Why Government Should Prioritize R-ARCSS and Civilian Disarmament over COVID-19 in South Sudan

Collecting Guns from Civil population and full implementation of R-ARCSS should be top priorities of the government than dwelling much on Corona-virus Prevention in the Country 

By Ariik Kuol Ariik, Rumbek, South Sudan

Wednesday, May 13, 2020 (PW) — Dated back to Second Sudanese Civil War (SPLM/A) in 1983, there was very limited flow of arms into hands of civilians in three (03) Regions of Southern Sudan by then. This means that, there was strong Jungle Laws governing civil population and prohibiting them from possessing illegal arms. During that time, level of crimes ranging from communal conflicts, revenge killings, cattle raiding, highway robberies and ambushes were relatively low, minimum and controllable. Therefore in simple definition, civilian is anybody that has not received professional military training and officially authorized by the State (Country) to hold gun.

How did Guns Flow into Civil Population?

Until SPLM/A split under Nasir Declaration in 1991, the guns flew more rapidly first into the hands of civilians in Bahr el Ghazal and Upper Nile Regions in exercise of depending themselves and their cattle against raiding by Nasir Rebel Faction under Dr. Riek Machar Teny and Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin respectively. The presence of illicit arms encouraged rampant cattle raiding’s and child abductions among communities of Bahr el Ghazal and Upper Nile Regions. For instance, communities of Jonglei such as Dinka Bor, Lou Nuer and Murle tribes raid cattle and abduct children among themselves. Likewise to communities of Warrap, Lakes and Unity (Western Upper Nile) States have history of cattle raiding among each other. 

Also, there are reports of sectional fighting within one ethnic community and clans of one or more States over cattle and land disputes. For example, communities of Warrap, Lakes and Jonglei fight over cattle, water points and grazing lands within themselves and their neighbors. This activity forced every community to possessed weapons against cattle raiding and child abductions within and outside. Equatorians on the other hand, acquired weapons to protect themselves from Konyi’s Ugandan rebel group known as Lord Resistance Army (LRA) who was committing multiple atrocities, war crimes and crimes against Humanity in Equatoria Region.

However, LRA was not only the issue of acquiring guns in Equatoria Region, some communities in Eastern Equatoria such as Toposa, Didinga and Latuka, took up arms against cattle raiding within themselves and across border with Kenya and Uganda alike. Whereas, Mundari secured weapons to protect their Livestock from Dinka Aliap community of Lakes State and also raiding cattle from Bari and Bor communities during dry seasons and vice versa. This routine exercise continued until LRA was flashed out of South Sudan’s Equatoria Region by Joint Security Forces from Southern Sudan, Uganda and DR Congo after signing of Sudanese Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005. The culture of cattle raiding among communities of three (03) Regions resulted into wide range inter-communal conflicts and increased tensions over scarce resources such as pasture lands and water points.

Between 2005 and 2008, most of Southern Sudanese Rebel Factions (mainly from Upper Nile Region) under Gen. Paulino Matip Nhial, Peter Gatdet Yaak, Johnson Ulony and Tanginya quickly responded to Presidential Amnesty that was issued to restore inclusive peace and Stability for the people of Southern Sudan. Those Rebel Factions were integrated into SPLA mainstream and became active members of Regular Forces. But, their previous activities in battlefields and fronts left entire civil populations fully armed with different types of weapons in Upper Nile Region. This has resulted into widespread insecurity and promoted rampant cattle raiding, thefts and sectional tensions until then. Thus, thousands of lives were lost during that particular period of time.

After National Elections in 2010, an Independent Candidate Gen. David Yau Yau in Jonglei State failed during Elections and refused to recognize results. Instead, he launched rebellion against SPLM led government disputing results of Elections and described it unfair. The rebellion encouraged cattle raiding and child abductions between Murle, Lou Nuer and Dinka Bor communities. Many people perished in this rebellion and civilians possessed more illegal arms and turned against themselves. After Independence of South Sudan in 2011, government promised to conduct Nationwide and Comprehensive disarmament exercise to collect guns from all civilians in the Country.

