By Dhanojak Obongo

November 25, 2013 (SSNA) -- I am a concerned son and native of Jonglei State writing in my private academic capacity and not as Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan to the United States of America or as an ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of that newly formed nation.

 THE MURLE COMMUNITY

The ethnic community known as Murle is a majority pastoral people who originated from the Nilo-Hamitic group of Africa. They have two major clans: the Lothela lowland Pibor people divided into three payms; Pibor, Likuanglei, and Gumuru; and Buma Plateau (Upper Pibor) people of the Nalgam clan oriented to agriculture.    Murle population is estimated at 85,000 according to the disputed census of 2010.

Murle intercommunity conflict in Jonglei State with Anyuak, Dinka, and Nuer tribes reaches back to ancient times. The Anyuak and Nuer communities traditionally carried small arms and their example was followed by the Murle Community. Problems derived from such practice worsened when the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) was founded and the Government of Sudan (GOS) armed some ethnic South Sudanese militias. Subsequently small arms proliferated in the hands of South Sudanese civilians.

In 2010 after the Republic of South Sudan gained independence, the new government implemented a disarmament operations policy for all ethnic civilians carrying small arms without exception. The general policy was started in Jonglei State particularly with the brothers of the Murle community as they were considered the most aggressive compared to the other ethnic groups there.

Disarmament operations of Murle civilians has a history. In 1975 – 1976 the Regional Government of Southern Sudan,  at that time under the leadership of His Excellency Justice Abel Alier, Vice President of the Sudan and the President High Executive Council (HEC), conducted disarmament operations. Captain Williams Nyoun Benny and Second Lieutenant Simon Makwach Adthom collected many small arms from the Murle community. Many children and women abducted from the Anyuaks, Nuers and Dinkas were returned to their families via the paramount chiefs.  In 2012 history repeated itself. 

THE ROOT CAUSES OF CONFLICT

SOLUTIONS

Obviously other factors may apply but I believe that there are solutions to any conflict. If our intellectuals, politicians, and traditional authorities come together, they will be able to work out a durable solution to conflict in Jonglei State. Moreover, the conflict with rebel leader David Yau Yau was purely  political issue, because Mr.Yau claimed that, he won the seat of Gumuru in 2010 general elections  from Hon. Judy  Jonglei.Thus, should it be resolved through political means full stop. 

Here below are some proposals:

• GOSS to give governorship or national  ministerial position to the rebel leader Mr.David Yau Yau .    
• GOSS to come up with the three months political peace negotiation for the rebel leader Daivd Yau Yau  via the UNMISS leadership.
•  Building strong political, economic and social institutions in the state.
• Revise and strengthen the native administrative court under traditional authorities and leaders.
• Revise of the policy of decentralization.
• Creation of more job opportunities for youth in the state.
• Urging church leaders to emphasize from the pulpit on the ministry of reconciliation.
• Adoption of the South African concept of truth and reconciliation principle.
• Adoption of the mechanism of exchanging guns for cows or money funded by state leadership.
• Disarmament operations coordinated with youth and political parties activity.
• Avoidance of political exclusion of any ethnic community.
• Involvement of state intellectuals and academic personnel in the decision making process.
• Creation of a Center for Ethnic and Peace Studies at Dr. John Garang de Mabior Memorial University of Technology.
• Involvement of state women and youth associations.
• Development of a strong program for civic education by the SPLM and South Sudanese political parties.
• Convening a second All Development Conference for sons and daughters of the state as soon as possible.
• Create an annual traditional and popular dances tournament among the eleven counties in conjunction with Independence Day celebrations. 
• Encourage annual rotation of youth camping among the counties.
• Encourage the State Ministry of Agriculture to reward seasonal harvest farmers with award of a tractor for best performance. 
• Adopt a 75/25% split of non-native civil servants deployed to counties to encourage diversification.
• Encourage legislation against inciting ethnic violence.
• Discourage a culture of impunity through severe punishments for ethnic violence.
• Encourage youth job creation by state , local and foreign investors. 
• Create a strong Taxation and Revenue Authority (TRA) with foreign leadership during the initial half decade followed by native leadership.
• Encourage a law and order culture with diverse ethnic community and building strong enforcement agencies. 
• Encourage ethnic intermarriage.
• Minimize ethnic politics in the general election campaign.
• Create state and county libraries with one specially for members of parliament.
• Establish spaces for recreation and social activities.
• Establish strong state political leadership to promote unity.
• Encourage United Nations and nongovernmental organization funding assistance.
• Engage state in strong holistic approach for development projects, e.g. infrastructure of feeder roads, etc.
• Engage state in social and economic development.

