South Sudan Politics is too important to be left to politicians alone
4 min read
Taban Gabriel
By Taban Gabriel, Juba, South Sudan
Thursday, July 29, 2020 (PW) — South Sudan politics in the recent years, has become a very pertinent and an absolute house hold discussion thateveryone has a stake in; from the charcoal vender selling by the dusty road sides, whose face is completely dashedin steam of the hassle, to the business mogul relaxing in a 5 star hotel room whose temperature is utterly spiced up by a chilling air condition.
From Tea sellers whose outletshave entirely become a DNC or in other words what Americans describes as a “Doing Nothing Club”, to the most sophisticated public figures working from a State of the Art offices well protected by state machineries;everyone is a political slugfest. The urge by South Sudanese to focus their energy on the political fruition of the country yet the anguish of hunger and lack of basic amenities continue to threaten our livelihood is a story foranother day.
To juice it up, any political gossips you hear in the streets of big cities in South Sudan say Juba, is not just a mere chitchat, but rather a real gospel truth. Just like one Kenyan friend of mine once told me; “if you hear somebody is after your life in South Sudan, don’t ignore but rather pay a complete heed to it and take to your heels”. For instance if you hear a rumour about, say a reshuffle in the cabinet, know that it’s already a ripened story that will be convoyed by a presidential decree few days later.
However due to censorship melted on thefreedom of expression in the country, political fanatics, have established a very strong floor on the internet where affairs of the country can be discuss without any suppression. The most trending platform of all is the social media; the internet base politics has become more relevant in the recent months and is proofing to be stronger than the physical parliament or the motions that are discuss in the August House.
Patronisers of the platform uses the Network, specifically Facebook and Twitter to mobilize funds, raise voices over any ill and tribulations melted on them by those entrusted with power. The audience of the network who are majorly youths uses the networks to communicate matters of national interest rather than its main idea which is social interactions and fun. Recent events that transpired and initiated in the network proof beyond reasonable doubts that the government can be pressured through the social media.
Just few months down the road, the social media political fanatics initiated a forum known as “South Sudan Social Media Parliament” in the platform; every member of the group is a “Honourable Member” and has the right to raise a motion in the forum which will later be approve by the speaker. Upon its inception, the forum managed to raise fiery issues that touched the hearts of every South Sudanese both within and abroad.
The most recent of all was the construction of Juba- Bahar El Gazal highway; The forum overwhelmingly shared photos of the poor structure of the road construction and how it got wash away by only a single down power; that particular internet outcry touched the heart of the President and he immediately issued a decree for the removal of the Minister charged with supervision of the project.
The second event by SSSMP that went viral and also touchedthe heart of the President and the broad population of South Sudan was the proclamation accorded to one Traffic officer George Kenyi who was stationed at 7 Days round about; Kenyi as he was known to many of his fans, was praised by motorise, specifically youths, for his tireless and dedicated work in decongesting the busy round about.
The proponents of Kenyi’s discussion argued that he was a corrupt free officer who had never been cited in any illicit dealings along the roundabout. This particular event kindles the heart of the Head of State and that led to the promotion of the officer to 1st Lieutenant. Not only that, the event garnered a very big support from the Netizens with some contributing money and other valuable items like chairs and a car to the said officer.
All the above points to me is politic; but the question here is, why do some political elites forbids citizens from practising politics, Isn’t it the concern of every South Sudanese that our country is set in the right track of political liberty?
South Sudan politics is too important to be left to politicians alone. We as South Sudanese from all walks of life are entitle to freedom of expression. Stop suppressing the voices of the underdogs for our country to forward move forward happy Martyrs day.
The writer is a journalist base in Juba; for any query you can reach him on his email handle; Gabronn2014@gmail.com
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