This SPLM’s dream has never been realized until the outbreak of Dec 15, 2013 conflict in Juba just two (02) years after Independence. The conflict that started as a result of disagreement within SPLM National Liberation Council (SPLM-NLC), quickly escalated into a National issue that drew the attentions of the Region and International Community. Such conflict claimed tens of thousands lives of South Sudanese citizens and other millions of people internally and externally displaced from their homes into IDP and Refugee camps within the Country (UN-POCs) and neighboring countries of Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and DR Congo respectively. 

Although, Dau Aturjong later declared his rebellion in 2014, his grievances were attributed to dissatisfaction in 2010 Elections and tension with his rival Gen. Paul Malang Awan who finally became SPLA Chief of General Staffs in 2014. Aturjong joined Dr. Machar’s SPLM/A-IO Movement and was named commander for Bahr el Ghazal front. On May 2017, Gen. Paul Malong was relieved from his position as SPLA Chief of General Staffs and placed under house arrest after failing to comply with Military Code of Conducts and Professional Ethics to conduct official handing over of office.

Malong first after his relieved in the evening, blindly and disrespectfully took French leave at night for his hometown at Aweil in Bahr el Ghazal where he was seriously threatened, confronted and driven back to Juba before reaching home. This was made possible after wise Governor of Eastern Lakes State by then (H.E. Maj. Gen: Bor Philip) invited Jieng Council of Elders (JCE) to intervene and persuade Gen. Paul Malong to go back to Juba through peaceful negotiations at Yirol, Eastern Lakes state. He was later released on medical ground where he organized and formed an Independent Rebel Movement (SSUF) in Nairobi, Kenya in 2018. 

The conflict continued with South Sudanese targeting themselves along ethnic lines leading to countless number of targeted deaths of certain members of a given tribe being subjected into inhumane killings. For instance, members of Jieng (Dinka) Community were strongly targeted and killed in Equatoria Region along ethnic lines on Juba-Yei, Kajokeji, Kaya, Mundri, Maridi, Yambio, Nimule and Bahr el Ghazal roads respectively after 2015 Peace Deal collapsed at gunpoint at J1 in 2016. The good news was that, Jieng (Dinka) communities never did the same to Equatorians in their Regions, but continue killing themselves over revenge, communal fighting and cattle raiding among others. 

In 2018, South Sudanese warring parties signed Revitalized Agreement on the Resolutions of Conflicts in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in Addis Ababa-Ethiopia under IGAD Mediation and Pressure from International Community that threatened them of imposing sanctions on the Country and it’s people. This was felt when United Nations (UN) and USA imposed arms Embargo and targeted Sanctions on the government, some South Sudanese individuals, companies and assets for obstructing peace and Stability in the Country. 

On Feb 22, 2020, the partial R-TGoNU was formed starting with Presidency and Cabinets after two (02) deadlines were consecutively missed on May 12 and Nov 12, 2019 respectively. This was due to many political deadlocks over number of States and their boundaries, security arrangements and training of unified Forces in which President, Salva Kiir Mayardit positively responded by Reverting the Country back to previous 10 States from newly created 32 States. The inclusive Revitalized Government of National Unity is required to complete its formation by reconstituting the National and States’ Parliaments, appointing States’ Governors, establishing Commissions and speed up the training and formation of National Army as well.

In my current view, guns’ collection from Civil population and full implementation of R-ARCSS should be top priorities of the government than dwelling much on Coronavirus prevention in the Country. COVID-19 prevention should not be a top priority of the whole government including Presidency, instead, it should be handled by National Ministry of Health, Humanitarian health Partners such as WHO, UNICEF, Technical Staffs, health Experts and Practitioners to monitor and combat the spread of deadly disease in the Country. It is important for the Presidency to form High Level Taskforce against COVID-19 prevention on ceremonial basis, but should dwell more on issues of peace implementation and insecurity facing the Country and identify lasting solutions.

This is through reconstituting parliaments, security arrangements, formation of commissions and States’ governments as well as comprehensive disarmament program. The Country has not yet registered any single death case of COVID-19, but a lot of deaths cases have been recorded from unknown gunman, cattle raiding, Child abductions, land disputes, revenge attacks and Highway robberies across the Country. The High Level Taskforce in regard to Lockdown, closure of learning Institutions, markets and transport services should provide social needs like water, food, medicines and salary to Country’s population.

