The Long-Gilded Rule of Governor Louis Lobong Lojore of Eastern Equatoria State

By Malith Alier, Kalgoorlie, Australia

Sunday, April 11, 2021 (PW) — About two weeks or so ago, Louis Lobong, the Governor of Eastern Equatoria State, had a close call with death at Kam 15 in Budi County as reported by eyeradio.org. This was not an isolated incident. It didn’t come as a surprise either. 

Over the past few months there were increase deadly sporadic assaults involving loss of life throughout the country. The reasons for the attacks are political,economic, and even cultural. From Equatoria to Bar el Ghazel and throughout Upper Nile, death is an everyday occurrence people helplessly are grappling with despite presence of UNMISS and governments at various levels.

There is little evidence to suggest that South Sudan enjoyed a semblance of peace even after the signing of Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005. It was the level of violence that fluctuated at different times in various parts of the country that could have been used to project peacefulness by some quarters.

The SPLM led government that took over full control of the new state in 2005 exhibited no alacrity to work for durable peace. This had been the feature for the past fifteen years including the interim period.People continue to ask questions from the government about the latest peace agreement. The 2018 peace agreement implementation almost three years down the line has not gained traction. Where is the peace? As the country stands, this government in which Mr. Lojore is a long serving cadre, will not realise tangible peace any time soon. There is a clear pattern from history to support this assertion.

Louis Lobong Lojore, first came to the limelight in 1990s when the movement was still run by Late Dr. John Garang. Louis was one of those diaspora invitees to join when the rebel movement was exhausted and needed rejuvenation. He along with fellow invitees received “military training on the carpet” in contrast to those who joined the movement earlier. He and those fellow draftees were given the rank of alternate commander, a consolidated common rank for senior officers at the time. 

Louis was not placed in charge of any troops after that mock training to begin with. In 2005 or a little later he become the Peace Commission Chairpersonin Juba. In 2010 election, the SPLM nominated him to contest for governor of Eastern Equatoria State, EES, which he easily won thanks to overwhelming support the SPLM cultivated during the bush years.

If I may correctly remember, it is appropriate to remind you of the 2010 election and the elected governors, most of who were SPLM candidates except one. 

Kuol Manyang Juuk for Jonglei 

Taban Deng Gai for Unity 

Clement wani Konga for Central Equatoria 

Louis Lobong Lojore for Eastern Equatoria 

Paul Malong Awan for Northern Bhar El Ghazal 

Chol Tong Mayay for Lakes 

Nyandeng Malek for Warrap

Rizik Zakaria Hassan for Western Bhar El Ghazal

Simon Kun Pouch for Upper Nile 

Bangasi Joseph Bakasoro for western Equatoria 

Mr. Bakasoro was the only independent successful candidate to win the election in the face of the SPLM whitewash.

South Sudan is blessed with a lot of natural resources in different parts of the country. Upper Nile and Unity states are endowed with huge reserves of crude oil. Central Equatoria has limestone which is used inproduction of cement. There are gold deposits next door in Juba. Luri, Gorom and Jebel Dinka have active gold mines. Western Equatoria has fertile agricultural land and in addition has teak plantationsready for logging. Eastern Equatoria and parts of Jonglei have gold and other minerals that are yet to be exploited for the benefit of the whole country.

The longevity of Mr. Louis Lobong in politics, like anything else, can be explained in a theory with foundations in gold. Gold production in EES and especially in Kapoeta area has been shrouded in mystery for over a decade so far. The mining of this national resource takes place under the cover of darkness and for the benefit of the few people who are determined to keep it under the carpet as long as it takes. 

In the Sentry report released in April 2020 and titled, “Untapped and Unprepared – Dirty Deals Threaten South Sudan’s Mining Sector,” you will find shocking details of illegal gold exploration and extraction in EES. Powerful people like army generals, politicians and their families had exclusively taken the sector by storm. On top of the gold extraction pyramid is Louis Lobong himself. Down below are companies owned by his dear wives and children. At the base of the pyramid are the Chinese, and notable politicians in neighboring countries. 

Notable individuals in the region like Gideon Moi, the son of former president of Kenya, run companies in South Sudan exclusive goldfields. Well-connected personalities in the government of South Sudan are also at this level. Tut Gatluak also known as Tut Kew can’t be outdone in illegal gold exploration. His name prominently appeared in the Sentry report. And then the disgraced Lual malongYor who showers in Dollars is also part of the dirty deals that threaten our mining sector. The Sentry report was extensive and had cast a wide net tounmask an otherwise opaque sector for all to see.

The Sentry report went further to trace the proceeds of crime (gold) and where the proceeds went in the web. Louis Lobong had invested heavily in real estate in east Africa, especially, Nairobi. One of such investment, as identified by the report, is hidden away in Karen in Nairobi, Kenya. A cool mansion of more than 8 rooms awaits him on the wings. The value of this property is estimated above one million US Dollars.