It is my strong belief that our beloved president will provide leadership with the State Governor and the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission to adopt some of these proposals in the near future. The Jonglei conflict has become a national security issue. We are all a part of the solution as well as part of the problem.   It is my humble hope that some of these suggestions can assist the new incoming governor of Jonglei State as solutions to conflict of the Jonglei state.

May God bless the Republic of South Sudan and Jonglei State?

Amb. Dhanojak Obongo received Bachelor of Theology, from the Evangelical Theology Seminary, Cairo, Egypt, plus he has a Postgraduate Diploma, Sociology, specializing in Social Planning and Development; University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.  Currently, he’s a Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan, Washington, D.C., USA. He can be reached via e-mail: obongo_dhano@yahoo.com.au.

By Luk Kuth Dak

November 27, 2013 (SSNA) -- I have always had a love for history and democracy, spending countless hours in the libraries delving through history books and biographies among other topics. Also, am fascinated by ' democracy' having lived in one of the world most oldest democracies, The United States of America.

That leads us to the question of what democracy means in the first place:

Firstly, "democracy is a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state through elected representatives.

Secondly, "a form of government in which people choose leaders by voting."

And thirdly, "an organization or a situation in which everyone is treated equally and has equal rights under the constitution."

The list goes on and on.

But, if you take a closer look at the above definitions, you will find out that they in contradiction with the system of government that exits in the Republic of South Sudan (RSS).

When Salva Kiir Mayardit became the first elected president of the RSS, He made a promise that he will establish a democratic system of government in the country. "I will be opened for disagreements, and I will respect the freedom of expression, he was quoted as saying."

He didn't keep that promise, did he?

Today, however, the RSS is anything but democratic, and more and more it seems as though the President is the country, and the country is the President.

That's why most- if not all- of his supporters (This writer included) are alarmed and dismayed by what we see and observe in the media. It's self evident that President Kiir pretty much wants to barricade himself with those who cannot say ' no' for an answer. Those who dare otherwise, he shows them the ' door of no return.'

Talk about a ' one man' show.

More alarming, The President has severly wounded and compromised his country's relations with the West, especially the US and UK respectively. His first visit after he ousted the SPLM old guards was to Khartoum, where he received an unprecedented welcome by the ICC most wanted fugitive, Omer Hassan al Basher.

Sadly, these are difficult times for our country, and we should continue to advocate for changes everywhere.

The author is a former broadcasting journalist. He can be reach at: lukedak@hotmail.com

By Julius Nyambur Wani

Washington, D.C, November 28, 2013 (SSNA) -- It is exactly six days since the 2013 Wrestling Finals between the Central Equatoria State (courtesy of Mundari Invincible Champions) and the Jonglei State (represented by the Bor Dinka team) were held. Sadly the public has been kept faintly aloof about the crystal outcomes of the most popular and authentic sport in the newest nation, which the MIC won by 7 to 4.

Both the South Sudan Wrestling Entertainment (SSWE) and the mainstream media outlets have dove low in disconcerting silence as though the only good news they report is that in parallel lane, but not just any news about, and of, any equal citizen's achievement. The results of the November 23, 2013 match have not been published in any form, print or electronic. Equally conspicuously missing is the usual enthusiastic public buzzing boastingly about the victors' valor. This stands in sharp contrast with the pre-Referendum preliminary Finals held in November 27, 2010.

Then, the news about the Dinka team, dubbed the “Referendum Stars” having controversially won literally went viral. Although the results were responsibly contested due to unprofessional refereeing, and partly owing to bias inclination on the part of the organizing agency, the MIC conceded defeat, knowing too well that what goes around comes around. Victory then belonged to MIC but squandered in broad day light. This fact has been firmly demonstrated in the subsequent three successive Wrestling Finals. The Mundari Invincible Champions have been indeed, unstoppable. However, the genuine or covert intention for which the wrestling competitions were meant to achieve are elusively shifting.

