Extend the life of TGoNU to 5 Years or it will collapse into a political quagmire (part 1)

By David Mayen Ayarbior, Juba, South Sudan

new cabinet of TGoNU

May 26, 2016 (SSB) — When a civil conflict (war) ends in a stalemate and is concluded through a power-sharing agreement two scenarios are expected. Either parties to the war agree to usher-in a new political dispensation or to reverse the clock in order to start again but with an objective not to repeat past mistakes. The former is always the best option even though it may come with a new package of pitfalls which the parties might not be accustomed to. But it is the better option nevertheless, because old ways of governancewhich lead to the civil strife might be eliminated altogether. The latter option is what our country has always chosen for resolving conflict. In fact, we have even gone a step further in what has now become a popular phrase in our political vocabulary: “rewarding rebellion,” where village guerrillas could almost automatically rise from dangerous armed civilians to fully-fledged Brig. General or Lt. General, depending on the amount of “headache” they caused the state.

Even though the recently halted civil war is completely different in scale and scope, a fact that warranted an internationally backed peace accord, the formula adopted to bring it to an end was informed by the same principle of rolling back the time so that everybody could breath. It was the negotiators’ (well, mediators’ for political correctness) failure to envision a new viable South Sudan where a President and Prime Minister would work together to create new institutions that might absorb probabilities of conflict recurrence. And now that the country is back to square zero, our mediators and negotiators saw it wise that the two principles (President Salva and Dr. Riek) should battle it out at the ballot box to determine who should rule the country; another myopia as to what the country needs after it has been totally destroyed and brought down to its knees begging for mercy.

Who will break the political deadlock between SPLM and SPLM-IO?

By Emmanuel Ariech Deng, Juba, South Sudan

May 26, 2016 (SSB) — In attempting to recapture the obstacles of 2013 to 2016, the formation of the Transitional Government of Nation Unity (TGoNU) and what will happen in 2018, 2019 or 2020 predictably, foresees that there will be no free and fair elections unless there are constitutional and electoral reforms before the designated time for general elections. What constitutes the free and fair elections is the institution in itself to be established and independent from the influence of [political parties and the incumbent government]. Without earlier installations of these, chances of conducting elections in 2018 are likely to be impossible or appalling in respect to the disappearing crippling economy of the country.

Who will break this political deadlock between SPLM and SPLM-IO? in their feet dragging attitudes towards full implementation of the ARCISS and other burdens associated to the document such as the delivery of humanitarian needs to the IDPs, the security improvement, the dangling economy albeit the development of the country infrastructure remains deplorable amidst the political stalemate. The public is eager to hear from the signatories of ARCISS and the TGoNU recently formed to get relief from the suspicions of why the interim administration has gone slow and imperceptible in their programs and priorities since inception in late April to early May this year.

Some worshippers in Emmanuel Jieng Parish are hypocrites

By Wilson Mading Koch, Juba, South Sudan

Riek Machar at the Emmanuel Jieng Parish, 22 May 2016

May 26, 2016 (SSB) — Last Sunday the 22/05/2016 Dr Riek Machar, the first Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan went to Emmanuel Jieng and Prayed there. The Pastor in charge later gave him a moment to greet the church which is a routine, every time a high ranking government official visited EJP; he/she is invited to make few remarks before the congregation.

Last year an Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (ARCSS) was signed by the main warring parties SPLA/IG and SPLA/IO. The core objective of the peace agreement was to bring to an end continuation of death and destruction of properties.  Due to political and economic constraints, which are largely man-made it took long to be implemented, but a government of National Unity was eventually ushered in on the 28^th April, 2016. The common man who is usually on the receiving ends was sighed and applauded the move, because then politicians could divide their cabinet portfolios while regular citizens retreat to the farms, fishing, hunting and the cattle camps.

South Sudan: Where is our Future?

By Gai David, Kampala, Uganda

May 26, 2016 (SSB)  —-  We had promising hope as our brighter South Sudan, where is the hope we got from CPA? The CPA that defined our emotions back in 2005. To some it was the diminution agony of pain yet to be revealed on their faces. Tears of joy for the suppositive bright future after a long toil with immense ego of racial suppression. It was the best of times with faded illusions of pain. It was the spring of hope, the season of light after long toil of darkness. It was the epoch of belief in our leadership after a lasting incredulity. It was the beginning of hope for us after a long despair in the struggle. This was the beginning of right time, the end of wrong times. The beginning of happy times, the end of sad times.

Prepared or not, we had to receive it. We open handedly reached out for it with great emotions of relief in hope of self-determination. For good or for bad we had to receive this with joyous rhythm. Tears of fading agony or so we thought, rolled down our cheeks. This is what the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) brought to the people of south Sudan. The brightness of the future was clearer than crystal as we chose our fate. The fate we ourselves ought to define. We were liberated or our imaginations told us. We had hoped to receive the equal justice, liberty and prosperity we had longed and fought for as spelled out in our national motto. Being autonomous from Sudan for more than five years was not enough for us.