It is Time to Transition to Political Stability and Socioeconomic Development in South Sudan

By John Makur Garang, Abyei – South Sudan

Wednesday, July 01, 2020 (PW) — All citizens have equal rights to influence the policies and participate in the governance of their state in varying capacities and roles. For example, some join the armed forces where they deem fit for their abilities to effectively contribute to the defense of national sovereignty and provision of security. 

Others choose to become businessmen and women, farmers, health professionals, engineers, administrators, politicians, teachers, builders, carpenters, tailors, mechanics and drivers in accordance with their natural abilities and personal interests.

These distinct and diverse fields of specialization are interdependent but jointly contribute to nation building, economic development, growth and prosperity. Theseseparate boundaries should be observed and adhered to if we are to rapidly grow as a nation.

The ultimate aim of specialization or division of labour is, however, to enhance effectiveness and efficiency in the utilization of knowledge, skills and experience acquired, and in performing the assigned or chosen roles and dutiesto the specified standards. Consequently, it is vital to adhere to creation and maintenance of boundaries. 

Observing the dichotomies between politics, administration or civil service and military should be our current imperative to tackle the prevailing myriad issues in order to restore stability and initiate quality service delivery to the citizens. The blurring of boundaries of these important sectors of the government results in the following issues:

1. Politicized armed forces 

The main mandate of the armed forces as alluded to above is to defend the territorial sovereignty of the country and protect citizens and properties. Nevertheless, those who joined armed forces should observe the principle of dichotomy between politics, administration and army.  Officers in the armed forces should remain in their chosen service until such times when they either resign or retire to transit to civil service or politics.

The current practice of crossing from armed forces into politics or civil service and then back to army results in the politicized armed forces. Some of the many young men and women who currently join armed forces do not do so for the sake of their burning interest in the armed sector but as an entry into politics. This affects the performance of the armed forces. 

The maxim of art is “practice makes perfect” and it is applicable to any field. The longer you serve in your chosen career, the more perfect you become in performing the roles and duties, and the more satisfaction derived from your services by the citizens.

As it is usually the norm, a recruit to any sector of the armed forces (military, police, prison, wildlife and fire brigade) should be first trained and graduated before s/he starts serving the unit with confidence after meeting the set requirements. The same thing should happen if an officer from the armed forces intends to join either politics or civil service. s/he should undergo training to meet the requirements of the job. But if s/he decides alone, s/he should resign. And if asked by the public or government totransit to politics, s/he should weigh the advantages and disadvantages before taking any step. 

2. Militarized Politics

Politics has become a lucrative business for everyone because of how it has been structured in our country. The elder and career politicians are surprised by huge influx of young men and women into politics, but it is their making. As policy makers and enforcers, the elder politicians have the ability and audacity to make the boundaries clear. 

The flexible transfer from the armed forces of the aspiring armed officers into politics and then back again to the army has militarized the political landscape and thus has blurred the distinct boundaries between civil service, politics and armed forces. Similarly, civil servants alsotransit to politics and easily revert to civil service. This too, is counterproductive. It starkly results in a politicized civil administration.

3. Politicized and militarized Civil Service 

Civil servants are and should be guided by the doctrine of neutrality in politics. Civil servants are generalists and pragmatic executors of government policies regardless of their memberships in any political parties. Party politics is in principle left to politicians and if any civil servant desires to join politics, s/he should willingly do so by tendering her or his resignation.

This is to avoid mix up of the guiding doctrines. Although civil service, politics and army complement each other, they individually have separate and different doctrines which fully account for their separation if performance and quality service delivery are to be obtained and sustained.

This is not the case in our context. The blurring of administrative, political and military boundaries negatively affects adherence to doctrine of neutrality as individuals commute and cross administrative, military and political boundaries. Civil servants thus become politicized and militarized.

Conclusion 

Politics is the highest and last stage. One needs to grow in civil service, business and army before transiting into politics. Once you enter politics, you should never return into civil service or army because your doctrines have been tempered with. The only open and free sector is business after phasing out from the political field.

Because the situation permits these forth and back commuting, interested individuals should not be blamed but to be made aware of the desired situation. My humble appeal goes directly to all political leaders who have authority to appoint and relieve at any level of government to make:

i) politics less attractive to many people by appointing competent people who will adequately perform to the satisfaction of majority, party and government. Besides, appoint and give the appointees time to implement their programmes. 

ii) Employ internal administrative measures to correct mistakes and straighten behaviors of office holders.In other words, hiring and firing should be given a halt as this practice continually increases number of relieved politicians who may be more prone to becoming opponents.

iii) Hold the office holders to account if they commit any gross misconduct.iv) increase the benefits that will accrue to the personnel in the armed forces and civil service to curtail the unnecessary movement into the realm of politics.

v) Make training for a defined period a mandatory requirement if an individual is interested to transition from and to any of these sectors: armed forces, civil service and politics.

The author is a concerned South Sudanese citizen who holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration, Diploma in Management and Administration and Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development. He can be reached at garangkerbil@gmail.com. Disclaimer: the views expressed in this article are mine,but they do not represent the views of my employer and the publisher.

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