This brings me to the gist of this article: the fallacy of peace and reconciliation in South Sudan. Here, two premises suffice. First, peace and reconciliation are not destinations that once arrived upon the journey ceases. Instead, both as concepts and means to inter-communal and national cohesiveness and stability, these ingredients are continuous. They must be exercised, observed, and constantly renewed. Second, peoples and societies must not cheat on, and about, peace and reconciliation. Lying about peace and harmony is outsmarting oneself, not just others. The consequences are that by trying to swindle one's way unfairly human brings to bear disunity, conflict, and distrust. This affects not only the humane compassion, but also the ecology, thereby causing disequilibrium in the ecological balance. Let's think of it!

Yet the big question remains. Why weren't the scores posted? Other than the unknown, two reasons are obvious. One, there was cheating involved. The most determined Ajang Mapuordit of Jonglei State violated the rules by stealthily grabbing the indomitable Jada Kenyi of Central Equatoria State from behind as the latter turned to celebrate his deserved victory. Two, it seems the wrong team won. Else, it is hard to fathom how in the middle of the capital city of a new nation where every occurrence is under radar the most luring sport could have not been reported? There is something fishy, so to speak. Could it still have taken this long had Jonglei won? One would doubt it.

The collusion by the media and SSWE to subvert the CES towering glory and their failure to educate the public about the purpose of the games, including their transparent outcomes, has sent out abhorring suspicion among the winners as well as to the public audience of good faith. It should be clear now that the motive of SSWE was not the promotion of cordial relations “between the cattle herding groups”as claimed on Sudan Tribune, but that of selfish, parochial interest.

Supporters and admirers of the traditional sport have been awed by this development. That there has even emerged gross, misleading propaganda in the social media to distort the facts is all revealing, uncomplimentary, and disparaging. Whereas the reality is known in Juba, the opposite is the case abroad. Fans of the Jonglei team are posting that Jonglei did win the match. Some of their agents have gone in great length as to using the fraud to raise funds for their nonprofit organizations. How despicable!

The Mundari Invincible Champions find these attitudes retrogressive, dishonest, and fallacious at best. As a society desperately seeking to restore broken relationships after decades of ethnic rivalry and build a cohesive state, we must be openly honest and award credit where it is due. Evading the truth, or distorting it when it disfavors us sordidly defeats the very moral ground for which it embarks to serve.

Otherwise, what is the guarantee that such mischievous action will not be replicated by the competitors when victory isn't in their favor? SSWE, like the FIFA, must be equitable in dispatching information. It should set good precedence and avoid complicity. Peace, unity, and reconciliation are not the making of shenanigans!

Julius Nyambur Wani is a policy analyst based in Washington, D.C. He can be reached at markojay1@gmail.com

By Elhag Paul

December 4, 2013 (SSNA) -- Sometime in the last quarter of yesteryear late Isaiah Abraham wrote two crucial articles invoking the principle of realpolitik visa viz the oil shut down and the border issue of Mile 14 in Northern Bahre El Ghazal state.  Isaiah’s main aim seemingly was the interest of Republic of South Sudan above all.  To him, the ideology of SPLM and its off shoot in the Sudan could be sacrificed for the well-being of South Sudan.  Truly, a bold thought of a South Sudanese patriot at a time of real crisis triggered by the idiocy of SPLM Oyee.

When he wrote those articles that cost him his life, it appeared that Isaiah was no longer a committed Oyeeite.  He had become a pragmatist and this could be seen from his thinking in those articles.  In a sense he was right to emphasise action in relation to the interest of the country.  The SPLM decoders must have sensed the developing shift in Isaiah’s overall ideology which must have irked them.  In addition to this, Isaiah was openly pro Riek Machar.  It looked like Riek was his role model.  In his writings he made subtle reference to Rieks’s intellectuality as a justification for taking over power from president Kiir.  This must have been the last straw and sadly “they” decided to end his life for the greater interest of the Jieng which is to maintain power at all cost to execute the project of Jienganisation spoken about by Mabior Garang the son of late Dr John Garang in his interview with Pan African Vision of 22^nd August 2013.