COVID-19 and Underlying Seven Question

It is a big joke when almost the whole government including Presidency and heads of security sector became part of the Taskforce against COVID-19 Prevention. The nature of High Level Taskforce attracted the following questions from General Public as hereunder:

Why does High Level Taskforce against COVID-19 included heads of security Sector? In my opinion, it is overlapping of duties, interception and counter attack on funds donated into the Country by the Region and International Community. Security sector in general is Constitutionally mandated to protect the Sovereignty of the Country, Civil population and their valuable resources. With regard to this, heads of security sector would have established mechanisms, formulated strategies and policies of nationwide disarmament process to stop bloodshed of innocent civilians in the Country instead of joining High Level Taskforce on COVID-19 prevention. If a matter of Taskforce, they should form Security Taskforce on Nationwide Disarmament and lobby for their own funds to actively and efficiently run Essential National Disarmament Program. This would be a popular project supported by all South Sudanese Citizens at the grass root level. 

DOES COVID-19 has Army and weapons that needs Military response and intervention from our heads of Security sector? Definitely no. COVID-19 is a viral disease that invisibly spread from person to person through body contacts and only need urgent responses and interventions from Health Workers, Humanitarian Health Partners (WHO and UNICEF), other Health Practitioners and Experts. The World describes Coronavirus as deadly disease without vaccines and treatments at the moment. But, Health Workers and Humanitarian Partners are advising general public to maximally observe and practice preventive measures such as regular hands washing, avoid body contacts, crowdy places, hands shaking and unnecessary movement to curve down spread of the virus.

These are primary groups of people and Institutions responsible for any outbreak and monitoring health situation in any Country not only in South Sudan’s contact. They can handle and manage cases by using knowledge, Testing Kids and Ventilation systems as tools of responding and intervening to any emergency and deteriorating health situation in the Country. Therefore, Security response and intervention is much needed in the field of disarmament not COVID-19 prevention. 

What is so particular about COVID-19 that it became a priority of the government than peace implementation and disarmament process in the Country? The particular agenda COVID-19 became a top priority of the government than peace implementation and disarmament process in the Country, can be directly linked to its fat funding from International Community and the Region. It became a surprise for South Sudanese Citizens to see Pyramid Hotel a New Presidency and Ministry where Taskforce Crew members gathered and provide daily updates on COVID-19 to general public.

But, using space of this Hotel directly depend on monthly renting in hard currency which constitutes mismanagement of public funds, encourages fraud and corruption within government’s system. The Parties to Agreement have abandoned their Primary responsibility of peace implementation and form waves around COVID-19’s funds. They must recommit themselves to their obligations and reconstitute National and States’ Parliaments as well as appointing States’ Governors and forming National Commissions. However, after full formation of Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU), agenda must change from self-serving to public Service delivery and should begin with nationwide disarmament process. 

Does death rate of COVID-19 becomes much higher than that of unknown gunman and other forms of communal conflict? Comparatively no. South Sudan confirmed more than 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19 Pandemic since April 2020 without any single death recorded. It is too earlier to predict whether COVID-19’s death rate is higher than that of unknown gunman or not. But people still believe, death rate of COVID-19 could be less than that of unknown gunman since there is no single death case of Coronavirus disease recorded in the Country at the moment. In ideal perspective, unknown gunman is the real virus killing our people and needs urgent attention of the government.

For instance in Warrap, Lakes, Jonglei, Unity, Central, Eastern and Western Equatoria States, there is no single day spent without reports of death cases. This means that, an estimated of more than 10 people in the Country died everyday on road ambushes, 5 people on revenge attacks, 15 people on cattle raiding and thefts and other 30 people from inter-communal conflicts and land disputes respectively. This implies that, death rate from unknown gunman is much higher compared to COVID-19 which has zero death case in South Sudan.

Therefore, government must respond more quickly to combat insecurity in the Country through Comprehensive disarmament Program than dwelling much on COVID-19 prevention.

Does COVID-19 Pandemic becomes a huge Global Project that attracts funding and implementation in every Country? Yes of course. The disease has become huge Global project for many third world Countries in the world including South Sudan. The existence of Coronavirus disease in South Sudan is totally indisputable. Inside the nutshell, Country qualified for Global Funds after registering more than 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19. It’s presence interrupted normal government activities, particularly peace implementation.

