Arusha Declaration: The Draft Agreement on the Reunification of the ‪‎SPLM‬ Factions

The Draft Agreement On The Reunification of the ‪SPLM‬ Warring Factions

The monster in charge “I nearly kill that dude so that I can rule forever”; The monster on the run “that dude nearly kill me and must step down so that I can rule”; The big brother monster “you must talk or else sanctions” and Poor people of South Sudan! via Garang Bol’s Facebook

January 21, 2015 (SSB) — The draft agreement on the reunification of the SPLM has been released.

The Intra-SPLM Dialogue took place in Arusha, Tanzania, and was attended by three SPLM groups from January 8th until January 19th under the auspices of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) chaired by the former Vice Chairman of CCM, Dr. John Samuel Malecela and facilitated by the CCM Secretary General, Mr. Abdulrahman Kinana.

The signing of the agreement took place today in Arusha. The following has been agreed to:

II. ON POLITICAL ISSUES

1. Implement and comply with the provisions of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and use this Intra-SPLM Party Dialogue in Arusha, the report of the AU Commission of Inquiry on the Conflict in South Sudan and the IGAD mediation process in Addis Ababa to expedite the conclusion of the Peace Agreement in order to end the war.

2. SPLM Leadership shall make a public apology to the people of South Sudan for what has happened since December 15th 2013.

3. There shall be established new transitional structures of SPLM.

4. Develop and implement a comprehensive programme for national unity, peace, reconciliation, healing and promoting harmony amongst the People of South Sudan.

5. Commit all the three SPLM Groups to reunification and reconciliation of the SPLM Leadership and Membership.

6. Combating the culture of militarism and sectarianism in the political life and open up a space for achieving a political environment that promotes genuine political pluralism.

7. Embrace the values and culture of democracy, unity and development and commits to undertake and implement urgent comprehensive democratic reforms, reorganization and transformation of the Party.

8. Ensure that the SPLM redefines its ideological direction, developmental path, the nature of its democracy, system of governance and the nature of society it aspires to build.

9. The SPLM shall formulate and provide policies and programmes to be implemented by its Government with the aim of achieving a democratic developmental state.

10. Revocation of decisions for dismissal of party cadres from party membership and leadership positions resulting from the internal conflict within the party. (This because you are establishing new SPLM transitional structures actions prior to this are irrelevant).

11. The SPLM commits to redefine and implement its vision of state and nation building in order to achieve a peaceful, democratic, just and prosperous South Sudan of equality, freedom and respect for human rights and dignity.

12. Any individual SPLM member convicted by a competent court or tribunal of crimes against humanity, war crimes, crimes against peace or gross human rights violations and abuses during the crisis that erupted in the country since 15th December 2013 shall not be eligible to hold public office in the Party and the Government.

13. Ensure exclusion from participation in the SPLM structures of categories such as the armed forces and other organized forces and judicial personnel in accordance with their respective constitutive laws.

14. The SPLM shall uphold the principles of accountability, transparency and good governance and to combat corruption and malpractices in the Party and Government.

15. In order to ensure peace and security in the country and guarantee public safety, the SPLM calls for the implementation of comprehensive reforms, transformation and professionalization of all the security sector institutions and to ensure that their composition reflects national character.

16. SPLM commits to and supports the establishment of a comprehensive system of transitional justice, (the core elements of which are truth and reconciliation, criminal prosecution, reparations and institutional reforms), to look into the issues of atrocities, human rights violations and abuses in the country.

17. The SPLM shall develop mechanisms for resource mobilization and management to ensure transparency and accountability and to combat corruption. undertake robust mobilization of resources and shall ensure transparent and prudent management of such resources as well as conducting annual independent audits.

18. (Moved to Pending issues)

19. In order to ensure that executive powers in Government are not negatively used to influence or determine Party matters, all decisions affecting the Party shall be taken only through the Party structures;

20. (moved to Pending Issues)

SPLM chairman Salva Kiir (R) greets former SG Pagan Amum (L) as Riek Machar looks on, January 14, 2010

III. ON ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES

21. The SPLM General Secretariat shall be restructured and reorganized in order to streamline its offices and functions to ensure efficiency and effectiveness benefitting from experiences of sisterly organizations. In order to implement this, the SPLM leadership shall:

a. Strengthen and streamline coordination between the General Secretariat and other levels’ secretariats .and provide oversight;

b. Formulate procedures and guidelines for cadre identification, recruitment, orientation, training and deployment to be used at all levels of SPLM structures. to ensure commitment, competence and effective participation;

c. Provide guidance guidelines to the SPLM caucuses in the Legislature and the Executive;

d. Disseminate Party policies;

e. Ensure formulation and implementation of Party disciplinary procedures and regulations;

22. All processes of holding Party congresses and the National Convention shall be suspended until the reunification and reconciliation of the Party is achieved and the war is ended, so that all members are able to participate effectively and freely.

23. An Extraordinary Convention may be convened for the sole purpose of passing the basic documents agreed by the SPLM Groups to facilitate its registration in accordance with the provisions of the Political Parties Act, 2012.

24. The composition of the membership of the Political Bureau (PB) shall be reviewed and expanded to comprise 35 members to reflect the equitable representation of the three SPLM Groups., equitable representation of the States, SPLM Women League, SPLM Youth League and SPLM Veterans League.

25. The PB shall be restructured in a manner that ensures timely decision making, internal cohesion and collective decision making.

26. A Working Committee of the PB consisting of the Chairperson, Deputies of the Chairperson, the Secretary General, and his/her Deputy(ies) and any other members of the PB to be selected by the PB shall be established to handle critical and urgent matters subject to subsequent approval by a meeting of the whole Political Bureau. (Such a committee was once established but became problematic and resulted into marginalization of PB)

27. The PB shall establish a Standing Committee to vet and scrutinize members of the Party vying for positions in the Party institutions and its decisions shall be subject to approval by the whole membership of the PB in official meetings. Each level should have its own committee guided general regulations approved by the party.

28. The Working Committee of the PB shall vet and scrutinize members of the Party vying for positions of leadership in the Government and its decisions shall be subject to approval by the whole membership of the PB in official meetings.

29. Establishment of SPLM Political School for Party cadres training and development.

Mabior Garang and Madam Nyandeng in Arusha, Tanzania

IV. ON LEADERSHIP ISSUES

30. The PB shall develop a Party Leadership Code of Ethics and Disciplinary Procedures to be applicable and upheld by all members irrespective of their positions. Both documents shall be approved and adopted by the NLC.

31. The term limit for the SPLM National and State Chairpersons of the party shall be two terms of 5 years each only.

32. Any member of competence and good standing has the right to contest for any leadership position in the party at any level.

33. In order to consolidate democracy in the party, collective leadership decision-making in the Party structures shall be adhered to and enhanced.

34. The Leadership of the party at all levels shall be elected democratically in a transparent and fair manner.

35. A Standing Committee for national candidates’ selection shall be established by the PB based on competence and integrity, whose functions shall be to scrutinize and vet individual members presenting themselves for election to leadership positions at the Party and General Election. Decisions of the Committee shall be subject to appeal to the PB. The national committee selects candidates for National Chair and deputies only the rest is done at lower levels committees.

36. The Political Bureau (PB) shall establish a Standing Committee at State level Candidates’ Selection Committee, based on competence and integrity, to scrutinize and vet individual members presenting themselves for election to leadership positions at the state level. Decisions of State Candidates Selection Committee shall be subject to appeal to the PB.

37. The State Secretariat shall establish a Standing Committee at County, Payam and Boma levels, based on competence and integrity, to scrutinize and vet individual members presenting themselves for leadership positions at those levels; Decisions of County Candidates’ Standing Committee shall be subject to appeal to the State Secretariat.

38. The PB shall develop rules and procedures to be followed by the Standing Committees for candidates’ selection at national, states and county levels. The General Secretariat shall oversee provide support and follow up the work of the Standing Committees on candidates’ selection and report to the PB.

39. The PB shall formulate policy to institutionalize the care for elderly members of the Party upon their retirement.

40. The SPLM recognizes the need for the establishment of a transitional government in which the SPLM Groups and other political parties shall participate equitably in order to end the war and establish sustainable peace. The reunified SPLM shall abide by the terms and spirit of the IGAD Peace Agreement.

41. The Parties to this Agreement have requested and mandated the CCM Leadership to consult with the respective principals on the way forward with regard to the structure of the leadership of the reunified SPLM.

42. The PB shall establish a Tripartite Committee from the three SPLM Groups to oversee the implementation of this Agreement and the reforms stipulated herein.

43. Guarantors (further consultation needed)

Did President Kiir and Riek Machar sign the deal under duress?

V. PENDING ISSUES

1. The Nature of the Crisis and its Genesis (waiting for text from IO) (moved from Preamble).

2. Accept that all culprits and all those who aided and abetted violations of human rights, including foreign troops must be held responsible and brought to book. (FROM POLITICAL ISSUES) (para 2)

3. An interim, re-unified and reconstituted NLC whose membership shall be established by the three SPLM Groups (by IO) (FROM ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES)

4. Political Detainees and prisoners of conscience (by IO) (FROM Political Issues)

5. The SPLM takes full responsibility for the crisis in the country and resolved that any individual members of the SPLM who are found guilty for those atrocities or bear the greatest responsibility for those atrocities and human rights violations and abuses during the crisis shall be held accountable for those crimes and violations (REFERRED TO HEADS OF DELEGATIONS FROM POLITICAL ISSUES para 17)

6.

A) Suggestion from (IO):

It is agreed that the National Convention shall adopt a new democratic constitution for the SPLM. The new constitution shall provide among other measures, the adoption of mode of voting by secret ballot and/or consensus. Further the SPLM shall abolish all provisions allowing the SPLM Chairpersons of appointing to the National Convention, Congresses, National Liberation Council (NLC) and PB. The new constitution shall formulate policies and guidelines for the representation of minorities and disadvantaged groups in the National Convention, the NLC and all other structures. This constitution shall be an interim constitution.

B) AGREED Ad Ref

It is agreed that the National Liberation Council (NLC) shall revisit and review the contentious provisions, in the draft SPLM constitution to ensure internal democracy within the Party structures, before its presentation to the National Convention. These issues include, but not limited to the following:

a. Mode of voting: whether by show of hands or secret ballot, it is agreed that the procedure of Voting in SPLM meetings at all levels shall be by secret ballot if no consensus is achieved; and by show of hands on non-controversial issues.

b. The provision allowing the SPLM Chairpersons at all levels to nominate five percent (5%) of the membership of the congresses and the National Convention: The following are proposed:

i. Abolition of the provision on the 5% appointments by chairpersons to the National Convention, congresses and liberation councils at all levels;

ii. Political Bureau to formulate policy and guidelines for the representation of minorities or disadvantaged groups in the Convention, Congresses and Liberation Councils.

c. The size of the National Convention: It is proposed that the total number of delegates to the Convention be reviewed.

d. Nomination of Party leaders by The Chairperson: Regarding the process of election or selection of Party leaders at all levels, it is agreed that:

i. The National Convention shall directly elect the Chairperson of the SPLM and his/her Deputies and members of the National Liberation Council by direct and secret ballot.

ii. The National Liberation Council shall elect the Political Bureau and the Secretary General and his/her Deputies through direct and secret ballot.

iii. The Political Bureau shall formulate regulations governing procedures for the election and selection of candidates for the position of Chairperson of the SPLM and his deputies, members of the NLC, members of the Political Bureau, Secretary General and his/her Deputy(ies), State and County Chairpersons, Payam and Boma Chairpersons.