On 5^th December 2013 Isaiah will have been gone for a year.  All his contribution to SPLM Oyee and South Sudan meant nothing to president Kiir and his organisation.  They just disposed of him as if he was not a human being with rights to life simply for taking a patriotic stand in his last two articles.  Dreadful, is it not?  But the most painful thing is that 8 month after killing him, president Kiir embarked on the same path recommended by Isaiah.  So Isaiah was right after all.  It is now obvious he was sacrificed for nothing.  President Kiir now is being pressured and squeezed by Bashir and the international community to cut ties with SPLM North and worse still he appears to have sold out the border areas of Mile 14 including Abyei silently to Khartoum.  What a waste and utter incompetence!

Isaiah Abraham’s assassination is a classic case of Jieng on Jieng violence that does not serve any purpose other than advancing crude terrorism to silence critics whose unintended consequence has led to loss of valuable land and resources to Bashir.  The message was that if the Jieng could do away with one of their own, then they could do away easily with critics from the oppressed groups.  Hence, the list of death cleverly issued out through Wandit of security immediately after the killing of Isaiah Abraham, please see ‘Salva Kiir’s Death List’ http://allafrica.com/stories/201301180132.html?page=3  and ‘Republic of South Sudan – a Rotten Society Mismanaging Itself Into Self Destruction’ http://allafrica.com/stories/201303070023.html   

Some of us in that list accept that the Republic of South Sudan is ruled by criminals headed by an oafish president and whether the list was unveiled or not, like everybody else in RSS no one is safe in all form or shape.  So, death does not faze some of us.  After all who does not die?  All of us biologically are programmed by nature to come to an end.

President Kiir’s abhorrence of opinion writers is a wrong stance.  Invoking violence including killing and terror will not cow the people down into submission.  Unfortunately for his government things do not work like that in the real world.  When powers that be silence people, the silenced will find other means to express themselves.  It was the iconic Ernesto Che Guevara, the leftist guerrilla fighter of South America who noted elsewhere that, “Silence is an argument carried out by other means.”  Basically meaning no one can stop people from expressing themselves.  It is easier to control people who freely speak out and express themselves than those who are silenced and forced to work underground.  The latter is more lethal for when they strike back, their blow totally crashes the adversary.  The system in Juba should take note of this point because it is the same principle that swept the regimes of oppression in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya etc.

The West is able to develop and maintain peace because they manage the various freedoms appropriately.  For example, they receive critique positively to help them improve governance and the image of the party in power.  They disarm the opposition by quietly doing what the critics point out if useful and strategize on the other ideas they do not want.  So they do not need to resort to extreme violence or killing of critics but rather to harvest their ideas which then allow the country to develop.  With such management everybody becomes a winner from the individual citizen to the country.

President Kiir and the SPLM Oyee failed to learn the art of human management from other countries with experience like Namibia, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa.  They have all along been content with their militaristic culture tearing the country apart.  If only they had acquired human management knowledge and skills they could have avoided their current predicament.  It is this gap in human management that sadly led to Isaiah losing his life at the hands of his own comrades in the believe that he was being silenced to secure the government.

But, have they really silenced Isaiah?  This is a very important question whose answer will remain to haunt his killers.  Think about it.  I thought deeply about this question to satisfy my own curiosity and what I have concluded is that killing does not help in anyway but actually works to bring the killers down.  It is a self-defeating exercise of idiots.  Killing Isaiah has not silenced him.  Although Isaiah is physically dead, he still lives and communicates with us and he will continue to communicate with generations to come.  Further, Isaiah lives in his children and family, he lives in the body politic of RSS and most importantly he lives in the various papers where he opined.  Isaiah’s writings interact and will interact with us, with many other people of different races and nations and with the future generations.  Unlike his killers whose exit from this earth will certainly mean death in real sense of the word.

However, Isaiah as now and unlike his killers will continue to be remembered for his writings.  This underscores the point that the pen used appropriately for advancement of human rights and freedoms immortalises the writer.  When people write and quote or refer to Isaiah’s work like I have done here, he automatically springs to life and instantly speaks to us through his written work and work of others.  So the bullet that took away Isaiah’s life has not taken away his mouth.  Whether his murders like it or not Isaiah continues to speak.  Whoever killed him, please take note of this point - bullets and violence have a limited effect.  These are the weapons of cowards who do not have the courage to confront the opposition.  Bullets can not silence those whose intention is good and spread with the pen, the mightiest of swords that ever existed in the world.

