2017: The Tragic Year that Ended with a Mass Killing in Kolnyang, Bor County

By Peter Majak Garang, Bor, South Sudan

South Sudan must be weaned off war

January 4, 2018 (SSB) — Despite the current economic hardship, civilians in South Sudan and particularly in Greater Bor were busy buying things in the markets. The aim was for them to mark the end of 2017 in style. Children and women stormed the markets and bought varieties of items including clothes and foodstuff for their Christmas and New Year celebration, whereas, men were indoors figuring out how the families would sustain themselves in upcoming days and months once the festivals are over.

However, from the conflict perspective, some of the people in former Kolnyang Payam – currently known as Bor South County were busy looking for weapons and hoes/fangas to own the tools with an aim of using these (weapons) to kill and bury themselves. That exactly happened on 22nd Dec 2017 when a fight between two sections of Chueiker broke out.

The root cause of the conflict was controversial but has been blamed on ownership of land. A local media report attributes the eruption of conflict to ownership of grazing land and the naming of a village. One section wants the land and the village names it as Panwel while another section wants it called/named Anueet.

Who Really Cares About the New Year 2018?

By Zack Mayul, Nakuru, Kenya

January 4, 2018 (SSB) — It’s New Year and so what? I don’t really know why night runners, club goers, aborters, bleachers, feminists, corrupt elites, the felons among many other social naïve – would, in fact, find it very easy in my village, town, city, country or even continent to be jovial and join the rest of the world in celebration.

Please, be advised that I am not here to dictate your happiness about the New Year; but does it worth it to forget that we shall still go through the same therapy of life this year? To me, it’s the same shit scheduled by fate on a different calendar. Let me ask, what’s new this time that we must celebrate in 2018?

First of all, the work timetable hasn’t favor anyone this year– schools kids opened on 2nd or 3rd in Kenya, most workers resumed work on 3rd worldwide and so on, and so forth.

Gender Equality Needs our Collaborative Effort to Implement in South Sudan

Gender Equality: A Reality for our Collaborative Effort to Implement in South Sudan

By Agar Mayor Gai, Juba, South Sudan

A young lady with a gun on guard during Governor Philip Aguer visit to Anyidi Payam, Bor County, Jan 2016

January 4, 2018 (SSB) — Gender equality is a term that most analysts, scholars and political thinkers have been using since the end of Second World War to refer to a state of equal rights among all people regardless of gender, race, educational status and environmental backgrounds.

Despite all the measures taken by various concerned organizations to eradicate gender-based violence in South Sudan, some people are driven by wrong consciences rooted in biased cultural norms and practices still believe that it is a blissful dream that will never come true; they insist that it is just a form of despair and denial of responsibilities.

There are still great opportunistic steps that can be taken to achieve this first step to gender equality regardless of sex, age, level of education and so forth. For example, setting up of women’s right training centre in all parts of the country would help girls and women to know their rights and responsibility in the society.

The wind of calmness enjoyed during the festive season should be maintained in 2018

By Awuol Gabriel Arok, Juba, South Sudan

Abel Alier and Philip Aguer picture by Mach Samuel

January 4, 2018 (SSB) — Peace of mind is the strongest expectation of progress that any human soul must adore, South Sudanese have engagingly and gracefully celebrated the Christmas season of 2017 and ONE-ONE  of this year with stability and happiness though with few incidences of disobedience. Safety was at its utmost score, level of performances was high, and generally, our security forces did a praiseworthy job.

Juba was secured by security elements that were very vigilance, supportive and well organized, on the sharing plate of happiness Christians were jovially joined by Muslims during and after the birth of Jesus towing together the New Year loaded cart of cheerfulness.

The outgoing Mayor of Bortown, Prof. Hakim Ajieth, Congratulates his Successor

The outgoing Mayor of Bor Municipality, Prof. Hakim Ajieth Bunny, addressing Jonglei state council of ministers under oath taking, June 10, 2016, picture by Mach Samuel

January 4, 2018 (SSB) — I called Gai Makor Leek, the incoming Hon. Mayor of Bortown, today to congratulate him on the trust bestowed upon him by the governor of Jonglei state, H.E, Philip Aguer Panyang Jot.

I believe Hon. Gai will put his business experience and knowledge into use to make him succeed in this new role and to deliver the much-needed services to our people in Bortown.

Hon. Gai is a quiet person with impeccable good manners. It is my sincere hope and trust that these qualities will make him succeed in this new task.

A Reason to celebrate the new choice for Bor Mayor, Hon. Ghai Makhor Leek

By Philip Thon Aleu, Kampala, Uganda

Governor Philip Aguer of Jonglei state

January 4, 2018 (SSB) — Home is sweet and though hundreds of kilometres away, one keeps his ears to the ground for any news.  The latest news is that businessman Gai Makor Leek is appointed the third mayor of Bor Municipality by Jonglei State Governor Philip Aguer.  Congratulations. Gai replaces second Bor mayor Prof. Hakim Ajieth Buny

There is a reason to celebrate Gai’s appointment.  Gai has his families and businesses in Bor.  Most senior government officials keep their children and wives outside the country.  In effect, deficiency in services delivery is not felt by their families.  Their children don’t experience studying in poor schools, they don’t go to ramshackle health centres.

New Bor mayor Gai Makor Leek beat them here because his family and businesses are in Bor.  A leader, as a matter of practicality, should benefit from the services he/she delivers to the people so that lack of service delivery will hit the family of a leader as well.  Leaders who have their families in the different world from the people enjoy kings’ lifestyles.