not what they gave up their lives for.
This article was written by Deng Kur Deng, AKA Raanmangar. You can reach him at: pananyangajak@gmail.com.
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