“The opacity of South Sudan’s mining sector allows wealth to remain concentrated in the hands of a select few with political or military connections.” The Sentry.org

There are not many ways to explain the political preferential treatment for someone who appeared to have become a Teflon man of EES politics? Heremained an unmovable “pillar of gold” since 2010.Among the former ten governors of the defunct 10 states (reinstated (states) for the sake of 2018 peace agreement), he was the only one to make it through to 32 states and all the way back to where we started from – the ten states. He happily sings, I bet, the song, “We Will be Right Back Where We Started From,” which is good to him and his network of powerful backers in government and beyond.

It is pertinent to recall that many of the former governors of the original ten states were unceremoniously struck off from their positions with the stroke of a pen by a hegemonic president. That sacking happened with no recourse to law or natural justice. Even the electorate who elected those governors in the first place had no power to save their political lives. 

Rizik Zakaria Hassan of Western Bhar El Ghazal State, like Louis Bong, was the second politician who managed to survive the rampant decrees also dubbed dekiiris in reference to the one who hegemonically wields them. Kuol Manyang, the power behind the throne, was recalled to Juba from Jonglei and made a minister of defence when the political heat intensified months prior to December 15, 2013 onslaught. 

The original governors may be sub-divided in two groups; 3 governors who proved to be politically indispensable and 7 governors on the other hand, who suffered the most on the political altar of the SPLM. It is therefore safe to adduce that the three powerful governors are Kuol Manyang, LouisLobong and Rizik Zakaria. By remaining in power when the sand had shifted several inches under theircounterparts, they proved to the country thatunquestioning loyalty to authority, maintaining silence and secrecy, and more importantly projecting a staunch support to the king formed part of survival in the SPLM house. 

The three politicians, therefore, have invariably proven to be the unshakable pillars of the regime that has run down the country from where they found it after the 1983 – 2005 war. Thanks havens, one of them admitted this year that they destroyed what was left by the war they were a part. It is a profound admission that will go down in history for the generations to learn from.

A close look at the natural resources the country’s endowed reveals differences not only in composition but also the way they are valued. South Sudan crude whose income was thought to constitute 98% of the country’s budget has dropped in demand and value in the world market since 2012. A barrel of crude was selling for $110 when the country ceased oil production for months because of disagreement with the Sudan. When the country resumed production, the priced dropped to about $40 in the world market because of various reasons. In 2021, the crude is selling about $59 in the world market according to Plus500. 

Gold on the other hand, is the most sought-aftercommodity in the world through ages. Many believed that gold is a “Safe Haven” which also means it is an important store of value asset. A Troy ounce of gold, about 30 grams, sells for $1743 todayas reported by World’s Trading Machine. The value of gold does not fluctuate like crude oil. South Sudan was better off if the two resources, crude oil and gold, were given equal economic valuation and utilization. 

There is a debate these days that Salva Kiir is imposing himself on the country for reluctance toimplementing the peace agreement in letter and spirit. The 2018 peace agreement was the latest in a serious of dishonoured agreements. The original agreement was signed in 2015. That agreement was aborted in 2016 when the belligerents resumed atrocities in Juba on unprecedented scale. Two years elapsed before another replica agreement dubbed, R-ARCSS was imposed on the parties by regional and international mediators. The latest agreement implementation is taking a snail’s pace, leading to the accusation that Kiir intends to perpetuate his disastrous rule for a few more years. 

According to the 2018 peace agreement, general elections were slated for 2022 but so far, the implementation lags by a year or so, prompting calls for extension of the timeframe. Critical infrastructure specific to the conclusion of elections and the agreement remained unaccomplished. Critical reforms incorporated in the agreement are yet to comment. Population census and promulgation of the permanent constitutions are some of tasks necessary to put the country back to permanent peace. Therefore, the slow pace of implementation or lack of political will to fully implement the peace agreement is evidence that Kiirwas not ready to cede power through credible elections.

Salva prefers the use of decrees as evidenced by the sacking of governors and other officials without elections as stipulated by the constitution. No single by-election was ever held in this country since inception or independence. The 2010 election often cited for legitimacy purposes was organized by the Sudan government when the country was one.

Like a movie, the only constant character in South Sudan political scene is Salva Kiir. In the realms of the SPLM, headed by Salva Kiir himself, you will find him solely running the party with no Secretary General and deputies. This is another sign that he would like to monopolise institutions that may otherwise check his power and hold him accountable at the end of the day.

Louis longevity has some positives to EES. His government has invested in the counties of the vast state as evidenced by photos of county headquarters floated over social media a few weeks ago. Nowhere else in the country is such development in the counties witnessed. many counties in other parts of the vast and largely impoverished country have no permanent offices for county commissioners. Administration of those counties operate under trees or in the homes of employees.

Although the Mining Act was signed into law in 2012, the mismanagement, abuse and confusion that bedeviled the mining sector never ceased. The same people and organisations perfected mismanagement of the mineral sector commuted their old habits in the new regime. The politicians, military personnel, the Chinese or the same actors have no incentives to change and overhaul the sector for the benefit of all. The sector remained unregulated as before.

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