–

The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The veracity of any claim made are the responsibility of the author, not PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to paanluel2011@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material before publication. Please include your full name, email address and the country you are writing from.

PARTY CHAIRMAN & SECRETARY GENERAL RIVALRIES: AN IRREVERSIBLE STRIFE

[The Case of President Kiir and Pagan Amum]

By KON Joseph LEEK

SPLM chairman Salva Kiir (R) greets former SG Pagan Amum (L) as Riek Machar looks on, January 14, 2010

January 21, 2015 (SSB) — I widely became aware of the strife between the two aforementioned leaders when Salva Kiir sacked the former governors of Lakes and Unity States Engineer Chol Tong Mayai [turned member of G11, now G. 10] and Gen. Taban Deng Gai [turned rebel] replacing them with Gen. Matur Chut Dhuol and Dr. Nguen Monytuil

Two days after the concurrent sacking of the above mentioned governors, Pagan Amum, then SPLM’s Secretary General of the SPLM publically showed his contention by describing it as, “breaking of constitution” by his boss, president Kiir.

He hasten wrote on his face book wall a day after Taban was decreed out that, ‘dictatorship in the making’. It is no doubts that he meant to describe Salva Kiir “a dictator” not somebody else.

If their [Kiir & Pagan] contention had long started and then cracked by Taban’s removal from gubernatorial position is something SPLM’s insiders only might know, I don’t have details there

When the crises started on DEC. 15TH 2013, it happened that Pagan with his other 10 colleagues were arrested and detained a day after as suspects of attempted coup.

The rest were later released and he [Pagan] remained under interrogation with three others until April when they were released long and white bearded; no razor blades and hair-die in detention

This is just a normal occurrence between the party’s chairmen and their secretary generals. The rivalry between the two leaders is something that goes on unabated citing examples from other African countries.

Secretary Generals who had rivalry with their bosses [party chairmen]

Two-times President Dr. Milton Obote of Uganda had problems with John Kakonga, Grace Ibringa and Felix Onama as Uganda People’s Congress [UPC] party secretary Generals

President Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya also had troubles with Kenya Africa National Union [KANU] Secretary General Tom Mboya

Zambians’ president Kenneth KAUNDA of Zambian African National Congress [ZANC] also had problems with Simon Kapwempwe

The president of Malawi Dr. Hastings Kamuzzu Banda of Malawi Congress Party [MCP] also had rivalry with kanyama Chume

J. B Danquah of United Gold Coast Convention [UGCC] also had problems with Nkwame Nkrumah which thereafter led him [Nkrumah] to form his party, Convention Peoples’ Party [CPP] after he was dismissed from UGCC

Then again is Pagan Amum of South Sudan’s SPLM and president Kiir Mayardit

And so is Ugandans’ president Yoweri Museveni Kaguta with John Patrict Amama Mbabazi as the secretary General of National Resistant Movement [NRM]

I can remember when Mbabazi’s enemies forced Museveni to call an emergency meeting for the NRM in order to force Mbabazi to relinquish one of his positions because he was at the same times the Uganda’s prime minister and the party’s [NRM] constitution says that. ‘Any one holding any sensitive post in the party should not hold any position in the government’ this was what mbabazi’s foes wanted him to explain why he was delaying to drop one position instead of holding both positions.

When Museveni called out Amama Mbabazi to come forward to explain his position after many hurdles, he [Amama] boldly stepped forward and told the NRM members that, ‘if Museveni is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, chairman of the NRM and at the same time the president of the Republic of Uganda [all these three busy positions] and no one is complaining, and he is doing very well…. Then who am I to be rebuked for holding only two less-busy positions I held for only weeks now?’ He continued that if he should drop one of his place then the same sitting [meeting] would be fair enough if it can first ask Gen. Museveni to drop two of his positions that he held since January 1986

Every one’s eyes [especially his foes] were fumed because each was in dismay how Museveni can be told by a person of Mbabazi’s caliper to relinquish some of his positions?

It seemed like Museveni should dispute and rebuke Mbabazi’s claimed but not did he say a word, quiet as non living thing-he [MUSEVENI] was just sited head high, armed akimbo almost whistling in his chair

You can guessed what happened [the guy, Amama retained the two positions; party’s secretary General and prime minister] simply for the reason that he was in the “elephant’s ear”-no one can dare!

It was of recent [September, 2014] when he was sacked by his long-time buddy, Museveni due to his 2016’s presidential ambition to challenge MUSEVENI.

This is what is happening between Pagan Amum Okiech and Kiir Mayar kuethpiny Lual. Ambition from party’s secretary generals is always what put them at the cross-roads with their bosses

Another thing being the issue of party materials [party officials] standing for presidency and other public positions as spoils the relationship between the party chairmen and secretary generals when not amicably handled because one [SG] become a close competitor to the other [chairman] and then make it their “RING” of comparison of who is having bigger muscles than the other

That rivalry and antagonism is what goes into the government because the same party materials are the same group that runs the government and the military

Where the party has got some misunderstanding, it [misunderstanding] very fast connects into the government and military like EBOLA where it leads to confusion, madness and devastation like what happened in Dec. 2013

The complete dissociation of the party is what can save the country from the inter-links strife. The party should have the chairman who is not the president at the same times and so are other party’s top positions; they should not save in the government because of too much work in two positions one person might handle. Instead of pretending like you are doing very well in them, just drop one to other members-it is also creation of employment opportunities to others

Either the government or the party, whenever each has got bumps, they should independently resolve them without inviting others into their attention

Like Amama Mbabazi and Museveni, the president can be lured into slightly bending [they call it breaking] certain articles in the constitution when challenged by his favorite acolytes

Pagan, just like his colleagues [other party Secretary Generals] will never be a president. What he is doing is just a “normal secretary general’s phenomenon” of whimsically becoming ambitious for presidency that later leads to their dismissal, detention or banishment

When a cock or hen is being slaughtered, you see it flapping its wings. That flapping is either trying to save its self or trying to fight back its tormentor but at last, it ends up on the knife’s edge of its boss [these are our Africa’s party General Secretaries; Pagan Amum’s colleagues, and the party chairmen]

The guy [Pagan] is supposed steal from his associates [other secretary generals and learn from their mistakes] instead of thinking that him knowing party’s secrets will immediately leads to Kiir’s downfall and straight away becoming people’s favorite; those wishful thinking are dangerous to one’s political health, they only malnourish your political ambitions

Never in a million years sir, like other aforementioned Secretary Generals will you become a president if you are using a pride of being the party’s secretary general a tool of lobbying for presidency by blackmailing president Kiir that he is corrupt, tribalist and so on, and you are the angel-where does that leave you?……. If I look into the list of the top 75 most corrupt government officials now, I believe I can’t miss to see your name.

Unless you soften your heart and look harder into yourself and the nation, you will never be a president.

Instead of being honest and clean, you are being controversial and confusing; in order to be the Pagan we will love as we used to, bring back the old Pagan we knew, pre-independence Pagan in you, that is the better Pagan, and this you [Pagan] which is thriving and germinating in you [old Pagan] is really just surprising us….. Unless you explain yourself, I am one of the many who believes that independence has changed you

However, what is now happening between the two is just a normal phenomenon between a secretary General and the chairman of the party.

The writer is a commentator on Contemporary South Sudan. He can be reached on j.konleek@gmail.com & 0955091449

–

The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The veracity of any claim made are the responsibility of the author, not PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to paanluel2011@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material before publication. Please include your full name, email address and the country you are writing from.

TO DISGRUNTLED GROUP IN THE OFFICE OF SOUTH SUDANESE COMMUNITY IN NAKURU

By Makuei Kuir, Kenya

 –

January 21, 2015 (SSB) — I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my friends who came out and challenging the visitation of Dr Agoot on 3rd January 2015.

 –

I want to tell the viewers of the this website (Paanluelwel), that the information is baseless and reckless on the basis of feeding public with propagandist messages.

 –

As the host community (Ajuong and Pakeer) who were invited our son Dr Majak Agoot Atem. to celebrate new year with us,since Agoot is the National figure, we have decided to called South Sudanese living in Nakuru and all over the country (Kenya), we have invited the south Sudanese  community who are living in Nakuru, also we have a right to do it locally or publicly.

 –

And most importantly we were approaching the leadership of South Sudanese community in Nakuru led by H.E Mading Kuol Awan who is the current chairman now.

 –

Mr Awan was the last man to invited Dr on the stage according to his highest authority in Nakuru.

 –

This disgruntle group are the enemies of peace and want to incited communities against each other in Nakuru.

 –

This group are telling the community that they are under pressure from the government of South Sudan, who are they to the

government, who is the government appointee in Nakuru here?

 –

They are Mading Kuol appointee, those are pretenders ( Nebii Ka adhuom).

 –

I want to assure you that we are not listening to despot group of people who have the differences in their office, go back to your office and solve your confusion amicably .

 –

I failed to understand, where in the world advisers passed the impeachment bill against their president? am telling you that you are in wrong truck, we are ready as the community pursue any sycophantic group.

 –

This is unbecoming, and Mr Chairman MUST act accordingly.

 –

The author is Makuei Kuir Biar (Zoom-pakeer)

–

The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The veracity of any claim made are the responsibility of the author, not PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to paanluel2011@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material before publication. Please include your full name, email address and the country you are writing from.

President Kiir has the Responsibility to Protect Rumbek Citizens from Rebels’ Attack

CALLING FOR GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT CIVILIANS THIS DRY SEASON.

AKECH MAM DENG, RUMBEK.

January 20, 2015 (SSB) — This is a call to the president following the attack by the SPLA-IO forces in Rumbek North (Maperdit) on Sunday leading to the death of eight people and 15 others wounded and burnt down some huts.

–

This is an alert to the government that the rebels are planning to attack the peaceful regions that’s to say the greater Bhar-el-Gazal and equatoria.

–

This is as a results of the general elections announced earlier this year by election commission.Now the question is, first,Will the elections be possible when the rebels are planning to terrorize every state?

–

Second question is how save the voters at the pooling stations? The killing of innocent civilians has started four days back by the unknown gunmen along Juba-Yei road in one of the small village.If you really analyse,such killings will never end.

–

Coming back to the point,there has been some rumours that the rebels had planned to attack Rumbek through Rumbek North terminal,in which they were repulsed by mighty youths (Gelweng),Yirol town through Nyang terminal but the security personal and the natives of the land are on high alert and the other section of the rebels moving towards Warap State and Martin Kenyi to distablized his mates.

–

Now which one is better,the elections such that the one who is not wanted would be voted out or the power be taken by gun barrel?

–

To me,this ill elections is better then to continue fighting endlessly and should the power interested parties boycotts the elections,then the current government ruling party (SPLM) will announce legitimate government.

–

The author lives in Rumbek Lakes State South Sudan. He can be reached at johnmam60@yahoo.com

–

The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The veracity of any claim made are the responsibility of the author, not PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to paanluel2011@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material before publication. Please include your full name, email address and the country you are writing from.

