An Open letter to Deputy Minister of Interior, Hon. Mabior Garang de Mabior: The ball is in your Court

Open letter to Deputy Minister of interior Mabior Garang Mabior: Serve your People According to the Constitution and your Conscience.

By 1st Lt Akuot Aquila Apiu Garang, Juba, South Sudan

Saturday, March 14, 2020 (PW) — Dear Hon Mabior Garang Mabior, Your appointment as the deputy Minister of Interior has come at a significant juncture in the history of South Sudan hence the decisions and actions you make in your new portfolio henceforth will determine not only the peace and stability of our dear motherland but also of your own fate as a son of this land.

Needless to remind you that South Sudan emerged out of a brutal dictatorship of various Sudanese governments and South Sudan civil war in which you participated to usher in a new dispensation on 22 Feb 2020 with high expectations for a new environment for democracy and good governance. You did not only fight this regime for its own sake, but more importantly you did so with the intention to bring about a true system change in which abuse of power and violations of human rights will end in this country.

Your greatest contribution can only come from effecting system change by first and foremost reforming the legal and institutional frameworks of these agencies and building their human capacity to empower them to protect human rights. These institutions are indeed human rights protection institutions, which makes your Ministry the leading human rights protection mechanism of the South Sudan Government.

Sadly, the Ministry of Interior and its satellite institutions have been notorious for abuse of human rights and it is now your unique opportunity to transform these institutions into true human rights protection institutions. In this regard what is expected of the Ministry of Interior and its allied agencies is to adhere to the rule of law to protect fundamental rights and freedoms in order to enable South Sudanese to hold the State accountable.

It is when citizens are able to hold the State accountable that we could combat and reduce if not eradicate corruption and abuse of power, ensure efficient, effective and quality delivery of public services and guarantee prosperity in peace and calm in the country. I would expect and strongly advise that you understand your position as the deputy Minister of Interior from this perspective and perform your duties accordingly.

I wish to therefore urge you to ensure that your Ministry and all of its agencies place themselves on the path of the Constitution to uphold the rule of law and protect fundamental rights and freedoms. This is non-negotiable and history will judge how well or not you perform this sacred national duty.

I wish to therefore call on you to ensure the urgent reform of the institutions under your purview such as the South Sudan National Police service, the South Sudan Prisons Services, the Immigration Department and the Fire and Ambulance Services.

Sir, the battle against lawlessness will not be won through shady deals or murky negotiation. It will not be won through false rhetoric and feigned bravado. It is not being fought on the ground by our colleagues, who live and breathe in the shade of ostentatious protocol.

This battle, and the larger war to restore law and order in our country, is being waged by our men and women in uniform, of which police is the very tip of the sword. Stand against torture and corruption within your law enforcement agencies and insist on absolute adherence to the rule of law at all times.

Your actions should give both the confidence and the morale to the police force. And by extension, you should also include the entire enterprise of law and order in our country. If there is any chance that the voice of a common citizen can pierce the mighty veil that surrounds your Ministry of Interior, Sir, I hope that you will have the humility to pay heed to it.

Let me also remind you that as a member of Cabinet, you bear equal responsibility for any decision made by the Cabinet and the Presidency. Therefore, be a good public servant and advise your Cabinet colleagues and the President Salva Kiir and his First vice, other vices that they must respect and protect the rights of South Sudanese even if those South Sudanese wish to criticise or protest against them.

In conclusion, let me highlight to you Mr. Mabior Garang Mabior that South Sudan is your motherland and by any moral, religious, legal and political standards you must serve none other than South Sudan and her people. No elected or appointed official from the President to the Mayor and indeed no citizen should be worthy enough for you to abuse the rights and dignity of your fellow citizens.

It is already an invaluable honour and privilege to be appointed a deputy Minister purposely to serve your people. Therefore, cherish that sacred duty and serve your people well than to allow your fellow human being to make you a pawn to abuse your fellow human beings. No position, no fame and indeed no material gains should make you sell your soul to your fellow human being.

Let this appointment today be that unique opportunity to show yourself and place yourself on the path to defend your own people and their Constitution. The ball is in your court.

Yours In The Service of South Sudan

1st Lt Akuot Aquila Apiu Garang: Akuot Aquila <akuotaquila89@gmail.com>

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