35 years later: What change has May 16th brought to the lives of South Sudanese?

By Daniel Juol Nhomngek, Kampala, Uganda

Friday, May 18, 2018 (PW) — It is now thirty five years after the SPLM/A started the War against Khartoum in 1983. The war was not an easier one as it had led to the death of about two million people. Despite of those massive deaths which left many people dead, more orphans and widows and widowers, South Sudanese did not give up.

They were all united in peace and harmony against the Arabs. What made them to remain determine and fought to the end was the hope of the new place, the new country and the birth of the new people.

With that spirit of unity and determination based on the right to self-determination, the death of many did not deter many and the death of led to the history of South Sudan which is now sealed with the blood of many.

Indeed, the people fought as if they were hoping to go to heaven. If South Sudanese were all Christians, I would have concluded that they were fighting to go to heaven as they are ambassadors of Christ on earth.

Why we should rather be Farming than to Continue Fighting the Destructive War

By Apioth Mayom Apioth, WA, USA

Abel Majur Leek’s farm in Mareng, Bor, Jonglei state

Friday, May 18, 2018 (PW) — There are no better quotes that capture the current dire political arena in South Sudan than the following two excerpts: “Where you are roasting your sweet potato is also the place where the devil is also roasting its sweet potato of destruction” (African proverb), and “In politics, stupidity is not a handicap” (Napoleon Bonaparte). The late famed singer Nyankol Mathiang sang of how God brought us John Garang so he would strategically align us with the dream of having our land (Canaan=South Sudan) from the shackles of persecution in the not so united Sudan.

In the SPLA bush war, serendipity brought us John Garang and the devil also brought us Salva Kiir Mayarkor. We would go on and spent 21 challenging and trying years with the supposedly anointed and visionless Joshua(Kiir Mayar), not knowing that he would one day lead us into the war of destruction. His latest outburst was how he went ahead and freed the former SPLA detainees (the leaders) from imprisonment in Juba to an exiled political safety in Nairobi. To Kiir, he still regrets setting them free when he should have snatched the last breath out of them while he was at it.

This recent accusation led Ajak Deng Chiengkou of SBS Radio to have wondered as to why he would rather commit such a treasonous crime. This is one area where Dr. John Garang was way ahead of his peers when it came to matters concerning futuristic and shrewd strategic planning in sowing seeds that will bring the bountiful harvest in the not so distant future. The reason why John Garang always made sure that the Lost Boys of Sudan (who were also the core of the Red Army of New Sudan) were so often ferried to safety and properly trained and disciplined in soldiering and education was because in case the SPLA bush war dragged on and on for quite some time, then this newer crop of highly militarized generation of soldiers would take over from the former generation, and keep the flag hoisted high.

No equal employment opportunities with National and International NGOs operating in South Sudan

For Nuer, Dinka and Shilluk, there is No equal employment opportunities with National and International NGOs operating in South Sudan as most job opportunities are monopolized by the Equatorians

By Simon Buzada Gach, Juba, South Sudan

Aid Agencies’ bosses: They come in as commons and get out as royals

Friday, May 18, 2018 (PW) — South Sudan gained its own independence from North Sudan on 9 July 2011 as the result of 2005 peace agreement inked in Kenya which ended the 21 years of running the civil war in the country. Most of the citizens had decided to vote for separation on referendum days and the younger country was recognized and declares, internationally as separated State listed to other Africa countries.

In early 2013, political disputes happened within political elites or leaders of the ruling party, which displace most of citizens in the country as the result of their disagreement. Most of the citizens had left the country for neighboring countries mainly Uganda and Kenya for seeking an international protection.

Interventions of INGOs and National NGOs to an areas affected by the civil war

Some of international NGOs response to helps vulnerable population with food items and none food items,  when the civil war erupted in the country, particularly  in Upper Nile and Equatoria, where the citizens were displaced from their villages by both armed forces on the ground. As the result of fighting which going on in the country since 2013. Donors donated monies through INGOs and indigenous NGOs by helping the suffering populations affected by civil war in the country.