G10 + 75% OF SOUTH SUDAN ARE NEUTRAL IN THE CURRENT CRISIS

G10 + 75% OF THE POPULATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN ARE NEUTRAL IN CURRENT CRISIS

By Makuei Kuir, Kenya

January 20, 2015 (SSB) — The engineers of the current crisis in the country are very fews on both sides, and the majority of South Sudanese citizens are not supporting the senseless destruction war escalating in our country.

–

There are despotic leaders who put our country into this turmoil for the sake of their own interests.

–

Our leaders are not willing to compromise each other, and care the life of the venerable population who devastating now in and outside the country in displace camp Uganda, Kenya, Khartoum and Ethiopia among other places.

–

The recent crisis in the Republic of South Sudan has completely eroded the nationalism and patriotism among the majority of the political leaders in the country.

–

The crisis has forced most of the known leaders to allow their nationalism and patriotism to be overshadowed by the survival of the their own tribe and allow the political crisis to shift to tribal crisis due to sympathy toward their own tribe and forget about the Nation and other 63 tribes whom they need to love and work for them in order to become leader of this country.

–

The majority of the south Sudanese leaders had been forced to weight two important competing interests namely tribe (community you belong) or Nation to compromise your own people for the sake of the Unity among people of South Sudan.The tribal leaders become very famous than nationalist among their community as they are drive by short term survival for himself within the community and completely forget about the high price paid by the 64 tribes of South Sudan to regain their loss identity under the Khartoum regime and hard work of all South Sudanese people to liberate this country.

The conflict forces all leaders to prefer their own tribe leadership and forget about what it mean to for south Sudan become a nation or a country .

Despite all these challenges faces by many leaders during the current crisis, some very few leaders like G10+ embraced Nationalism and Patriotism but no way for them to express themselves to the nation.

—

The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The veracity of any claim made are the responsibility of the author, not PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to paanluel2011@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material before publication. Please include your full name, email address and the country you are writing from.

President Salva Kiir: “I am not Stepping Down for Anyone”

“The demands the others are making are not consistent with the SPLM constitution. Some of them are even calling for the dissolution of the party structure. Their wish is that I must step down, which is a problem if it is not done through proper processes and in [a] peaceful manner. They just want to cause confusion and create enmity within the country … I don’t think I will be in the position to accept stepping down before all the leadership is approved. The issues they (the rebel faction) are raising shows that they are not interested in peace and unification. They still believe they can change the government through unconstitutional means. There are ways to handle administrative and leadership issues. But in South Sudan, they are mixed up in the name of reforms so that someone is blamed,” declared President Salva Kiir.

Response from South Sudanese Community in Nakuru Concerning Majak Agoot’s “Summary Report” from Nakuru Rally

PRESS STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE ARTICLE PUBLISHED ON PAANLUEL WEL.

Dr. Majak D’agoot Atem in Nakuru, Kenya, Jan 3rd, 2015

January 20, 2015 (SSB) — In response to whatever the writer termed as “summary report of Dr. Majak Agoot’s peaceful rally held in Nakuru on 3rd January 2015 at a hotel known as Kunste,’’ on behalf of South Sudanese Community in Nakuru we would like to promptly challenge and condemn in the strongest terms possible that the fabricated propaganda which was published on the website known as Paanluel wel (South Sudan).

For the sake of record, we would wish to categorically clarify and enlighten the public as well as the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and any other relevant authority that we did not request for any former political detainee(s) who is a member of the “so called G10 or G75” to hold any kind of a rally in Nakuru as purportedly mentioned in that summary.

As far as we are concern as South Sudanese Communities in Nakuru-Kenya, Majak Agoot was invited by his relatives which are Ajoung and Pakeer for a family visit. These are two payams from Twic East County of Jonglei state in Upper Nile Region. The host two payams indicated above extended their invitations to individuals from various communities residing in Nakuru to celebrate with them in welcoming of their son who has been away for a lengthy period of time. During the ceremony, some regions did not turn up for the event as ridiculously and allegedly said by the writers ( Majak’s Kenya Tour Team, Nakuru sub-office) that all regions actually attended the family organized function which was not the case at all.

To confirm to the public that the summary report was baseless and unjustified, we do not have an office of such a kind in Nakuru. And if there is an existence of such a well established office in Nakuru County, as South Sudanese Communities’ leaderships in Nakuru; we would kindly wish to urge Nakuru County Government to initiate investigations in order to find out the existence of this particular office. As the community leadership, we are not aware of such an office here in Nakuru County.

In terms of gathering attendance, the number of the people present during the function was extremely exaggerated to be 4000 persons. To show further the incredibility of this report again, the capacity of the hall where the event was held does not exceed a thousand (1000) people. The actual figure as announced by the then Master of the Ceremony (M.C) of the day was 655 people. In addition, not all the regions of South Sudan residing in Nakuru attended the then social family gathering. The occasion was only attended by most of the people from twic East not even all members from the Upper Nile Region. Greater Bahr-El-Ghazal on the other hand sent their few individuals purposely to have the record of Majak’s speech not necessarily due to his popularity as stipulated in the report that was published on Paanluel wel on January 5th 2015. Furthermore, regions such as Greater Equatoria, Southern Kordofan and Darfur region did not took part in the ceremony at all.

To prove exactly that the event that took place on 3rd January was not neither a political nor a peaceful rally because the gathering was organized by the family ( Ajoung Ku Pakeer) . Again, during Majak’s speech he seriously criticized the government. Therefore, in our own understanding, you cannot seek for peace via criticism. To clarify or juftify further that the function was not political, the Twic East County SPLM Secretary General (Chol Majok Chol), Majak Ngok who was mentioned to be one of the serving director in the government of the Republic of South Sudan and the South Sudanese Community Chairperson in Nakuru all attended the occasion in their individual capacities as friends or a family members not as leaders or representatives.

At this particular moment as South Sudanese Community leaders, we would like to make it clear to both government officials and opposition, who might come to Nakuru to hold peaceful rallies or campaign in the near future that we are not against rallies. But they should abstain from divisive comments in public gatherings and should not organize those rallies at their family levels in the name of South Sudanese Communities in Nakuru. We would also wish to urge the G10 or the former political detainees to refrain from criticizing only one side of the warring parties but should be non-partisan; instead they ought to find amicable or permanent solutions to the ongoing crisis in the Republic of South Sudan.

Our main aims or objectives as not only South Sudanese Communities in Nakuru-Kenya but also across the areas where we reside in the Republic of Kenya are as follow;

1. In pursuit of education.
2. Better health care (Medication)
3. Seeking for refuge.

Therefore, we do not want those individuals whose interest is to confuse the communities for their personal gain in Diaspora.

In conclusion, therefore, we as South Sudanese communities in Nakuru, we firmly know the legitimate government in place that is based in capital Juba until an expiration or the end of its mandate as granted by the Supreme law of land. Thereafter, the citizens of the Republic of South Sudan shall decide through the ballot papers whether to re-elect the ruling party or vote in the government of their choice. We would like to appeal to the South Sudanese communities in Nakuru to remain united as they have ever been always before. As a community leadership and the entire South Sudanese communities; we strongly believe in the rule of law as stipulated by the constitution of the host country and we don’t need to drag the communities into politics of division and polarization.

The following regional and communities’ leaders are the signatories to this document:

S/No.: Name: Title:

1. Biar Dhieu Akujang Deputy Chairperson (SSCN)

2. Adhieu Akoch Wol Secretary General (SSCN)
3.
4. Tito Ker Deng Finance Secretary (SSCN)

5. Jacob Kom Thodit Constitutional Affairs secretary (SSCN)

6. Kut Maker Dep.Secretary for Constitutional affairs

7. Nyaluak Cieng Magardit Women Representative (SSCN)

8. Regina Aweng Akech Women Representative (SSCN)

9. James Arop Aguar Chairperson greater Bahr el Ghazal)

10. Christine Ugiza Moilinga Chairperson (Greater Equatoria)

11. Daniel Kuol Maker Chairperson (Duk county)

12. Rominho Tutu Chairperson (South Kordofan/Darfur)

13. Bol Ajak Atem De Deng-Jhoong. Senior consultant (SSCAN)/Rep.

—

The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The veracity of any claim made are the responsibility of the author, not PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to paanluel2011@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material before publication. Please include your full name, email address and the country you are writing from.

JUNE 2015 ELECTIONS: A MAN EATS MAN’S WAR STRATEGY

ELECTION, A MAN EATS MAN’S TOOL BUT PEACE, A CITIZENS’ EAGER. (A response to Biar Dhieu’s article)

By Anyuon-magedem D’Gomba

JUNE 2015 ELECTIONS

January 19, 2015 (SSB) — In my own view and on election being a man eats man’s tool, I believe the arguments by all the like minded in south Sudan all the way from the analysts, activists and other well wishers would be the way to perceive than dragging on advantages. The decision came across, on the forthcoming election as opposed by many partisans of the nation seems to be a self protector’s tool by the government officials and not for the benefits of the suffering citizens.

In respond to the argument by my brother “Biar Dhieu Akuchjang” in his then response to “Dut Mabior”. I definitely agree with him that some of us indeed behalf like robots and in fact the then German despot who was once rated a world’s ever born dictator. That is it. But then I wonder why again down his article, would he utters supporting the election which the dictator is imposing on suffering citizens who have no energy and courage to vote. I thought after having mentioned the deeds of dictator chancellor Hitler, he was to become a diversion of the election which is being injected into an already sick living.

Maybe to enlighten my brother further on the demerit of this elections, am seeing it is clear that the election in its quest to compete with peace would be a dictatorial ado which no one but a robot and a dictator as you said can think this terrible time. I believe the election is for individuals’ benefits and not for the citizens’ good. Simply they said and spelt it out clearly that the term, legitimacy and presidency as far as their so called constitution is expiring on July, 9^th which if the peace won’t come in between will be a set back to the government. Fine, why is the peace impossible if such generations are expected? I believe peace is being hijacked here by those who are protecting their seats and refusing being brought to book by justice.

When Mr. Dhieu was talking about the right of citizens to votes just like any other citizens of other nations. I really felt to understood why he should be the first to have thought so knowing the atmosphere and environment we had in our country. The country is yelling for peace and not election. And in this, I would like to quote what Dr. Majak D’Agoot said, same on this topic when he was interviewed by the SBS radio, Australia, that ” peace is paramount and of benefit to all south Sudanese, but election is of individuals’ benefit” He challenged the head of electoral commission who recently said that an election should proceed despite opposition, and that the absent of some regions won’t be tool to postpone election because even the whole south didn’t used to vote in general election when we were one Sudan. Dr said that was the main agenda they fought for freedom because we were not equal stakeholders in the governance and that our participation was low making us neglected.

Talking about election in order to have another government, I think the negotiations in Addis Ababa are there to bring the government of the nation unity (GoNU) which will be mandated to smear the remaining issues before elections if all the parties are for peace which is unconditional other than self gain.

Am obliged that I must have put my brother into my shoe on the topic which I thought he wasn’t able to weigh his merits on the agenda. Let my brother know that there can be no good south Sudan when other side is in turmoil or rather would not take part in voting and as once said by Mrs. Stella, the 19^th centuries’ revolutionaries, that “one will never thought anything small can never be effective not unless you have never shared bed with a mosquito”. In so doing and co existence, I believe we can be one strong nation.

