Why ethnocentrism attitudes constitute the fundamental problem of South Sudan
5 min readBy Dut kuot Akok, Aweil, South Sudan
Thursday, May 24, 2018 (PW) —- According to sociological perspective, the word ethnocentrisms refer to tendency to view one’s own culture, tribe, section or clan as superior. It can make any type of compromise or borrowing between individuals or tribes difficult or even impossible for the reason that, each and every person perceived that their tribe or section as omnipotent and superior particular in the distribution of state resources. Currently, south Sudan is comprises of valor tribes who are all good in physical confrontation , threats of human life, used of abusive languages toward others and inhuman killing with impunity since others are intentionally and selfishly said to be above the laws since the possess state power.
There is nothing called sorry in south Sudanese societies since we are all hostile toward each other we perceived to be our direct enemy, we have abandoned our Nationality and camped behind our respective tribes as our everlasting shield in which we engineer our political decisions and actions to satisfy the interests of few who seem like to have been weaned using public resources for their own. Always, for smooth prosperity of any society according to sociological school of thought, there should be diffusion between different tribes whether in materials or non materials objects.
People should borrow ideas, acts and many other materials that could provide positive changes to their societies and ignored other negatives ideas. All these are what make every society in this modern world to continue changing positively over time, but surprisingly, our societies who were known for unbendable unity and hospitality as brothers and sisters during our difficult days when we were longing for absolute liberty, have unknowingly and regretfully left themselves to be exploit by our current heartless, mission-less and objective-less selfish politicians who are after their individual bloody gains.
Why don’t we leave them alone since they are our killers and initiators of the current endless destitution and suffering in the republic of south Sudan? Why not embrace our selves as brothers and sisters guided by nationality in our separate corner of peace, love and forgiveness. Let try to leave these devils alone since it is the devil that knows where devil sleeps. It is believed that, if you dance with the devil you can’t change him but he will change you by all means.
Heartbreakingly, my country is being occupied by politically divided tribes, sections and clans by the previously said politicians who are after wealth accumulation using innocent blood of the poor. Each and every tribe or section see or viewed themselves as the most educated, civilize, intelligent and populous. Take for instance Nuer and Dinka are claiming gallantry in the republic of south including population dominance, both are claiming that they are brave and populous.
Our brothers in Equatoria are saying that they are the most educated and civilized region in south Sudan. In fact their claim is true but they didn’t bother to take time and examine some push and pull factors that led to the backwardness of other regions in educational sector because nobody is born a fool. Also there are further a divisions or claims within Dinka community in term of education, civilization and bravery.
Dinka Bor are said according to their own assertion as the most educated section within Dinka Community as previously said by our brothers in the Equatoria region, they are proud of their dominate over Dinka community in educational sector because they have a lot of PHD holders compare to other Jieng sections. Dinka Rumbek are said also to be the fearless fighters, they do feared God because he is un-seeable and controversially said to be everywhere as manifested in the holy Bible.
Also Dinka Abyei are the most civilized and peaceful Dinka section according to the ethnocentrism attitudes of some members within Abyei community. Dinka Aweil do claimed that they are unquestionable fearless freedom fighters against external aggression, they often cite their unity and peaceful coexistence among themselves and with other neighboring communities, and they don’t have the so-called inter-clans or inter-sectional communal fights since 1970s.
And finally within Dinka Community, Dinka Warrap do claimed that they are the origin of Jieng community, they do claimed that the current Dinka language spoken across Jieng Community is written in their Rek Dialect.
Furthermore, Jieng section of Warrap are claiming superiority in Educational sector from Dinka Bor nowadays of which their dominance in keys state organs/positions ranging from presidency, ministry of finance and economic planning, National security of south Sudan, Judiciary of south Sudan in addition to many undersecretaries and presidential advisors in the current government of National Unity could apparently glue their claims since they are undeniable realities to deaf and blinds in the republic of south Sudan.
Therefore, these ethnocentrism attitudes among south Sudanese societies constitute the fundamental problem of south Sudan according to the writer for the reason that we have unknowingly and selfishly divided our country in to state of tribes, sections and clannish. We used to work hard to create occasions with shameful intention of hurting and humiliating other regions, tribes, sections and clans for our tribal or sectional benefits as of now.
Above all, what have we achieve from all these childish and stupid attitudes other than the disgraceful humiliation of our country reputations and invitation of pervasive poverty even at the doorstep of claimed fat-cat. South Sudan can not and will never be called a prosperous and respectful sovereign state of tribe x or sectional Y come whatever.
It is illusive if we have some tribes or sections who believed that they will establish tribal sectional monarchy in the republic of south Sudan with these ethnocentrism attitudes. South Sudan is for all, and it should not be wrongly manipulate by the unknown master.
Our unity is our unwavering strength regardless of our tribal background.
Dut Kuot the writer has honors Degree of Arts in Rural development, University of Juba and he can be reached via his email address, dutkuot8@gmail.com
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