With the expiration of TGONU on May 17, the SPLM-IO must change tone in Addis Ababa

The SPLM/A-IO Tone at HLRF in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Must Change Now that the TGONU has expired on May 17, 2018

By Hon. Gen. Nathaniel Pierino, Addiss Ababa, Ethiopia

The author, Hon. Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, is a senior and founding member of SPLM-IO and the current SPLM-IO governor of Imatong State

Friday, May 18, 2018 (PW) — The timeframe within the agreement elapsed yesterday on the 17th May, 2018; it was a pre transitional period  of 03 months (90 days; 17th August, 2015-17th November, 2015) proceeded by a transitional period of 30 months (2 years and 6 months; November 17th, 2015-May 17, 2018.

During this tenure of (33 months of the life) the agreement, peace program in the chapters of the agreements were to be implemented, particularly;

1. Incorporates the agreement into the constitution or laws of South Sudan; by repealing, reviewing, enacting new laws particularly; Acts and statutes on SPLA, Police, National security, Wild life, Fire Brigade etc; remove state of emergency; release all political prisoners, prisoners of conscience; prisoners of war etc; all these didn’t take place; the agreement itself remained on pieces of papers;

2. Established the TGNU and implementation institutions made up of parties who signed the agreement, in the beginning this did happened April, 2016; but in July 8th, 2016; Salva Kiir abrogated the agreement that was not yet incorporated into law of South Sudan by attacking SPLMAIO and other stakeholders; the National Alliance, The SPLM’s Leaders and exiled most of them and created what is called estranged groups. The agreement therefore collapsed at this point. Salva Kiir, notwithstanding this negative development continued to say the peace had not collapsed, he was implementing the peace agreement with parties and persons of his choosing; General Taban Deng Gai was picked to replace Dr. Riek as the First Vice President; Hon. Onyoti Adigo replaced Dr. Lam Akol as minister of Agriculture; etc and similar acts were done to replace persons deployed in the implementation institutions except HE. Festos Mogae head of Join Monitoring and Evaluation Commission who happened to be a foreigner.

CEPO 1-2 Updates on the IGAD’s High Level Revitalization Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

CEPO Press Release: The Intra-South Sudanese Dialogue at the IGAD’s High Level Revitalization Forum of the Peace Process in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

MR. EDMUND YAKANI BERIZILIOUS is the Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), a Juba-based South Sudanese civil society organization.

Friday, May 18, 2018 (PW) — The parties and stakeholders selected representatives for framing the inter-south Sudanese consultations methodology, facilitators, and Agenda. The parties selected 2 delegates and the stakeholders selected one delegate. The team of the delegates has a consultation and agreed on the moderation of the intra-South Sudanese Consultations. The faith Based leaders were tasked to moderate and lead the Secretariat for the consultations. Further, the delegates agreed that the intra-South Sudanese consultations will focus on finding solutions on the outstanding between the parties on chapter 1 and 2, Strength building of trust and confidence among the parties.

After the official opening of the HLRF, then those faith-based leaders brief the audience of the HLRF hall. The faith-based leaders urged for more time to be given to them for engaging the parties for compromise and seeking solutions for the outstanding issues. After the briefing of the HLRF hall, then IGAD Special Envoy to South Sudan Ambassador Ismail Wise then inform the hall that they have agreed as IGAD to give the faith-based leaders more time for engaging on intra-South Sudanese consultations on 18th May 2018 in the morning hours.

Tumor in Leadership: The Case of Jonglei State Wrestling Team

By Peter Mabior Ajak, Melbourne, Australia

Thursday, May 17, 2018 (PW) — This analysis is for distraction within Team Jonglei at the recent inter-communal wrestling in Juba. ‘Tumor’ refers to issues that split Team Jonglei.

Keyboard warfare, Facebook Lives’ shelling, coupled with songs and lack of maturity is a cancerous tumor responsible for wrestling shenanigan within Team Jonglei. If you’re not appalled by the way in which issues within Team Jonglei are handled, and the state it is dissented to, then we seriously reach problem-solving crises.