To drive the message home, let us think about this point in relation to the case of Dr Martin Luther King.  Dr King wrote and spoke out against injustice in the USA and he was killed by the dark forces of his time.  Since his killing, he has become more of a formidable force in inspiring generations after generation in struggles for human rights.  Thus although Dr King is not physically with us, he continues to speak, inspire and lead us to fight for the greater good of humanity.  What about his killers?  Are they remembered? 

Again, look at the written work of the enlightenment philosophers like Jean Jacque Rousseau, Marquis de Condorcet, Baron de Montesquieu, Rene Descartes etc done centuries ago which have influenced the world considerably and continue to do so.  The work of these noble people was done in a hostile environment full of censorship, but these thinkers persevered and persisted.  Some thinkers such as Rousseau had to flee from France into exile in Geneva for their lives.  As you can see this is not different from the atmosphere in South Sudan now.  The important thing is that their pens immortalised them.  

Isaiah indisputably was the strongest asset of the SPLM.  He was its most articulate defender in the blogger-sphere.  He capably stood out butting any criticism directed at the organisation.  He deconstructed the written ideas of SPLM opponents to defend the indefensible.  For that from the depth of my heart I respect him not for his robust defence of his organisation only but for his unwavering commitment to what he believed in – a man of principle.  Isaiah was the symbol of the maturity of the SPLM.  He was proud to be an SPLM member in spite of all its weaknesses.  To date it beats my mind why the SPLM could not see how invaluable Isaiah was to it.  What a tragic thing!  Gut wrenching but that is the brutal nature of SPLM.  By killing Isaiah SPLM killed itself and blew off its last hope.  It is now an empty shell that makes a lot of noise without any substance.

The culture of violence that Dr John Garang constructed terrorised the entire SPLM/A and South Sudanese in the liberated areas which enabled him to build his cult of personality.  This resulted in the appalling worship of Garang and his ideas thereby destroying any foundation for growth of good leadership structure in the SPLM and arguably South Sudan.  When Garang died, South Sudan had to make do with under par Kiir as a leader.  A person without any capacity to lead a country.  Kiir’s inability clearly can be seen in how he is mismanaging his party and our country.  The Grapevine has it that he has unknowingly been manipulated and converted to become a South Sudan Democratic Forum member as the principles and ideology he now follows are of this latter party whose leadership together with Telar Deng and Aleu Ayieny Aleu guardedly surround the president and isolates him from all other groups including SPLM party members.  This possibly could be the reason why president Kiir appears not to care about the well-being of SPLM Oyee anymore. 

As I write there is a serious confusion and power struggle going on in SPLM with the country remaining unmanaged.  It is not known who is to be believed.  Do the people have to take president Kiir serious or to take his deputy Gen. Wani Igga serious?  Both are issuing statements contradicting each other with regards to management of the party.  President Kiir says SPLM structures: the politburo and the National Liberation Council are dissolved and a new body would be formed.  On the other hand, Igga is saying the meeting of NLC will take place on 9^th Dec. 2013.  Which is which and who should be believed?  It appears that Igga is challenging Kiir’s leadership subtly by dismissing what the president has said.  While this is going on, Riek is hedging his stall.  With all this, honestly should this hopeless criminal party still be leading the country?  This is a matter that needs urgent attention from the people.  Precisely, it is this confused, irrational and destructive management that has made accountability impossible in the country.  Isaiah’s case is somewhere lost in this chaos.

Sometimes I wonder what Isaiah would have made of the current situation in South Sudan. 

In reflection when Isaiah was killed, the senior members of SPLM reacted to his killing by promising a swift investigation with justice.  At one point it was announced that the FBI, the American body responsible for criminal investigation, would be coming to join the South Sudan Police to carry out the enquiry.  This was wildly drummed up misleading the public that the case would be taken seriously.  It is one year now since Isaiah death and there is no sign of the investigation or findings.