—

The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The veracity of any claim made are the responsibility of the author, not PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to paanluel2011@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material before publication. Please include your full name, email address and the country you are writing from.

Riek Machar’s rebels Attack Maperdit, Rumbek, Lakes State

By Akech Mam Deng, Rumbek

–

January 19, 2015 (SSB) — This morning at around 6am,forces of Riek Machar attacked Rumbek North county (Maperdit) and killed eight civilians including one woman and a child.

–

They rebels were believed to have come from Unity State that’s according to SPLA Spokeperson Philip Aguer.

–

Philip Aguer told Radio Miraya that the attackers came along with the machine guns like AK47 and RPG. He didn’t express if there could be some SPLA soldiers were rush there to rescue the situation.

–

The writer is a student at University of Rumbek.He can be reached at johnmam60@yahoo.com

—

The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The veracity of any claim made are the responsibility of the author, not PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to paanluel2011@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material before publication. Please include your full name, email address and the country you are writing from.

Preaching by Abuna Joseph Atem Bol: “Let Us Commit Ourselves to God”

Don’t turn the house of my father into the den of thieves, said Jesus

PREACHER NAME: VEN. JOSEPH ATEM BOL DENG

Verses of the bible read as follow:

• Revelation 9: 20-21
• James 4: 17
• Romans 3:23
• Theme of today is: SIN
• What is Sin? Note on James 4 verse 17

(SIN MEANS TO COMMIT AN OFFENSE OR FAULT AGAINST GOD; TO BREAK GOD’S LAW)

January 19, 2015 (SSB) — We tend to think that doing wrong is sin. But James tells us that sin is also not doing right.

(These two kinds of sin are sometimes called sins of commission and sins of omission.)

It is a sin to lie; it can also be a sin to know the truth and not tell it. It is a sin to speak evil of someone;

It is also a sin to avoid that person when you know he or she needs your friendship.

You should be willing to help as the Holy Spirit guides you.

If God has directed you to do kind acts, to render a service, or to restore a relationship, do it.

You will experience a renewed and refreshed vitality to your Christian faith.

• Why is sin dangerous? What’s the big deal?

These people were so hard-hearted that even plagues did not drive them to God. People don’t usually fall into immorality and evil suddenly—they slip into it a little bit at a time until, hardly realizing what has happened, they are irrevocably mired in their wicked ways. Any person who allows sin to take root in his or her life will end up in this predicament. T

emptation entertained today becomes sin tomorrow, a habit the next day, then death and separation from God forever (see James 1: 15). To think you could never become this evil is the first step toward a hard heart. Acknowledge your need to confess your sin before God.

• Why should I call myself a sinner when I can think of a lot of people who are really bad?

Some sins seem bigger than others because their obvious consequences are much more serious. Murder, for example, seems to us to be worse than hatred, and adultery seems worse than pride. But this does not mean that because we only commit “little” sins we deserve eternal life. All sins make us sinners, and all sins cut us off from Holy God.

All sins, therefore, lead to death (because they disqualify us from living with God), regardless of how great or small they seem. Don’t minimize ‘’little’’ sins or overrate ‘’big’’ sins. They all separate us from God, but they all can be forgiven.

• How could a loving God send sincere people to hell?

Paul answers a common objection to belief in God. How could a loving God send anyone to hell, especially someone who has never heard about Christ? In fact, says Paul, God has revealed Himself plainly in the creation to all people. And yet people reject even this basic knowledge of God. Also, all people have an inner sense of what God requires, but they choose not to live up to it. Put another way, people’s moral standards are always better than their behavior. If people suppress God’s truth in order to live their own way, they have no excuse, they know the truth, and they will have to endure the consequences of ignoring it.

Some people wonder why we need missionaries if people can know about God through nature (the creation). The answer: (1) Although people know that God exist, their wickedness blinds them to the truth. Missionaries sensitively expose their sin and point then to Christ. (2) Although people may believe there is God, they refuse to commit themselves to Him. Missionaries help persuade them by sharing God’s word and by pointing out dangerous consequences of their actions. (3) Missionaries help the church to obey the great commission of our Lord.

Grave of those killed by the white army in Leudiet church, Bor

Most important, although nature reveals God, people need to be told about Jesus and how through Him, they can have personal relationship with God. Knowing that god exist is not enough. People must learn that God is loving and that he sent His Son to demonstrate his love for us. They must be shown how to accept God’s forgiveness of their sins.

• Can someone to be too sinful to be saved?

2 Chronicles 33: 12-13. In a list of corrupt kings, Manasseh would rank near the top. His life was a catalog of evil deeds including idol worship, sacrificing his own children, and temple desecration. Eventually, however, he realized his sins and cried out to God for forgiveness. And God listened. If God can forgive Manasseh, surely he can forgive anyone. Are you burdened by overpowering guilt? Do you doubt that anyone could forgive what you have done? Take heart—until death, no one is beyond the reach of God’s forgiveness.

PSALM 51: 1—7. David was truly sorry for his adultery with Bathsheba and for murdering her husband to cover it up. He knew that his actions had hurt many people. But because David repented of those sins. God mercifully forgave him. No sin is too great to be forgiven! Do you feel that you could never come close to God because you have done something terrible? God can and will forgive you of any sin.

While God forgives us, however, he does not always erase the natural consequences of our sin. David’s life and family were never the same as the result of what he had done (see 2 Samuel 12: 1—23)

Thanks for your listening.

Ven. Joseph Atem Bol Deng, Archdeacon Malou Archdeaconry, Bor, Jonglei state.
Any question, you can contact me: 0955010012, 0977173732, 0912746677

—

The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The veracity of any claim made are the responsibility of the author, not PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to paanluel2011@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material before publication. Please include your full name, email address and the country you are writing from.

Bishop Peter Bol Arok: Message of Peace After the Synod Meeting in Twic East County

Message for Peace Co-existence to the Nation after Ending of Synod Meeting in Twic East County

By Rt. Rev. Peter Bol Arok

The Third Ordinary Session of Diocesan Synod Held at St. Paul Baping Archdeaconry

From 26-27 December, 2014

The Third Ordinary Session of Diocesan Synod Held at St. Paul Baping Archdeaconry from 26-27 December, 2014

January 19, 2015 (SSB) — Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from Bishop chairman Rt. Rev. Peter Bol Arok to the delegates of Synod on behalf of Twic East Diocese and his family.The Synod held in Twic County at St. Paul Baping Archdeaconry was well attended by over 100 delegates. We are most grateful to Hon. Dau Akoi, commissioner of Twic County together with other dignitaries among them being Deng Aguer state speaker who honoured our meeting with their presence.

It has been a challenging year for everyone most especially those in South Sudan. The U.N report records that more than 10000 died and many more been displaced in the neighbouring countries of Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and inside South Sudan and Northern Sudan.

Despite all of this we still put our hope and trust in the Almighty God to give us a year full of his blessings and love. The main reason for holding this meeting in Baping Twic County is for the sole reason of encouraging our people who are externally displaced to return home. The Anglican church of South Sudan has been working tirelessly to bring change to the people of South Sudan. Quoting the late Dr. John Garang de Mabior “we should take the town to the people and not the people to the town”

The Third Ordinary Session of Diocesan Synod Held at St. Paul Baping Archdeaconry from 26-27 December, 2014

The vision of the Anglican church of South Sudan and particularly that of Twic East Diocese is to be self reliant. We have tried to put into place utilization measures of the little resources that we have to assist the people of south Sudan. For example, Bishop Peter Bol Arok visited the displaced persons who are in Uganda and inside South Sudan on three occasions. He brought to them medicine, clothes, powdered milk and other essentials that the people needed. The Bishop was encouraged by Mathew 25:35.

Our message to the nation of South Sudan is that of forgiveness. Without forgiveness our nation cannot move forward more so to achieve the vision and dream of the late Dr. John Garang de Mabior who worked tirelessly to ensure that the people of South Sudan have a brighter future full of aspirations and dreams. However, this cannot be achieved if we still cannot let go of what happened in the past. It is time for us to forge forward and let the past remain where it should be, in the past.

Let us seek God’s intervention in this healing process. It is through him that we can have the peace that we have longed and fought for all this time. With hatred still burning inside us it is almost impossible to work together and to walk with God.

The Third Ordinary Session of Diocesan Synod Held at St. Paul Baping Archdeaconry from 26-27 December, 2014

Let me take this opportunity to congratulate the people of South Sudan for the unity and solidarity they showed during the referendum of 2011.

Peace be with you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

—

The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The veracity of any claim made are the responsibility of the author, not PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to paanluel2011@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material before publication. Please include your full name, email address and the country you are writing from.

Riek Machar’s Rebellion was not Because of the Slated June 2015 Elections

Riek Machar and his rebels didn’t take up arms because there were elections in the country

By Deng Lueth Yuang, Juba, South Sudan

January 19, 2015 (SSB) — We might disagree on the leadership conduct of national affairs. But one thing is crystal clear. The South Sudan’s rebels, opposition and civil society should understand that elections are constitutionally mandated to be carried out after the current regime terms come to an end in April, 2015. That is why North Sudan though at civil war with itself is going to hold its elections in April this year.

I just wonder and fail to understand why the rebels are not setting proper modalities for peace process to hold, yet they keep on complaining that the elections are not in their interest till peace is signed. When are they signing the damn peace?

And by the way, which peace are they talking about if they cannot sit down, and negotiate in good faith through give-and-take process of what is required of them. The government has offered them the position of premiership with some powers, though not a co-principle with the president. That is the highest seat they can get. Secondly, the hardest thing for anyone of us to accept is a separate rebel army. We know where they came from and where they are going with their malicious intentions.

If US is saying it won’t recognize or support the elections, they are not their elections; they are South Sudanese’, as people who will vote are African South Sudanese, not Americans. You cannot dictate the affairs of other nations that way! If the US wants to know these elections are in good faith, then let them send in observers and withhold their dollars.

If you say election cannot be held because South Sudanese are displaced. Look here, the population of South Sudan is about 12 million. 2 million is either in displaced or refugee camps whose majority are under voting age. 7 out of 10 states are peaceful. Some parts in Upper Nile region under government control are peaceful and those people over there can vote. Those who don’t want to vote are either rebels or live in rebel-controlled areas.

An election mandate for any government is a solemn declaration to the citizens by contesting parties to undertake new agenda for the nation. Let the parties who agree to run for elections bring forward their teams with manifestos and let the contest goes on.

Also the rebels and the international community especially the US should understand that any rebellion of any sort be it armed or peaceful should not hold the country hostage for their misguided grievances. If they were eager and ready to compete in any elections, they should have handled and channelled their grievances through peaceful and justifiable means. But in this way, if you become a killer, nobody will accept you to be truthful in what you are saying or doing. Waiting for peace they are not interested in is another way of throwing the country back into a failed state barometer. We are better off having a failed legitimate government in place which we can put our grievances before them (elected leaders).

All over the world, people continue to eat and go to work, school and live regardless of any worse circumstances facing them. For example, Ukraine had Crimea taken over by Russia, and internal rebellion erupted in the Eastern Regions. But in October, 2014 the government went ahead with elections for people living in government controlled areas to choose their favourite leadership. Same thing in Georgia, in 2008, Russia annexed Abkhazia and Ossetia and Georgian state did not stop carrying out its constitutional mandates. The US and rebels should stop giving lame excuses every time and then.

