Exercise Cunning Humility: South Sudanese Leaders will Prematurely Destroy us with our Visions

By Willy Mayom Maker, Canada

Tuesday, June 16, 2020 (PW) — I posted an article a couple of months ago, talking to South Sudanese youths in general and those in the diaspora in particular. I advised the youths to take a soft and smart approach (“cunning humility”), when dealing with the South Sudanese government. I used the following quotes to emphasize my point:

1 “The politicians we continually offend … will prematurely destroy us [youths] with our visions.” 2 Don’t aggravate these powerful politicians and expect to live… “You cannot poke a lion from behind and expect to share the same territory with the beast.” 3 “We have to be extremely careful when criticizing these powerful South Sudanese government officials, or else, we will pay dearly.” Now, with the death of Kerbino Wuol, Monydiar, and other youths (RIP), I think the message I was sending to the youths was very loud and clear.

Reread the article and be the judge!

South Sudanese communities in the diaspora have a vital role to play in their beloved country, South Sudan. Their host countries (the US, the UK, Canada, or Australia) have immensely prepared them in many ways. Through training in colleges and universities, direct observation in local communities, and hand-on experience in workplaces, the South Sudanese in the diaspora have acquired all the necessary knowledge and skills needed to develop South Sudan. The South Sudanese living abroad, therefore, could serve as a vehicle, which transfers resources (education, workforce, money, technology, knowledge, and ideas) from the Western countries to South Sudan.

Unfortunately, these resourceful South Sudanese will benefit other countries (not South Sudan) for two reasons. First, the South Sudanese government does not know how to attract and retain its skillful citizens living abroad. Second, the South Sudanese living abroad do not know how to make themselves more attractive to the South Sudanese government. It is a double-edged sword blunt on both sides.

One of the mistakes we in the diaspora make is that we do not control our emotions. We hate the violence, corruption, poverty, and bad governance, which have plagued our country. We have dreams of how our beloved nation should be. But instead of completing our education and returning home to find ways to apply our visions, we hide behind our computers in the West and trash-talk against the South Sudanese government. But trash-talking against a nation without visible freedom of speech laws is not only unwise, but also dangerous.

When John Garang de Mabior went to study in the USA, he had a vision in mind. Garang hated Nimeri and his oppressive regime in Khartoum, so he (Garang) wanted to change things in the country. But, unlike us, the young Garang controlled his emotions and studied quietly in the USA. After completing his education, Garang returned to Sudan, bowed down, or saluted Nimeri: Hazhar ya Sietu–a cunning humility of a young intellect who wanted to achieve his vision. Nimeri took the bait. He welcomed Garang with open arms, awarded him with ranks, statuses, and jobs. After Dr. Garang had gained powers and influences through Nimeri, then he began his vision. Now we have South Sudan because of that vision.

But we in the diaspora do not control our emotions as Garang did. Before we even complete our education, we go on social media, knowing we are safe and secure in the West, and we insult President Kiir, VP Riek, and all other powerful politicians. How do we expect to return to South Sudan to make the changes if we start by aggravating these powerful politicians? You cannot poke a lion or buffalo from behind and expect to share the same territory with the beast, can you? It is ignorance on our part to make these influential leaders our enemies before we even begin.

Imagine if John Garang, knowing he was safe and secure in the USA, continually insulted Nimeri and his government in Khartoum. Nimeri would have prematurely destroyed Garang with his vision, by either keeping him in exile or arresting him upon returning to Sudan. But Garang was wise enough to keep his mouth shut and return to Sudan to appease Nimeri so that he could get the opportunity to apply his vision.

The politicians we continually offend on social media will prematurely destroy us with our visions. Let us try a different approach. Instead of aggravating the politicians, we need to appease them so that they can welcome us with open arms when we return. Through them, we will gain statuses, influences, and opportunities. That is a smart way we can achieve our goals.

We should not let our recently acquired education fools us. Remember, there is nothing more threatening to politicians than an educated young person who opposes them; they eliminate him immediately. We have to be extremely careful when criticizing South Sudanese government officials, or else we will pay dearly.

If you do not believe me, ask Peter Biar Ajak, a brilliant young man who returned to South Sudan from the USA to apply his vision to change things. Frustrated by the way things were in South Sudan, like everyone else, Biar spoke his mind freely but firmly–a move which almost cost him his life, as he spent two years in prison..

Also, there was another South Sudanese from Canada, who used social media to target specific individuals in South Sudan. When the man in question visited Juba, armed soldiers came to his hotel at night and beat him to unconsciousness. The next thing he knew, the poor guy woke up in a sack on the bank of the Nile. Apparently, they intended to throw him in the river, but luckily, the assailants were spooked, so they ran away, leaving him on the bank.

The above two examples are testimony that we have to control what we say, especially if we know we will visit home one day. We are yelping on social media, unaware of the consequences of our actions; our days are being numbered by the people we are regularly taunting online. Let us stop this behavior.

Yes, indeed, elders of today are not like the elders of before. In the old days, when our cultural values were intact, elders used to be the custodians of truth, morality, sincerity, guidance, and good examples. But today’s elders have parted with these obligations and virtues. Instead, elders openly lie, deceive, steal, or even kill. Then they try to cover up these shameful deeds by using the term politics. You can be a politician, who is guided by moral principles, which define your status and wisdom as zol kebir, raan dit, or wur medit. There is nothing wrong with that.

Nevertheless, this should not be an excuse for us to insult the elders. Two wrongs do not make right. We should employ the best forms of words in talking to our leaders, be humble and calm, and respectful. We should appease them by all means, even if it means bowing or kissing their feet – a cunning humility of someone who wants to achieve something more significant than him. There is nothing wrong with being submissive to reach your potential.

When the Europeans first came to Africa, they did not insult their way in. Instead, they acted like useful servants, by bowing down to African kings, chiefs and tribal leaders. The African kings and chiefs took the bait and welcomed them. After they were welcomed and given statuses and powers, the European then began their intended vision: colonization.

My fellow Diasporas, now the peace is coming. Instead of hiding behind our computers and spreading negativity on social media, we should try to find ways to make ourselves more attractive for the government to consider us. Even if the government does not employ us, at least we will be traveling back and forth without fear of arrest or retribution. Then, we can transfer our accumulated knowledge and skills from our host countries to South Sudan.

The author is reachable electronically at willymayom@yahoo.ca

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