What type of human beings are we who can not value and fight for a man who was in the trenches; in the relentless open rains of south Sudan; in the heat of battles facing the Arabs; in the tough desert of Jonglie on the way to Buma Hills; a man who contributed to South Sudan?  Those who promised justice during Isaiah’s burial have conveniently disappeared from the public space.  They need to be reminded because the fact that Isaiah’s case has not progressed should spur them into action.  Therefore, those who forcefully proclaimed their support to get justice for Isaiah’s family should look themselves in the mirror and ask themselves whether they were honest with their declarations during the burial.  Please see,  ‘Tribute to Isaiah Abraham: Verbatim from the Memorial Service of Isaiah Abraham’  http://www.southsudannation.com/tribute-to-isaiah-abraham-verbatim-from-the-memorial-services-of-isaiah-abraham/   

If these powerful members of SPLM knew that they could not live up to their words, why did they promise a dead man’s family justice?  Why did they lie to a dead man’s family, friends, relatives and the country at large?  Where is their humanity and integrity?  It is not too late for them to bring the killers to account if they truly want to.  For essentially the case of Isaiah is a case of the state against his killers. 

Unfortunately the killers seem to be the very people charged with the affairs of the state.  Thus it is abundantly clear that if any justice is to be achieved for Isaiah and all the other victims of SPLM Oyee there needs to be a change of the status quo.  Since the coming of SPLM in 1983 into the political space of South Sudan, justice disappeared in South Sudan.  There is no accountability of any kind in any area of life in the country.  Truly South Sudan is a lawless jungle.  Until when is South Sudan going to bleed and continue to be run like a monkey colony?

Let me conclude by saying that on this first anniversary of Isaiah’s death I have spoken about his tragic story, what his work means to society and where his work situates him in relation to existence.  I personally want to remember him first and foremost as a human being, a son of a deeply hurting mother, a father, a husband, an uncle, a nephew and cousin.   I want to remember him as someone who bravely fought for the emancipation of South Sudan.  Though we wrote furiously from distant opposing perspectives we thought one outcome for our country: a functioning peaceful democracy.  It is not important which perspective was/is right but the act of involvement itself with the intention to be part of a solution is what mattered.  In this Isaiah most unfortunately paid with his dear life and worst still his family has been denied justice like all the other victims of the system.  RIP

[Truth hurts but it is also liberating]

The author lives in the Republic of South Sudan. He can be reached at elhagpaul@aol.com

In Memories of Him and his Words, for he shall live forever in our hearts and our minds.

December 5, 2013 (SSNA) -- Isaiah asserted that “President is to blame squarely on our lands being occupied by Arabs, and now he has gone further to sign away Mile 14. His statement that he will not cede an inch of land to the North comes too late, too little. We are not buying this belated chest thumbing statement from the man we all know his frequent promises. We know him better. No one has faith in Arbitration Court courses. Who is this that wants to fool us that the argument is not about land but military disengagement? Someone argues that it is just a temporary arrangement to allow forces to disengage and later on the border demarcation will determine the real owners of the land. That is a lie.Buffer Zone practice is applied when the two sides lay claims on an area. Mile 14 if it becomes a claim area, then we have already such claims areas where one side is left alone – recall Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) is firmly in Panthou, Hofra El Nahas, Kaka and Kofi Kingi, why did the policy of buffers not apply there?"

He went toe to toe with the President Salva Kiir by saying "How about me, sir, I was with you in one of the battalions (Tiger/Tumsah) you led, what will you say about me? I participated in the demonstration on Monday in Juba, all the way to parliament, to denounce the buffer zone dog for Mile 14. I went there but for reasons known to all. We had expected our lawmakers to reverse the arrangement on Mile 14 and go with the rest of the agreement. To us, we thought that someone have given away our land in exchange for oil deal with Khartoum. The document should not have gone like that, people. Unfortunately, little did we know that Kiir has become another (Abyei Chief) Deng Majok who exchanged his ancestral land rights for a single meal?”

Juba leadership position on the Cooperation Agreement has started to be dismissive and abusive to those questioning some pieces in the agreement. Some of our lawmakers have joined the fray and are out to condemn whoever criticizes the agreement. They have even cracked as there are calling some sections of our society Northern Bahr El Ghazal people versus others. Legislators everywhere have a moral duty to protect the larger interest of the nation and not just their local constituents.