Please Mr. President and your leadership, just accept this challenge and go ahead with the elections. If rebels want to participate in these elections, they will accept the peace process in good faith and come back to contest them. Time is running out to build our young nation.

You can reach the author through his email: Deng Lueth <luethdeng@ymail.com>

—

The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The veracity of any claim made are the responsibility of the author, not PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to paanluel2011@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material before publication. Please include your full name, email address and the country you are writing from.

June 2015 Election is the Best Way to End Political Turmoil in South Sudan

A Response to Dut Mabior’s Article, “SOUTH SUDAN’S 2015 ELECTIONS: AN EPITOME OF FAILURE”.

–

By Biar Dhieu Akujang

–

January 19, 2015 (SSB) —  First and far most, I would wish to resent my sincere condolences to the families, colleagues and relatives of the deceased who perished as a result of crisis instigated by individuals who never offer brilliant decisions whenever a talk emerged in their lives time. Personally, I would kindly wish to appreciate the legislatures of the republic of South Sudan legislative Assembly for giving the electoral commission of the republic a green light in terms of preparing in readiness to conduct the elections on 30th June 2015. Indeed, any responsible and a sound minded person whose intention is to restored peace and stability back into the country could have made such a great decision. Why I think beyond reasonable doubt that the upcoming elections shall bring a lasting solutions to the ongoing crisis in the Republic of South Sudan .

My brother Dut Mabior, I would love to promptly reprimand your article by terming it as somebody’s mole article. If you aren’t aware, these are not times for blame games of who might have initiated the turmoil in our nation on 15th December 2013. As a patriotic citizens, these are moments where all of us are expected to think beyond our individual’s interest and expected to make wise decisions even the unwise ones for the sake of our nation’ future generations to come. Historically, all south Sudanese aware of each and everyone’s contribution during the struggle for independence. There are those whose behaviors resembles to those of the robots and the then Germany chancellor Hitler during the world wars. Am certain you are conversant with how Hitlar died.

Back to elections issue whether it is the best way to end south Sudan crisis. I absolutely support the idea of having elections as scheduled. To any nation, elections normally offer the citizens a chance to change or vote in the government of their choice without political manipulation. This decision to have election was the best after all talks between the government and the rebels failed which can be supported by any person whose love and support for the nation can’t be diluted by money or materials offered to him/her by those whose interests is not to see the country sailing towards prosperity.

Mabior, yours is indeed catering for today and not for tomorrow. Your argument at this juncture to the nation is not neither logical nor beneficial to the public. We as citizens of Lakes States, our crisis are not connected to the ongoing crisis at all. Therefore, you should not comment on an issue that you might not have a clue about. As south Sudanese, we all know the genesis of the current conflict in the nation and therefore shall not be dragged into divisive politics by “politician (s)” in order to gain in the political arena. Too late and unfortunate for them indeed!!!!

—

The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The veracity of any claim made are the responsibility of the author, not PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to paanluel2011@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material before publication. Please include your full name, email address and the country you are writing from.

THE CALLS FOR THE GENERAL ELECTIONS IN JUNE 2015 IS A BIG JOKE!

THE CALLS FOR THE GENERAL ELECTIONS IN SOUTH SUDAN THIS TIME IS A BIG JOKE!

By Deng Bul

June 2015 elections

January 19, 2015 (SSB) —  In my own analysis, the calls for elections in south Sudan is unwanted one and unacceptable in term of our current situation in the country.The country is now desperately devastated by the current war and there is no need for elections to be hold before the peace has restored to the normal sanity.

For me, I know there are some people who might claiming that it was a constitution right to allow general elections to be held this year but I would like to assure these people that we cannot follow the constitution to its mandate but to based our constitution to the situations we are facing now that’s why we have created the position of prime minister which was not there in our constitution. It’s because of numerous challenges that facing us at the moment.

As I say it was unwanted one and unacceptable.

First, The census was supposed to be conduct so that the government of South Sudan may know the number of population living the country or those who are going to cast their votes in forthcoming general elections.

Second,The electoral commission should been given ample time to conduct civil education and others election materials so that they could have register the voters within a framing time but not in a hurry situations like now.

Third, As we all know the majority of the population is now refuge in neighboring countries such as Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia and it will be very hard for electoral commission to go through these countries for registration processes.Thereafter we can also remember that we cannot be allow again to vote in diaspora like what we did during the referendum we are now an independent state so we can conduct our election in our country.

Fourth, The delay of peace agreement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and this is the one that denied the general elections to be held this year.Without peace, I don’t see any moods of elections among these three groups, the government, the opposition and the former political detainees when they are not reconcile and healings.

Lastly,I oppose the general elections now in South Sudan because of the following I have stated above. it should been extended to 2017 so that we can take time for the preparations of peaceful elections.

The author should been reached at dengbul81@yahoo.com

—

The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The veracity of any claim made are the responsibility of the author, not PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to paanluel2011@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material before publication. Please include your full name, email address and the country you are writing from.

SOUTH SUDAN’S 2015 ELECTIONS: AN EPITOME OF FAILURE

By Dut Mabior, Kenya

January 18, 2015 (SSB) —  As I prepare my readership to go through this topic, it’s painful to realise that our country is in such a difficult time in history. It is the time we should put our energy together as a people and work toward achieving everlasting peace for all. If we hear of something different other than bringing peace, then we are damned! I hold the view that these elections being talked about are meant to uphold the integrity of our supreme law and renew the legitimacy of our elected government. I don’t think this is the right idea as at now. Below I justify.

Our country has had a number of violations to the constitution and further violations won’t cause harm anymore. It’s well stipulated in the Transition Constitution of the Republic that the president can fire an elected governor of a state amid failure in running the state. The exercise is thereafter followed by an immediate appointment of a caretaker governor after which the state elections are held within 60 days. This has not been the case in Unity state when Governor Taban Deng was fired and replaced with Governor Monytuil (caretaker ), Lake state when Governor Eng. Chol Tong was fired and replaced with Governor Gen. Matur Chut (caretaker ), Jonglei State when Governor Kuol Juuk was appointed to head the ministry of defense and veterans affairs, replaced with Governor Gen. John Nyuon (caretaker) and Northern Bar El Ghazel state when Governor Paul Malong was replaced with Governor Kuel Aguer (caretaker) after promotion to the chief of Military staff. If indeed the constitution is being upheld in totality, then why are the elections in the said states have not been conducted upon the expiry of the caretaker terms? It doesn’t show that, the constitution is being respected. It looks more or less that something is being cooked to suit the diagrammatic scheming in the country.

This constitution has been violated in so many avenues. The ministry of information gave orders barring journalists from interviewing rebels because they would be rebels by osmosis or diffusion, whatever the biological concept behind it. These rebels being citizens of South Sudan have the rights of expression. The citizenry too have the rights to hear the side of the story of the rebels, why did they rebel, a right we have been robbed of by the same body now purporting to protect the law.

If the constitution was being preserved in its totality, then the likes of opinion writers like Isaiah Abraham would not have lost their lives. Others like the G-10 would not be forced into exile after being acquitted by a court of law.

It tells me that the constitution has been violated so many times and violating it again makes the difference the same.

Why would we expose our population to an exercise they are not ready to undertake? The whole of the upper Nile Region with all its states are not ready Lake State is bleeding, Northern Bar El Ghazel has issues too. Who will vote then! This convinces me to priorities peace before elections.

Others ask: Why can’t we vote yet it has been the case in the former Sudan, Syria and many other countries. The results of sidelining others in the matters of national importance leads to a civil war like the one in Syria and the SPLA war with the Khartoum regime which led to the independence of South Sudan. Not unless we want to have a part of our country to claim independence, we won’t advocate for an exercise as shameful as these elections. And why can’t we give examples of Ghana, South Africa, Kenya let alone the examples of failed states like Sudan.

I think, the reality of the Juba chaos is now taking shape. Before these crises, the government was talking of conducting census before elections. The same administration was crying of having no funds to conduct the said exercise. Indeed I quote the president once saying the elections could be differed by a year or two. Why would we be rushed into elections without having done the constitutional prerequisites, does it mean the violence was engineered to exile the political competitors? I fail to answer.

If indeed elections are to be held in the absence of rebels and the G-10, then the elections are to go unopposed, Let’s not vote and allow the electoral commission to announce the candidates winners by default.

Others may think that I am damn mongrel with no resolution and the way forward to legitimize the government after it’s official expiry. South Sudan has its law making body, parliament. Not only the 2015 elections will legitimize the presidency of H. E after the July 9th, this can be extended by an act of Parliament. If the term limit is the problem than, it can be extended by 5 years, I will have no problem with that so long the $517 millions is put into something else required to keep our suffering population in the displaced camps going. Elections are not important now above bringing peace first.

I wonder how our people think, it has been repeatedly said by our president that he is committed to bringing peace to the country. The realisation of this peace is succeeded by an interim period of 2-3 years after which elections are doable. Why do we talk lots about elections now when peace can make a different recommendation or are we not ready to negotiate for peace any more? For me, I will first give peace a chance and then find out what it says to do elections.

If violating the constitution is only applicable when the title is preceded by a caretaker as in the caretaker Governor, then Let’s call our president caretaker president after the July 9th and we first work to bring peace to the country before doing elections.

Ladies and gentlemen,my fellow compatriots, running around defending a constitution that has been violated on so many occasions will not convince a rational thinker of my caliber. Therefore, conducting these elections will only confirm our readiness to be like Sudan and Syria, indeed an epitome of failure.

The author is a student of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Kenyatta University, Nairobi Kenya.

—

The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The veracity of any claim made are the responsibility of the author, not PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to paanluel2011@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material before publication. Please include your full name, email address and the country you are writing from.

Did Governor Joseph Bakasoro Condemn the Dinka Community?

By PaanLuel Wel, Juba

January 18, 2015 (SSB) —  Some opinions have been offered about the veracity of the “politically incorrect” statement attributed to Governor Joseph Bakasoro of Western Equatoria state.

Here is what I know, I being someone from the ground who, though not a journalist of any kind or type, is nevertheless interested in the affairs of our republic.

What we all know is that there are Dinka pastoralists (from Jonglei and Lakes states) who have settled in the Equatoria region not only with their families, but their cattle as well. The presence of Dinka cattle among the farming communities of the Equatoria region has been a source of perennial friction; Nimule is the best case in point.

In Mundri, there has been a running conflict between the Dinka pastoralists (mostly from Lakes state) and the host community who complain of their farms being destroyed by the cattle. “In October 2014, the fighting erupted after cattle destroyed farms. Several people were injured, including a little girl.”

A 2-day conference was convened on 15-16 January 2015 between the host community and the Dinka pastoralists to resolve the issue.

The meeting, attended by Governor Bakasoro and all the top politicians of Western Equatoria state and leaders of the Dinka cattle camps, resolved the following: (1) Guns be repatriated with immediate effect (2) Cattle leave Greater Mundri within 21 days. It is from this Pastoralists/Farmers peace conference that news emerged of the “politically incorrect” remarks attributed to Governor Bakasoro.