Leadership is a beautiful thing. It is in every leader to do what is right and beneficial to the people you lead, in return help the people you work with and outcomes you would like to achieve. It is not always on how it is supposed to be because dishonesty in the form of disrespect and dysfunctional in the leadership of the organizing committee is a tumor that is responsible for Team Jonglei defeat.

South Sudan: Crooked people are finally dishonoured at the end

By Majok Arol Dhieu, Greater Lakes State, South Sudan

Friday, May 18, 2018 (PW) — Let me make you burn the candle at both ends, I know you’re tired because you just came back from lectures, work, gossips, evening prayers and double-edged politics. Just add this burden. You are aided with glossary at the end for idioms used in this piece.

One cloudy and dark night, Mr. Jackson sat at the fireplace with his fiancée. The beautiful dish at dinner had been croquettes, made of swede greens with some fried fritters added, and placed beside them. Mr. Jackson, the young manservant of Peter—–the Secretary of Traders Union who is very friendly to the Managing Director of the Cronic Farm.

Jackson in his outgrown uniform and unpolished black sandals take the opportunity to remind his fiancée, kindly and thoughtfully that Mr. David—— the Managing Director of the Cronic Farm will reshuffle his Senior Management Team tonight and that he had applied for the position of Shepherd Boy in the Eastern part of the Farm. He confidently promised his fiancée that if his application is considered, there will be a material change in his circumstances, and that they will lay unbreakable foundation together.

Culture of Revenge Destroys: A Call for Political Tolerance across South Sudan

By Mayak Deng Aruei, California, USA

May peace and reconciliation prevail in South Sudan!!

Friday, May 18, 2018 (PW) — “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy” Martin Luther King proclaimed. Having just concluded the SPLM/SPLA’s historic Day-May 16, I would like to encourage South Sudanese to reconnect with their past, recall the many wars they fought against the colonial powers, and against the successive Sudanese governments. The quest for independent South Sudan dated back to 1947, but the liberation struggle that started in 1983 gave birth to the nation called South Sudan. Freedom as it was the basis for five decades struggle cannot be realized until peace is every citizen’s Motto.

For record, war destroys good conscience, bankrupt countries, and corrupts the intelligentsias. In South Sudan, culture of revenge, vicious cycles of violence and cattle-rustling have contributed to political intolerance across the country. The nation’s founding principles have been suppressed; freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, justice and equality. Fear of unknowns, aided by deliberate obstruction of democratic governance has undermined South Sudanese collective efforts. Take your time and read the article in its entirety.  

Jieng Sportsmanship: The Politics of Competitive Wrestling in Jonglei State

Wrestling, Politics, Contradictions and Solutions in Jonglei State

By Junior William Deng, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Friday, May 18, 2018 (PW) — Jieng nation is variably blessed with uncountable ways of expressing happiness or various social aspects of athleticism and artistry; ranging from wrestling, singing, high jump, bat game, dancing and more. Without wasting time beating about the bush, this article gives analyses on “traditional wrestling”. I called it traditional wrestling because it is largely crudely organized by communities and not enterprises like WWE, FIFA organizations or NBA in the Americas. South Sudanese communities are not organized to give wrestling economic value for the betterment of social, economic and political growth. This means that wrestling in Jieng sportsmanship is not economical, it is rather an empty vessel that generates sense of belonging to the community to whom a wrestler is born and source of group pride – in fact a consequential pride.

1. Jieng Understanding of Wrestling

There are a variety of meanings of wrestling but according to Biordit Aguer, “wrestling is a residue of fighting.”  This gives us direct understanding of what wrestling is about. As we get it from the above definition, it tells us that the two individuals or more who are involved in wrestling do it bitterly tussling over who should win it. It is not full blown fighting but it perpetually generates unhealthy communal feelings leading to repulsive precipitation of social frictions. It also tells us that conducting wrestling requires customary law governing the conduct, exercise, behavior and attitudes of social parties involved. Since fighting is not a luxury among the Jieng people, wrestling should not be mobilized by elders and leaders, it should be understanding between wrestlers and camps that accompany the wrestlers but rested on rules and law.