Response to Uncle Bona Malwal recent press statement on Abyei in Khartoum

By Hon Arop Madut Arop, Nairobi, Kenya

December 12, 2017 (SSB) — As I was reading the last proof of my new book on the Ngok Dinka history, which is currently with the printers, somebody sent me a recorded voice message purportedly given by Uncle Bona Malwal in his recent press conference in Khartoum. In the voice message, it would appear that Uncle Bona Malwal was answering questions from journalists about a number of sensitive issues including a so-called Abyei Area controversy.

From Uncle Bona Malwal press statement, which I believed was staged to enable him to air some of his frustrations about a number of issues which had in not very distant past, led to his retiring from politics; Some facts beg the positive response from the concerned citizens of Ngok Dinka Region, which by accident of politics, has become known as Abyei area.

But as most of the issues discussed by Uncle Bona Malwal in his Khartoum conference were his own personal opinions, I will only comment on some of the important issues that struck me in the face. But before I discuss the issues raised by Uncle Bona Malwal, I would like to appeal to my great and resilient people of the Ngok Atungdiak not to react negatively and used abusive language in their response to Uncle Bona Malwal assertion that; Abyei area is a Sudanese for the following reasons.

Meaning of the mysterious cross-shaped grass at Juba Teaching Hospital

By Manyang David Mayar, Juba, South Sudan

The mysterious cross-shaped grass at Juba Teaching Hospital

December 12, 2017 (SSB) — Last week, Juba was shaken by the appearance of a green grass that grew in form of a Christian Cross at Juba Teaching Hospital. Eyewitnesses say, the grass wasn’t there the previous day but just appeared the following morning after one of the ladies saw a vision in her sleep.

In the following days, thousands of Juba residents poured into the hospital to witness for themselves. Upon seeing it, some bowed down to it and worshiped it as if they had seen Christ. Others willingly gave offertory in a carton box. And by a word of mouth the message of the Green Grass Cross spread quickly like wildfire to everybody. It rapidly dominated public talk in the streets of Juba and in public transport buses.

Many people agree that it was a miracle. But each person could only give his or her own interpretation of what the GGC miracle actually means. Other groups of people simply disagreed and refer it as false and misleading. As for me, I don’t know what exactly happened and how it happened. But I believe that God has a power of speaking to the people of South Sudan by the use of sign just like He (God) has done in the past in the stories of the Bible.

What makes Bona Malwal more South Sudanese than Abyei people?

By Bravo Delta, Juba, South Sudan

A young South Sudanese girl

December 12, 2017 (SSB) — Recently, South Sudanese have become aware of the Bona Malwal position that Abyei is not South Sudan. This is not new to Abyei people, since he made it clear to them in 2005 that Abyei will only become part of South Sudan “over his dead body”. The reason for him to take such position remains largely a mystery to the Abyei people, as well as to the South Sudanese.

Despite these constant attacks and hurtful statements launched by Bona Malwal, Abyei people will not be distracted. We see no point in fighting a meaningless war of words. However, since the South Sudanese people are the judges of Malwal’s claim, I would like to look at what makes Bona Malwal more of a South Sudanese than Abyei people.

Is the first unified primary examination a step toward national cohesion and integration?

By Longar Mathiec Wol, Juba, South Sudan

December 12, 2017 (SSB) — As the national dialogue kick off and the nation working toward unifying and stabilizing the peace thirsty nation through people to people consultation where people continue to give their views on how the current crisis in the country could be resolved once and for all. Personally, I think the efforts worth it; though the country still bleeding and the level of excruciation reached its climax still the peace loving South Sudanese believe peace is attainable even if it’s taking longer to come.

These peace lovers believe that all the sources should be exhausted no stone should be left unturned till the peace is achieved. The race toward saving South Sudan should be through multi-avenues efforts not only political means; but also social means through education as the alternative that could bring peace in the country.

However, as people trying to find the root cause of the conflict and how to address them. In some circumstances, people believe that one cause of the conflict is the ethnic isolation. This isolation happened when the people confined themselves only in the places where they were born and their ethnophobia and negative perception toward other ethnic continues to grow stronger and persist.

Jieng Council of Elders should not be scapegoated for the mess in South Sudan

By Kuach Loch Garang Deng, Calgary, Canada

President Kiir with members of the JCE

December 12, 2017 (SSB) — In Dinka culture, or other cultures which practice this tradition of taking a brother’s wife in case of death or infertility of brother, people should know its normal. It’s normal for one to socialize children born on his bed. When an infertile man sought a helping hand from his brother, then children or a child born in his bed is or are named by him. These kids are all socialized and taught or parented by the very same man who wedded their mother; paid dowry and called her his wife.

This man should be the legal father of these children and husband to this woman. Therefore, if these children become successful or fail in lives, no one should blame a smarten purse who only step up on the voluntary ground to procreate a family on his brother’s behalf when that custom is normally practiced in the said culture. As a result, a sole responsibility should be taken by a father for a good credit or failure as children grow up.

Freedom from Want: The Fight for Economic Freedom in South Sudan

By Nhial Bol Aken, Juba, South Sudan

farm in Bor, Jonglei state

December 12, 2017 (SSB) — As one of the people who championed for the cause of our independence, I decided to initiate a new fight for the survival of the country we fought to achieve. There is a need to fight for the freedom from want meaning economic freedom and soon I will move to my home area in Biong area in the former Gogrial East County to advocate for this particular freedom first among my community and later on I will move to others.

The project is seed breeding farm. One of the main resources to increase food production and timely availability and distribution of affordable viable seeds that are locally produced to cut down the expensive and imports. Farmers in my home area do not have easy access to seeds and the government has limited capacity to provide seeds. In view of the difficulty, farmers in the areas face difficulties to farm at the rain times of the raining season.

Proposing to establish a seed breeding research farm is the key to agriculture development. The farm is planned to produce sufficient quantities that will meet the demand for seeds in the area first.

Fair Dream for Mama Africa

By Awuol Gabriel Arok, Juba, South Sudan

The true size of Africa

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Mama Africa with her slain look of inquiry and innocence,

Mama Africa the custodian of world modesty;

Mama Africa has never enjoyed her virgin days in Peace,

Mama Africa has overworked herself since the creation,

Loathing the stains of poverty yet clinging to it with tenacity;

Born with knowledge but with little space for experience,