With that being the background information, “seekers of truth” are demanding the proof that the governor has actually uttered such “revealing” remarks.

A verifiable proof may be in forms of an audio or video clip or a confirmation from one of the participants in that said conference.

However, I should mention here that it was after the end of the conference (January 16th) that news emerged (January 17th) of the statement attributed to the Governor Bakasoro; nothing so far has indicated that the statement was uttered prior to, within or after the conference.

The only reason why someone would connect the two is because the statement in question is addressing precisely the very issue that was the agenda of the pastoralists/farmers peace conference.

This is what I know, so far, as a concerned citizen of South Sudan. It is up to you as an individual to form your own opinion about the veracity of the remark in question.

Did the governor say it—before, during or after the conference? What do you know, think?

—-

The opinion expressed here is solely the view of the writer. The veracity of any claim made are the responsibility of the author, not PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB) website. If you want to submit an opinion article or news analysis, please email it to paanluel2011@gmail.com. SSB do reserve the right to edit material before publication. Please include your full name, email address and the country you are writing from.

Governor Bakasoro: Dinka Community Should be Ashamed of Themselves

“Dinka leaders and their community have failed our country, South Sudan. What’s wrong with you people, wherever you go, problems and havocs follow? you ran from danger in your areas and only to come and cause havoc in our state. You don’t like peaceful coexistence of people. Your leaders need to look themselves in the eye and find out why you are not welcomed by anyone anywhere in South Sudan…I blame the Moru Youths for allowing a snake into their house and crying loud for me to come all the way from Yambio to kill the snake….You have to just kill it, why wait for me?” fumed Governor Joseph Bakasoro of Western Equatoria state.

———–

Equatoria: South Sudan’s “Dinka Leaders and Their Community Have Failed Our Country” – WES Governor

Jan 17, 2015

By Equatorian Voice

While addressing a conference on Jan 16, organized to mitigate hostilities in Western Equatoria State, the Governor of Western Equatoria, Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro, boldly narrates how the “Dinka leaders and their community failed the country”.
“Dinka leaders and their community have failed our country, South Sudan. What’s wrong with you people, wherever you go, problems and havoc follow?” The WES governor narrates.
Bakosoro believes that members of Dinka community, who are internally displaced to Western Equatoria, are the source of havoc in his State saying:
“you ran from danger in your areas and only to come and cause havoc in our state. You don’t like peaceful coexistence of people. Your leaders need to look themselves in the eye and find out why you are not welcomed by anyone anywhere in South Sudan” Bakosoro said!
Narrated in a local proverb, the state governor blames the Moru Youth for harboring a “snake” yet cries for distant help to kill the snakes when it turns hostile. Bakosoro urges the youth to kill the snakes without hesitation!
“I blame the Moru Youths for allowing a snake into their house and crying loud for me to come all the way from Yambio to kill the snake” the governor narrates.
“….You have to just kill it, why wait for me?” Governor Bakasoro tells the Moru youth.
The statement was condemned by members of Dinka community, who call on President Salva Kiir to remove Governor Bakosoro from Western Equatoria leadership.
Last week, the Central Equatoria State Governor, Clement Wani Konga, while addressing his newly appointed cabinet described the war in the country as a “Dinka-Nuer” war, and urged the people of Equatoria to unite to end the conflict.
“It is the only chance that for the people of Equatoria coming together so as to bring an end to this war between Dinka and Nuer.” Governor Wani emphasized.
“Who are you going to fight, are you going to fight with Dinka or Riek Machar?” the CES Governor wonders!
Although the statement was condemned by Ateny Wek Ateny, the spokesman to president Salva Kiir, the Government of Western Equatoria State strongly backed the statement of Governor Konga.
“If indeed there there is [a] statement from governor [Konga] which is not pleasing, why don’t we use the established government structures to find out what went wrong?” Said the State’s Information Minister, Suba Samuel Manase told reporters in Juba on Monday.
Since South Sudan returned to civil war in 2013, Salva Kiir leadership has very limited control over the leadership of the ten states, and the country, due to fear of triggering more rebellions.
While ex-governors Kuol Manyang Juuk of Jonglei states and Paul Malong Awan of Northen Bhar el Ghazal State still control their states leaderships, acting governors of Lake and Unity State, governor Matur Chut Dhuol, and Joseph Monytuel, respectively, are exploiting the conflict.
South Sudan conflict broke out in December, 2013 following an abrupt SPLM’s National Liberation Council meeting to reconcile the ruling party and to renew SPLM mandates.
Ten of thousands have been killed and nearly 2 millions people have been displace.

 ————-

Pastoralist-farmer peace conference commences in Mundri

Alhadi Hawari | January 15, 2015 | 2:26 pm

A peace conference has started in Mundri, Western Equatoria, to resolve disputes between pastoralists and local farmers in the area.

In October 2014, the fighting erupted after cattle destroyed farms. Several people were injured, including a little girl.

The chief guest of the two-day conference told Eye Radio that the meeting will discuss how to address insecurity caused by cattle raids.

The pastoralists from Lakes, Central Equatoria, Jonglei states seek pastures in the area.

Hon Joseph Ngere, who represents Mundri in the national parliament, says delegates from the home states of the cattle keepers are participating in the conference.

“The agenda of the conference is the likelihood of them to be taken back to their places because there are no logical reasons for them to be around while the eco-environment in South Sudan, particularly in our neighbor in Yirol is just the same,” said Hon Ngere.

Hon Ngere says chiefs from Western Equatoria, Central Equatoria, Lakes and Jonglei are attending the conference.

November 2004: Salva Kiir’s and Majak Agoot’s Coup against Dr. John Garang???

Press Statement: SPLM Denies Rumours of Split

The Office of SPLM Representative in the UK and Ireland

November 30, 2004

Some malicious rumours have been circulating all over the world in the last few weeks. It is alleged that there is a split in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement /Army (SPLM/A). The split is allegedly led by Cdr. Salva Kiir Mayardit, the first Deputy Chairman and SPLA Chief of Staff, and supported by other SPLA commanders including Cdr. Majak de Agot who is currently in London. It is also rumoured that Dr John Garang de Mabior, Chairman of SPLM and Commander-in-Chief of SPLA, has ordered the arrest of Cdr. Salva Kiir Mayardit, and that the latter is preparing for a showdown with the former. In addition, it is alleged that Dr John Garang de Mabior decided to appoint Cdr. Nhial Deng Nhial, SPLM Commissioner for Foreign and Humanitarian Affairs, to replace Cdr. Salva Kiir Mayardit as first Deputy Chairman of SPLM and Chief of Staff of SPLA. Rumour-mongers also alleged that Mrs Nyandeng de Mabior, the Chairman’s wife, was arrested by the British Police and Custom Officers at London Heathrow Airport with $3.5 million dollars in her handbag

The Office of SPLM Representative in the UK and Ireland would like to respond to all these potentially damaging rumours, lies and propaganda and set the record straight in the following paragraphs

(a) The SPLM/SPLA leadership is united. There is no split in the Movement. Dr. John Garang de Mabior and his first Deputy Cdr. Salva Kiir Mayardit are working together; they have been through the thick and thin together; they achieved so much together and they are determined to conclude their mission together, not arrest one another. Dr. John Garang de Mabior has never thought about relieving Cdr. Salva Kiir Mayardit of his duties and appointing Cdr. Nhial Deng Nhial (who is currently the ninth in the hierarchy of the Movement) to the position of first Deputy Chairman of SPLM and SPLA Chief of Staff. Such arrangement presupposes sacking seven members of the SPLM Leadership Council and this is simply unthinkable. It is also common knowledge that Cdr. Majak de Agot is a loyal and trustworthy senior SPLA officer. He has already responded to the allegations published by the Arabic daily Al-sharaq Al-Awsat, and SPLM/A has noted their apology to him and the Movement.

(b) We would like to make it clear that Mrs Nyandeng de Mabior was neither carrying such money as described by the liars, nor was she arrested by the British Police and Custom Officers at London Heathrow Airport as alleged. In fact, she has never seen such a big amount of money in her entire life. Besides, it is hard to imagine why she, or indeed anybody else, would tour the world with such a big amount of money in a handbag. Mrs de Mabior was received on her arrival in the UK and escorted to the airport on her departure by a group of SPLM/A members; they are willing and ready to testify to this effect.

(c) All these rumours, in our view, are desperate attempts by the Government of the Sudan (GoS) and its South Sudanese accomplices to mastermind another split in the SPLM/A. We are acutely aware of the fact that GoS is frightened by the prospect of sharing power with SPLM/A; it is desperate to give itself a new lease of life to maintain its grip on power in Khartoum. For this reason, GoS is hell-bend on undermining the peace process. GoS is addicted to dividing and abusing the marginalised people of the Sudan and hope to replicate its successes of the past and sow the seeds for another bloody South-South conflict. Such a conflict will serve as Khartoum’s excuse to opt out of the peace process and wage another proxy war in the South. It is evident that GoS is very reluctant to sign the final peace deal with SPLM/A. This is why GoS has been concocting numerous excuses to delay concluding the peace process. This attitude suggests that Khartoum is stuck in their old ways and wish to press ahead with their big cultural assimilation project. We believe GoS will delay signing the final peace agreement forever if they can

(d) SPLM/A has made a firm commitment and is determined to pursue and realise a just, comprehensive and lasting peaceful settlement to the conflict in the Sudan. SPLM/A will not be distracted by rumour-mongers. SPLM/A believes the IGAD peace process is irreversible. We would like to strongly advise the NIF government in Khartoum that there is no room for monkey business. There is only one road ahead, and that is a road to peace. We would like to confirm that SPLM/A is ready and willing to continue negotiating peace with GoS in good faith and through the usual IGAD forum, not through the press.

(e) We wish to urge all SPLM/A members, friends of New Sudan and the public at large to remain alert and vigilant. Enemies of the Movement are working hard these days, masquerading as good messengers, uttering empty slogans, abusing and misusing terms such as “unity of purpose”, “South-South dialogue”, “referendum”, “democracy”, “transparency”, “accountability” and others to cast a shadow of doubt over the credibility of SPLM/A. We are not sure they completely understand the meanings of these words in practice. They seem to forget that these words describe the realities and practices of SPLM on the ground. We will not allow perpetual politicians and their sponsors in Khartoum to divide us. We believe the majority of the people of the Sudan have been marginalised by Khartoum and subjected to inexplicable suffering for too long, and for no reason. It is the intention of SPLM/A to conclude the final peace deal to put an end to this suffering. We believe it is time for all the people of the Sudan to experience freedom, equality and justice. They deserve better

SPLM Oyee

SPLA Oyee

Long live the struggle of the marginalised people of the Sudan

Yours sincerely

Deng Yai, For/ SPLM Representative

—————

A moral case against Bona Malwal

By Kuel Maluil Jok, Achier Deng Akol, Sabrino Majok Majok, Mawein Akot Regina, and others

Nov 16, 2005 — Having detested successive policies of marginalization exercised by minority clique regimes in Khartoum, Dr John Garang de Mabior, Kerubino Kuanynin Bol, William Nyuon Beny and Salva Kiir Mayardit abdicated their privileges as high-ranking officers in the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), and walked to the bush in 1983. That marked the birth of contemporary Sudanese revolution, which became known as Sudan People’s Liberation Army and Sudan People Liberation Movement, SPLA/M, under leadership of Dr John Garang de Mabior. Despite difficult situations faced by the Movement during its 22-year-long armed struggle, John Garang de Mabior managed to successfully lead his forces, till he achieved Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) with the Government of Sudan (GoS), in January 2005. A crowd of unknown figure, estimated as six million people thereafter, received Garang as a victorious freedom fighter, when he returned to Khartoum for inauguration as the First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan, and President of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS).