A constituent bigger like South Sudan is what binds us all. It was uncharacteristic, just unfair therefore for lawmakers to abandon local national pressing matters to specific individuals or groups to fight it out. Why leave the border matters to states affected, I have asked such question many times? MPs for the areas of Mile 14, Abyei and Panthou, Hofra Al Nahas and Kaka are like any other MPs in Western Equatoria, Jonglei, Lakes, etc, whose lands have no dispute with the North. I found it cruel when the matters in question were left to people affected to sort it out, while the rest of the country goes indifferent. This should not have been the case. The issues of Mile 14, Abyei, Panthou, Hofra Al Nahas are for the entire nation called South Sudan for Northern Bahr El Ghazal, Western Bahr El Ghazal, Western Upper Nile or Northern Upper Nile.

People everywhere are not happy that the negotiators allowed Khartoum a foothold on these lands. We have made a mistake to sign away Mile 14 under the pretext of a buffer zone. No amount of explanation will extinguish the fire of anger against the President and his team on this matter of Mile 14, Panthou and Hofra Al Nahas.

Abyei, Mile 14, Panthou, Hofra Al Nahas and others are becoming disputed because some has entered them by force. These places are 100% South Sudan lands. Our negotiators succumbed to pressure, and hence a failed test for our leadership.

President is to blame squarely on our lands being occupied by Arabs, and now he has gone further to sign away Mile 14. His statement that he will not cede an inch of land to the North comes too late, too little. We are not buying this belated chest thumbing statement from the man we all know his frequent promises. We know him better. No one has faith in Arbitration Court courses. Who is this that wants to fool us that the argument is not about land but military disengagement? Someone argues that it is just a temporary arrangement to allow forces to disengage and later on the border demarcation will determine the real owners of the land. That is a lie.

Buffer Zone practice is applied when the two sides lay claims on an area. Mile 14 if it becomes a claim area, then we have already such claims areas where one side is left alone – recall Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) is firmly in Panthou, Hofra El Nahas, Kaka and Kofi Kingi, why did the policy of buffers not apply there? The same way mediators avoided Panthou, Hofra Al Nahas and other lands that are disputed, where Sudanese Armed Forced are embedded or firmly in control, it should have been the case for Mile 14. Mile 14 has never been a disputed land as do the Southern occupied lands. Mile 14 is used by Rezeigat Arabs during the summer, demilitarizing it after Sudan Army was chased away from there makes it an automatic disputed land.

Badme, a disputed territory at the heart of conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea was awarded in 2002 to Eritrea by UN backed Commission but to date the Ethiopians troops are firmly on the ground. Is that scenario not going to repeat itself in our case for Mile 14, Pantou, Hofra Al Nahas and other disputed areas? I do think so.

Majority of our people are stricken with fear that someone has not articulated well to protect the right of people on our land. We have lost out our rightful lands to Sudan through cowardly and ignorant decisions or both. Why is it that our leaders want to play politics in the face of an anomaly? This is arrogance at best and skullduggery.

Our leaders know where the truth is, but are not telling it. The issue of Mile 14 and other disputed lands is not a small thing for the head of state to dare sarcastically the people who oppose the deal to go to war. Sir, people will go to war with you first if you do not stop your clumsy approach to such critical matters of our existence. Khartoum has found a weak character they can manipulate.

In the face of challenges our president has clearly become another challenge to our people. Our people did not elect Kiir to give away our land, and then spew disparagingly at his disgruntled people. Mr. President sharpened his derogatory remarks against those opposed to the agreement during his address to security officers on Tuesday that those who are unhappy with the agreement are people who were with the Jalaba/Diaspora, and never had time to fight with him in the bush.

How about me, sir, I was with you in one of the battalions (Tiger/Tumsah) you led, what will you say about me? I participated in the demonstration on Monday in Juba, all the way to parliament, to denounce the buffer zone dog for Mile 14. I went there but for reasons known to all. We had expected our lawmakers to reverse the arrangement on Mile 14 and go with the rest of the agreement. To us, we thought that someone have given away our land in exchange for oil deal with Khartoum. The document should not have gone like that, people. Unfortunately, little did we know that Kiir has become another (Abyei Chief) Deng Majok who exchanged his ancestral land rights for a single meal.