The COVID-19 has become first class project headed and implemented by high profile government’s officials (Presidency). In my own view, Coronavirus does not deserve much priority from the Presidency but from Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF and other Partners due to its technicality in nature. What needs their response and intervention is nationwide disarmament and other developmental Programs deemed necessary for the Country. 

If COVID-19 is a virus without vaccines and treatments, what will these funds be used for? Yes, disease has no vaccines and a treatment in place but the public is strictly observing preventive measures and guidelines issued by High Level Taskforce, WHO and other Partners. Now, there are a lot of pledges into South Sudan from the Region and International Community on COVID-19 prevention. The question of what will these funds be used for is very complex, but we know where our common National funds usually goes to. With these funds, government should provide Isolation Centres, purchase Testing equipment, Ventilation systems and distribute food to most vulnerable members of the Society across the country.

Currently, there are no Testing Kids, ventilation systems and isolation centers in the States leave a lone food. Government should stop citing lack of funds as main challenge in providing enough isolation centers and stop quarantining patients in their own houses. The High Level Taskforce must reach Agreements with Private Hospitals, Clinics, Houses and turn them into isolation Centres. We are knowledgeable of the donations flowing into the Country as being announced on the Media. 

Testing Kids and ventilators are few compared to population of the Country. What is the capacity ratio of each ventilator compare to our population? According to United Nations and 2008 Census, South Sudan’s population stands at 12.6 and 8.3 millions respectively. But five years conflict from 2013-2018 has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 3 million people to Refugee camps in Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and DR Congo respectively. The remaining population could roughly be 9 or 5 millions people if estimated 3 million displaced population is reduced from each of these two (02) standing figures regarding South Sudan’s actual population. 

Therefore, South Sudan has low level of preparedness and response due to limited and poor Health Institutions, fewer ratios of Medical Personnel, Testing kids, ventilation systems and isolation centers among others. In regard to COVID-19 Pandemic, Country is running at ratio of less than 10 Testing machines, ventilators and isolation spaces respectively. Government should purchase more of these essential items and distribute them to States with some cash (money) transfer to meet wide range of health emergency operation responses and interventions across the Country. Thus, capacity ratios of equipment in the various health Institutions in the Country are less than current population. 

Conclusion 

It is true that Coronavirus disease is a Pandemic affecting the whole world without vaccines and treatments in place at the moment. But, Health Authorities and High Level Taskforce have been advising general public to strictly observing and practicing preventive measures such as regular hands washing, avoiding hands shaking, unnecessary movements, social gatherings and observing social distancing of at least 1-2 meters apart to stop further spread of the virus. The Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF and other Health Humanitarian Partners are the forefront Institutions in preventing and stopping spread of COVID-19 Pandemic in isolation of high profile politicians (Presidency) who became leaders of High Level Taskforce.

Although South Sudan recorded more than 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19 Pandemic, there is no any single death registered. The Taskforce should purchase more health equipment (Testing Kids & ventilators) and allocates some of its funding to States’ Committees on COVID-19 prevention. At God’s Mercy, death case in South Sudan will remain null and void until the end of Pandemic. Presidency should prioritize full implementation of the R-ARCSS and conduct Comprehensive Disarmament Program across the Country. The government should use some of COVID-19 funds for peace implementation and disarmament Program.

Because, security of our people is worsening as civilians in the States continue killing themselves daily over cattle raiding, revenge attacks, communal conflicts, pasture lands and water points among others. In these types of conflict, thousands of innocent South Sudanese are loosing lives from unknown gunman on Highway robberies and roads ambushes. Therefore, it is deemed necessary for the government to immediately disarm civil population and Save lives of people than dwelling much on Coronavirus prevention.

Before official disarmament process, Local Government levels must ensure inclusive registration of all illegal arms in the country. The registration should target Youths of age 15 years and above. This should be done through collaborations with Commissioners, Local Administrative Officers, Community Chiefs, Goal Leaders and cattle camp Youth leaders. 

The author, Ariik Kuol Ariik, is a South Sudanese and Resident of Rumbek who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Post Graduate of Rural Development and Community Studies from Rumbek University of Science and Technology (RUST). He worked with South Sudan Catholic Radio Networks (SSCRNs) from 2009-2017, Opinion Writer and a freelance Journalist in several occasions. He can be reached via his email: ariikkuolariik@gmail.com

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