Unfortunately, triumphant Garang passed away only three weeks, after assuming his duties in Sudan’s collegiate presidency in a mysterious helicopter crash. His death sparked wide range riots all over the country, leaving hundreds of people dead, and resulting in arrest of almost 4,000 people, mostly from South Sudan and other marginalized areas.

Honour to the visionary leader

Post Garang’s death, many people around the world expressed their deep sorrow and sympathy for his untimely departure. That was equally true for those who opposed him and allied with the National Islamic Front (NIF) regime. They were quick to pay him homage as an inclusive political figure who brought us CPA- the first ever peace agreement that allows people of South Sudan to exercise right of self determination, as well as advocating for restoration of dignity to all marginalized masses in Sudan. The global philanthropists empathized and sympathised with marginalized people of the Sudan in mourning for the death of Dr John Garang as evident in condolence messages sent by prominent world leaders, such as President George W. Bush of USA, President Youri Museveni of Uganda, Mr Amer Mussa of the Arab League, Mr Koffi Anan of United Nations and, even the long term rivalry of Dr John Garang, President Omar Hassan Ahmed el Bashir of Sudan. All in all, there was an internationally shared sense of shock and despair, but one person among many stood out distinctively against the eulogy of Dr Garang. That individual is Mr Bona Malwal Madut Ring, the current advisor to the president of Sudan. Unlike millions of Sudanese and their friends who are mourning the death of Dr Garang, Bona Malwal Madut is joyfully beating his harps in melody, giving thanks and praises to his Nhialic (God) over tragic incident that took away the life of John Garang. Bona Malwal even made a trip to Juba, during Garang’s burial to make sure that he sees the sand thrown on his coffin. He then, indulged in a ruthless campaign to defame a man he failed to discredit while alive.

Insulting John Garang in his grave

As if death is not in itself painful enough, it is sad for others to disrespect the dead and continue to abuse dead people in their graves. It is hurting to all people who care about the deceased not to mention the very close relatives and friends.

To all the oppressed and marginalized people of Sudan for whom John Garang de Mabior sacrificed almost his entire lifetime fighting for their freedom, justice and equality, his sudden death in the helicopter crash was more than a simple tragedy. They felt enormously hurt, more than just a loss of a human life, because John Garang was their light and hope for a brighter future and they were and continue to be devastated by his tragic death. Unfortunately, amid this period of pain and grief, Bona Malwal continues to rub sharp knives on their wounded hearts by repeatedly insulting John Garang in his grave. To insult a living person with lies is annoying and to do so to any dead person, whether that person was a leader or not is vexing, beyond imagination. That is why most traditions and cultures Worldwide choose to respect the dead.

We expect behaviour of Bona Malwal towards a deceased to conform with common norms and values of Sudanese. For instance, it is an abomination for any one to appear gleeful over the death of a person. The dead is respected to the extent that all pre-existing bitterness ceases between adversaries, if one of them dies. In fact, others would even make a plea for a bitter enemy who is very ill not to die, so that their bitter rivalry is not curtailed by death. Yet, it is ironic that a lot of the lies being spat on John Garang’s grave are coming from an elderly Sudanese national who is supposed to rebuke youngsters, if they attempt to disrespect the dead.

Bona Malwal does not say the truth

Our attention was first drawn to these insults, when we read the content of an interview that was conducted with Bona Malwal Madut, following his appointment as an adviser to President Omer el Bashir. That time he continued to propagate his persistent lie that his problem with the late, Dr John Garang was due to the concept of “New Sudan”. Then he made a disrespectful remark that he would have not joined the Government of National Unity (GNU), if John Garang were still alive. A lot of us who had continued to hold Bona Malwal in their hearts as a respectful elder could not believe what they read and wondered whether that was a slip of tongue, under pressure from a journalist. We will expand later below to indicate why we think the points he raised were pure lies.

Regretfully, Bona’s derogatory statements did not stop at the end of that interview. He continued to make more fabrications in London, during his meeting with number of selected audience that he addressed in Marriott Hotel in London on Sunday the 30th of October 2005. In that meeting, Bona is reported to have alleged that SPLM was given $490 million (Four hundred and ninety million US Dollars) around the time of the return of John Garang to Khartoum for inauguration as First Vice President of Sudan and President of South Sudan. Bona shamelessly implied that this money was given personally to John Garang by Omer el Bashir and also added that the sum was untraceable after demise of Garang. When one of the attendants questioned the validity of that allegation, Bona asserted that he was primarily told by President Omer el Bashir and confirmed to him by Vice President, Salva Kiir Mayardit. As part of our investigation, we delegated one of our journalists, Mr Giir Biar to find out the truth from President Salva Kiir, during his recent visit to the USA. An extract from that interview is quoted as follows:

Question: “…lately Mr. Bona Malwal in Oxford, stated that president Bashir told him that, there was some money given to Dr Garang and he claimed that money is not traceable. What do you know about that?”

President Salva answered, “I don’t have any knowledge about money that has been given away. So I was not present when Mr Bona Malwal was talking to President el Bashir. Anything that was discussed between the two I can not really come to answer about it nor was I well presented when the money was given to Dr Garang” end of the quote.

We also asked the same question to the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning of the GoSS, Mr Arthur Akuien Chol who simultaneously dismissed the validity of such receipt of amount to have reached SPLM account. Unless Bona has concrete evidence to prove otherwise, we came to conclusion that he is just fabricating these lies to kill the living character of a dead hero, Dr John Garang de Mabior.

War with militia

Unfortunately, Mr Malwal’s spree of lies did not stop in what he mentioned above. He is reported to has gone ahead in the same meeting in London to reveal that John Garang had issued a four-month period as deadline to Paulino Matip and his militia group to either join SPLA or Sudan Army. Bona went on to emphasize that it was fortunate that a potentially disastrous military conflict that might have taken place between the SPLA and Matip’s militia was averted by his death (John Garang de Mabior). Here is what he said, “South Sudan was heading towards a disastrous civil war but thank God John Garang is dead.” To associate what one considers to be a good outcome of somebody’s death is in our opinion an expression of relief and satisfaction over that person’s death and it hurts us a lot to learn that anything good is reported as an advantage of the death of our leader Dr John Garang De Mabior.

At this juncture, let us specify why we think all statements alleged above are lies. Since it is impossible for the late Garang to come out of his grave to defend himself over these slanders, we have taken our own initiative to do so on his behalf in total respect to him in particular and to the dead in general. It is to be noted that we conducted extensive investigations with concerned parties, mainly the SPLM/A leadership as mentioned above to find out the truth. We will now refute Bona’s lies one by one.

A) The concept of the New Sudan

We believe that it is a pure lie for Bona Malwal to keep saying that his dispute with John Garang de Mabior was over the issue of New Sudan, as a concept of liberation. This is because of two reasons. First, Bona Malwal had been fighting side by side with John Garang, as a resource person to the SPLM/A for twelve years, during which he attended most talks between SPLM and Sudan Government. At no time during that long period did he openly voice his discontent about New Sudan. On the contrary, he was vigorously propagating New Sudan and defending SPLM/A in his UK based newsletter, the Sudan Democratic Gazette. He was always praising John Garang as a good leader and defending the concept of the New Sudan as proved in the following extract quoted from the book, “The Horn of Africa”, edited by Charles Gurdon, published (1994, p.96). The full quotation goes as:

“…John Garang’s call for “New Sudan” of equal opportunities and responsibilities for all its nationalities is, to many northern Sudanese, as bad as call by some southerners for separation. How can John Garang, a southerner, think that he and his kind can be equal with the Arabs? There are endless anecdotes that portray the deep racism that characterizes the northern view of the south, but deference to brevity, two will suffice. A typical Arab northerner Sudanese, who cannot bring himself to accept the frequently repeated slogan of SPLA that they want to liberate the whole country and create a New Sudan, once remarked angrily: ” whom does John Garang want to liberate?” Another said, after the SPLA captured Kurmuk in Blue Nile province in December 1987 and was threatening to bring war deeper into the north: ” How can John Garang, the naked Dinka from the cattle camp, think that he can rule Sudan?” The speaker was a primary schoolteacher who may be very well not have gone beyond primary education himself, for often primary school-leavers are trained to teach at the same level. John Garang is not only an accomplished military officer, who has earned his present rank of colonel while an officer in the Sudanese army, he is also an accomplished academic who holds a doctorate in economics. Some would say he is over-qualified for any job, but to this simple northern Sudanese he remains a southerner and thus a “naked Dinka”.

As shown above, how can Bona convince us that he was not a part and a parcel of the concept of “New Sudan”? Even without concrete evidence in this extract, we doubt that a person of Malwal’s intellectual calibre would take such a very long time to process and object to a well-defined concept and objective of SPLM/A that he followed for twelve years! Furthermore, we know that Bona Malwal started whistle blowing, when late John Garang officially banned him from exploiting slave redemption program. We therefore, view Malwal’s discontent with the idea of New Sudan, as a counter reaction designed to mask the truth about his encroachment to slavery redemption program in Northern Bahr el Ghazal. We call it hiding or masking one’s anger for a different reason behind the curtain of New Sudan and singing a common song which most people who were discontented with SPLM/A for different reasons used to sing, a song called “I don’t like the concept of the New Sudan.”

Our charismatic leader, Dr John Garang de Mabior died after delivering us the CPA using the strategy of New Sudan, which embodies referendum. What better alternative than referendum can Bona Malwal offer to the people of Southern Sudan? And what is preventing him from doing so instead of continuing to criticise, criticise and criticise John Garang de Mabior who has paid the ultimate price of martyrdom.

B) Bona Malwal conditioned his appointment with the Death.

We also believe that it is a false imagination for Bona Malwal to assert that, if Garang were still alive he would have not had a chance to join the Government of National Unity, GNU. To the best of our knowledge John Garang had continued to involve Bona Malwal in major events, such as inviting him to attend the Peace Ceremony in Nairobi. Unless Bona had planned to decline any ministerial appointment offered to him, because of any grudges against John Garang, we feel that he was potentially one of those who would have been appointed, if Garang were still alive. Hypothetically, even if SPLM might not have nominated him for a ministerial or advisory post, South Sudan Democratic Forum (SSDF) to which he belongs could have offered him one of their shares in the Government as it did by granting him presidential advisory position to Omer el Bashir. Bona would have been in presidential palace with Garang, because there is no provision in the CPA or both constitutions, which specify that, “Bona Malwal is not allowed to join any Government in Sudan or South Sudan, as long as John Garang de Mabior is alive.”

