Letter of Apology to President Kiir and VP Wani Igga

By Mayen Dengdit, Denver, USA

I would like to write this letter of apology to both H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit and H.E. VP Dr. James Wani Igga for my personal contribution to a sabotage campaign of their rule of our beloved country South Sudan. For about two years, after my resignation in early 2018, but particularly since the regrettable death of late Agrey Idri and Molana Dong Samuel, I joined several compatriots on social media in supporting the slogan of “Kiir must go.”

The slogan cited governance failures without much reflection on the possible justifications of those failures. And having self-censored my social media engagement for more than one year and a half, I have been contemplating on the slogan and the impact it has had on sabotaging social cohesion in the country. Our people are more divided today than any time in our short history as a nation-state.

I have also been reflecting on the ten years (2008-2018) I spent working so closely with one of the greatest leaders of the liberation struggle, the Vice President H.E. Dr. James Wani Igga- which I would like to highlight below.

In 2008, Dr. Igga – on a strong recommendation from Justice Edward Modesto- appointed me as Director for Legislation in the First Parliament. Furthermore, during the absence of Justice Modesto, and despite strong opposition from some of my own relatives in the national assembly, Dr. Igga elevated me to Acting Legal Advisor. Together with many great leaders of the First Parliament, we worked closely on so many legislations and urgent and important matters impact peace development in our country.

In 2010, Dr. Igga and Hon. Daniel Akot approved $26,000 for me to travel to the US for my M.A. in International Security. Dr. Igga continued to personally support me professionally, morally, and financially for so many years to follow.

In 2012, we became closer as I became his research assistant while he joggled a Master’s studies and leading a transitional assembly. I was also a research assistant during his vigorous PhD Thesis writing (2013-2018).

In 2013, upon becoming the second most important leader in the country, Dr. Igga made me his Spokesman/Press Secretary. He continued trusting and mentoring me by, for example, allowing me to attend and take notes in all confidential meetings with foreign dignitaries – including Presidents, Foreign Ministers, Envoys, etc . Not only that, VP trusted my viewpoints that he often asked me to air them during those meetings. There is so much to say and write about my 10 years as a senior aid to my most humble mentor and father figure, Dr. James Wani Igga.

Regarding H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit, I was a senior staff in the Presidency, given the fact that Office of the VP is part of the Presidency. We were under the same administration. We interacted freely with all the staff in the Presidency as one family. It was never lost on us that we were serving a very humble leader and the only living founding father of the war of independence.

And for some of us who once joined the armed struggle, we were conscious of the fact that we were the lucky few who could cross paths and salute a historic figure like President Kiir.

To break away from that family environment and criticize the President is to me an act of disloyalty which I will carry to my grave – given my full academic and practical understanding of how a civil war was imposed on him just like Dr. Aby Ahmad of Ethiopia today, a fact which I have always held even as an opposition activist.

I strongly believe that no president in Africa has faced such a daunting task of governing a country like what President Salva Kiir has been facing.

That notwithstanding, President Kiir has launched one of the greatest infrastructure projects on the continent of Africa, dubbed “oil for roads,” which will connect all the regions of South Sudan by a network of thousands of kilometers of paved roads. Hundreds of kilometers have already been paved, and work continues unabated to complete the project, which should be called “Project South Sudan.”

Having cemented his legacy in the independence/liberation struggle as both a founder and revered committed commander, this ongoing inter-state roads project will surely place him up there with Dr. John Garang as the two founding fathers of South Sudan.

The people of South Sudan must rally behind President Salva Kiir Mayardit if only to successfully complete this great infrastructure projects which will propel economic growth and facilitate peace through development in the country.

I can go on and on, but the few words above are an introduction to my sincere apology for breaking not only the trust bestowed on me by the administration of the Presidency who approved my appointment and by my mentor, father figure and friend Dr. James Wani Igga who took me under his iron wings and transformed my personal and political life. In Africa, the promotion and support Dr. Igga has shown me is only done by very close blood relatives.

In conclusion, in the heat of political opposition, even the wisest and most trustworthy of men will make inappropriate utterances that they later regret. If I have ever made such disrespectful utterances towards these two great historic leaders – H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit and H.E. Dr. James Wani Igga, I hereby say I am very sorry and disappointed of this dark chapter in my life.

Again, let us rally behind our President and Vice Presidents and the leadership of our country to take us to the promised land we long to live in.

David Mayen Dengdit
December 12, 2021

Former Press Secretary, Office of the Vice President (2013-2018).

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