C) War with Paulino Matip

To say that, if John Garang had not died war would have erupted between SPLA and Paulino Matip’s militia is another big fat lie from Bona Malwal. The CPA is clear about the fact that other military forces are required to choose whether to join SPLA or Sudan Army, which is exactly what they’re doing now. We do not understand why the same militias would have refused to do the same as specified in the agreement if John Garang had not died to an extent that this would have led to another war in the South. Disarmament of militia is not a subjective initiative which could make Malwal to rejoice over the death of Dr Garang, rather it is a binding regulation stipulated in chapter five of the “Security Arrangements” ratified at Naivasha, Kenya on 25th September 2003. Article 7 “Status of Other Armed Groups” states at paragraph (a) that, “no armed grouped allied to either party shall be allowed to operate outside of the two forces”, SPLA and the National Islamic Front Army. Again paragraph (b), under the same article states that those militia “who have the desire and quality shall be incorporated into the organized forces of either party (Army, Police, Prisons and Wildlife forces), while the rest shall be reintegrated into the civil service and civil society institutions”. The rejection of Malwal to disarmament of militia conforms to the allegation circulated by one of the Southern Sudanese last month at the Sudanile electronic website that Malwal was an advisor for the destruction of the people of the south Sudan and in particular the CPA.

D) Alleged millions of Dollars.

The allegation that John Garang was given over four hundred million US Dollars by Omar al Beshir and that the whereabouts of that money is unknown is a pill that was too bitter for us to swallow and tolerate compared to the three mentioned above. Our primary intention in writing this paper is to reassure all our people that our leader John Garang de Mabior did not receive or embezzle such money. He has only been falsely smeared by whoever fabricated that lie in London.

We also launched an enquiry on this matter and failed to find any substance of truth about any money given by Bashir to Garang. Our investigation revealed that huge costs incurred during John Garang’s enthronement as first vice president of the Sudan and President of South Sudan were met by the friendly countries, namely USA and Norway. The four aeroplanes bearing white colour of peace that transported the SPLM Leadership and other national delegates to the ceremony were generously hired by Norway, while the expensive hotel accommodation of delegates was kindly funded by the United States of America.

Post CPA, the GoSS is entitled to obtain its funds of oil shares from the government of Sudan as per CPA stipulate, thus Bona might have interpreted that as a bribery to Dr Garang. Yet, we confirmed that only around $200 million (Two Hundred Million US Dollars), a small fraction of the oil share owed was actually paid to the GoSS in successive instalments after death of Dr John Garang. These instalments are also being remitted through official bank channels and would not have been handed to John Garang, if he were alive. As the same way this instalments are not paid to either SPLM or Salva Kiir Mayardit in person rather than GoSS. Thus, we are proud to prove that our leader died without having received personally any amount of money from Bashir. If John Garang were susceptible to bribery, he would not have continued to lead the struggle for the marginalized unpaid for 22 years in SPLM/A and also in Anyanya-1. If money too were his preference and not the liberation of his land and oppressed people, he would not have given up his prestigious high-ranking military position in SAF and his professorship status at University of Khartoum with all associated privileges and life style only to go and lead a guerrilla war without any payment. If luxurious life was his dream and not the freedom of his marginalized and oppressed people, why would he, and others e.g. Salva Kiir Mayardit spent most of their lifetime in the bush and not in Oxford nor in the “Amarat” of Khartoum?

Although we are convinced that no $490 million was offered to SPLM as alleged we would like to give anyone else, including Bona Malwal himself a benefit of the doubt to provide indisputable evidence to back up this verbal allegation. We condemn all people who are engaged in the dirty game of disrespecting or insulting the deceased with lies in their graves and demand this practice must stop. Let it be known to every one that we are prepared to defend our departed leader against those who bombard him with lies. We urge everyone to leave the souls of Dr Garang and his fallen comrades to rest in peace.

E) Conclusion.

We the signatories of this paper and other supporters, who are deeply affected like us by persistent defamation of our martyrs, call upon Mr Bona Malwal to refrain from making further degrading remarks on our lost heroes. We would have made the same request to our departed leader Dr John Garang, if he were the one alive and continued to insult Bona Malwal in his grave although we fully believe that our leader, Dr John Garang would have never uttered a disrespectful statement against any dead person given his steadfast record.

We strongly believe that it is better for people who are alive and overcritical like Bona Malwal to implement what they think is the best way forward other than the gift of referendum that our martyrs delivered by sacrificing their lives, instead of only criticising endlessly. The least we can do to all the millions of our people who sacrificed their lives for us and our land is to remember them positively and let their souls rest in eternal peace irrespective of whatever views we held in our hearts individually against some of them when they were alive.

Signed on behalf of affected members of the SPLM

 1. Mr. Kuel Maluil Jok, Helsinki, Finland.
 2. Dr. Achier Deng Akol, London, United Kingdom.
 3. Mr. Sabrino Majok Majok, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
 4. Dr. Mawein Akot, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
 5. Mr. Kwai Malak Kwai, New Haven, CT, USA.
 6. Mr.Martin Mapour John Majak, Jonkoping, Sweden.
 7. Mr. Darious Garang Wol Mabior, Sydney, Australia.
 8. Mr. Akok Manyuot Madut, Missouri, United States of America.
 9. Mr. James Kur Muorwel, Eskilstuna, Sweden
 10. Mr. Martin Mou Mou Athian, Tronhiem, Norway
 11. Mr. Daniel Deng Lwal (Deng Falasha), Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
 12. Mr. Acuoth Makuac Riak, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

South Sudan: A Slow Liberation (Paperback, 320 pages)

South Sudan: A Slow Liberation Paperback – February 15, 2015

by Edward Thomas (Author)

In 2011, after a lengthy struggle, South Sudan became the world’s youngest independent nation. The area and its people had endured a brutal colonial conquest followed by a century of deliberate government neglect and racial oppression. Sudan’s war of liberation—although victorious—resulted in many negative economic consequences, especially in rural areas dependent upon humanitarian aid. The violent aftermath of independence has resulted in looting, raids, and massacres in some regions.

South Sudan: A Slow Liberation examines these problems and provides a revealing, multi-layered description of the current state of the country. Looking specifically at the Jonglei state, South Sudan’s most mutinous hinterland, Edward Thomas explains how it came to be at the heart of the journey toward state power and liberation and has exemplified South Sudan’s history as a rebel threat to the Sudanese government. Drawing on hundreds of interviews, South Sudan gives a sharply focused, fresh account of the country’s continuing struggle.

Editorial Reviews

Review

‘South Sudan: A Slow Liberation succinctly examines the challenges that continue to face South Sudanese struggling for freedom while at the same time stubbornly refusing to break loose of the archaic social relations and customs that militate against modernity – the essence of liberation – and the emergence of the modern state in South Sudan.’ Peter Adwok Nyaba, former minister of higher education for South Sudan ‘This is the most lucid, insightful account of South Sudan’s predicament in print. Privileging South Sudanese voices, and threading together social and economic history and political and military analysis with personal testimony, demography and anthropology, it is essential reading for those wishing to understand the current civil war. It is also beautifully written.’ Alex de Waal, executive director of the World Peace Foundation and author of Darfur: A New History of a Long War ‘Thomas’s insightful review of South Sudanese history, ecology and its multiple societies explodes many of the myths that underlie present explanations for the conflicts in South Sudan. Instead of looking to primordialism or narrowly based cultural explanations, Thomas situates Jonglei’s violence-prone history within the context of uneven development, global incorporation and the failure of the ruling SPLM to overcome the resulting contradictions.’ John Young, author of The Fate of Sudan ‘This book is a rare achievement as it unfolds the present through the voices of those who live with the consequences of what has happened in the past. Thomas gives us a much-needed fresh understanding of South Sudan that, while uniquely modern, historicizes and moves beyond stereotypes and received wisdom.’ Mareike Schomerus, London School of Economics and Political Science ‘A must read for all interested in South Sudan, the world’s newest state. Thomas’s well-written book expertly documents how statehood came about, its fragility and the lessons from history for South Sudan’s future.’ Alex Vines, OBE, head of the Africa programme at Chatham House and co-director of the African Studies Centre, Coventry University ‘The book thoroughly examines the predicament of South Sudan, focusing on Jonglei state, where the worst kinds of violence along ethnic lines have occurred. It interrogates the explanations, particularly uneven development, that many authors have used in their works. The work is a must read for anyone interested in a comprehensive treatment of the events that led to the birth of the new country.’ Leben Nelson Moro, director of external relations at the University of Juba ‘This is an illuminating account of the contradictions of the theory and practice of liberation in an African periphery. Thomas teaches us how South Sudan’s slow and relentless integration into the global market confounds its liberation unravelling chronically in the bloody conflict theatre of Jonglei. From the local contingencies of South Sudan’s war zones the book draws universal lessons on the devastations of the nation-state.’ Magdi El Gizouli, Freiburg University

About the Author

Edward Thomas has lived and worked in Sudan and South Sudan for over eight years. He has worked as a teacher, researcher, and human rights worker for Sudanese and international organizations.

Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul Did not Call for the Creation of Greater Agaar Administrative Area

Press Release

The Mission is focusing on peace and reconciliation modalities among the people of lake state who are killing themselves massively without a good reason.

 

                                                                             

January 16, 2015 (SSB) — First and foremost we thank the Almighty God for the mercy and His protection upon us as people of South Sudan since last year 2014 till 2015.

This article is the response to the article published by Panluel e wel website on 15^th Jan 2015 title “ Archbishop of South Sudan and Sudan (ECSS & S) his Grace Dr. Daniel Deng Bul Yak, calling for a creation of Greater Agaar Administrative Area (GAAA) as the solution to the ongoing conflict”

We want to clarify this information to the entire public that, the information public by panluele wel website is baseless and actually has no root to be considered.

The high delegation led by archbishop of South Sudan (ECSS & S) his grace Dr. Daniel Deng Bul Yak including 9 other bishops, over30 priests and 104 Jol-Wo-lieec members is mainly for peace and reconciliation in lake state for period of fourteen (14) days. The Mission is focusing on peace and reconciliation modalities among the people of lake state who are killing themselves massively without a good reason.

We have nothing to do with politics or administration of the country. We have never blame government or put any challenge to any authority both in central and state government. The delegation is to change the hearts of our people to consider peace and reconciliation through forgiveness of one another and also to deliver message of GOD to those young men who are actually found of doing wrong things such as killing of women, children, elders, community leaders (sultans) and pastors and also to refrain from stealing some people cows because if you keep on stealing then you will bring a curse to your people.

The Archbishop and the team are further more encouraging the Agaar community to be united and live as one people but to expel out from clan to clan fighting that has no benefit at all.

However, we are not here to preach politics but we are to make solution to our people. We cannot just create problem to solve problem but to see possibilities of improving our people spirit of revenge and together think about the way forward to stabilize the situation of lake state people.

We don’t think whether situation of Agaar is related to Pibor issue as indicated in the article published by Paanluele wel. Therefore, Agaar community is not affected by any tribe in-order to be separated from other community and they are not fighting for administrative Area. The main mandate for the delegation is to campaign for peace to the people of lakes state and to transform them to behave like good citizen in the nation.

In conclusion, we would like to inform the general public that we would soon release statement after completion of mission. The statement would exams the policy of the ongoing problem and general analysis made by high delegation.  For this reason we are requesting everybody to wait for the official communication that will entail the causes of fight in the Lakes and how Peace can be brought to them as part of modalities and solution to it.

 —

Prepared By Simon Yak Deng

Secretary General of the Jol-Wo-Lieec Provisional Committee