Shame on Kiir and his cohorts! Kiir must go! He is a useless leader this country could have. His foul mouthing is not tolerable anymore. Get it right and just to emphasize the matter we are trying to say, we are not rejecting the Cooperation Agreement with the Sudan, especially for an agreement that will last for a few years. But if the matter touches land, it becomes so complex to clear even after the expiry time. The agreement is not all bad. People became happy that at least the oil production will flow again for the economy to resuscitate and that there will be relative harmony between Sudan and South Sudan, once belligerent countries.

But look, there are eight (8) agreements for the intended cooperation, but the one known as security agreement has spoiled the rest. The agreement has no meaning if the issues of Panthou, Kaka, Abyei, Hofra El Nahas and Mile 14 are not resolved. The security agreement should have been thrown out of the window by the lawmakers until grievances or grey areas surrounding these matters are resolved. This is where we are coming, the issues of land are so grave for anyone to dip his/her fingers into. Our president should own it up. This is what we are saying and he got to fix it. He failed to show leadership, so do the lawmakers in our land. Our legislators could have torn the document and made amendments before ratifying them.

What is this argument that if the president signs it the document, it cannot be challenged. Who is this god in South Sudan that when he does something it cannot be reversed? Whether Kiir or Garang signed it, people are more supreme. They can redo what has been botched for the good of all. Mile 14 and Panthou are sold out for no reasons at all. Oil or no oil, we have been cheated by a ruthless clique in Juba. To them the agreement is excellent, the agreement has not been understood, the media has failed to articulate it to the people, reactionary forces are behind the rejection of the agreement, insignificant number in our society, people who objected to the agreement are diaspora and that they also opposed CPA but later cheered it when the flag was raised. That is utter nonsense.

Majority of our people are not opposing the agreement for the sake of it but had hoped that the leadership in Juba would do the necessary changes before going for a law. Bad deals create more troubles than solutions and hence uncalled for under the face of realities surrounding our rights. My people have suffered under President Kiir and his heartless clique; I have no kind words again against these people. The demonstration we made as people of South Sudan on Monday, not as Northern Bahr El Ghazal people, will go down in history as the beginning of things to come.

Mr. President is not apologetic and this is worrying. The people of this country deserve a leader that respects their views. We have never had problems with him since he accidently ascended to power in 2005, because the situation dictated that people exercise patience. For the past eight years we have learned bitterly that Mr. Kiir is the problem and should be removed. He has failed us in many fronts, and on this matter of land he must not be forgiven. Our men in uniform in Mile 14 therefore are to remain in their places and let Mulana Makuei, Mbeki or Pagan come and dislodge them by force. AU must deploy any troops around Mile 14. We will see how to go about Panthou and Abyei now that someone is selling our lands to Arabs.

Written by Isaiah Diing braham Chan Awuol and sends By Gabrial Pager Ajang, Political Science & History Instructor at Wright Career College, He holds, BA, MPA and PhD student.

By: Weirial Gatyiel Puok Balaung

December 6, 2013 (SSNA) -- Dwelling much on the split of 1991 is tribally-motivated headache that will not save any unpatriotic and unpopular leader anymore, because for some of us who had experienced the worst experience in New Sudan live style (liberated areas) before the CPA.

The author is/was much disturbed to hear bad means of campaign of some few leaders against their rival in politics by recalling the Split of the SPLM/SPLA on 28/8/1991.

Does that politician have no weakness rather than that of 1991? Why recalling it by this time while he has been holding a political post for the period of eight good years?

Who think that he or his tribe men and women have liberated this land? I need you my readers to answer the above questions. I may agree that most of our leaders 90% of them have committed crimes during the liberations.

There were worst human rights crimes committed by some of high profile members of SPLM/SPLA Government from different tribes against Equatoria, Nuer, Dinka and the rests of south Sudanese people that included pandemic rape cases on under-age girls, women and forced marriages.

Incredibly, some of these senior public officials who’d committed these kinds of human rights abuses are currently holding National Ministerial, Governorships and other constitutional positions.

However, I do not know why some people would keep on hanging on 1991 split. How about the Nuer of Gajaak massacre, the raid on Naser, Mayiandit and Leer counties attack and others?

Did any Nuer come up and start blaming our late Leader(s) in Newspapers, for instance, for having instigated the killing of innocent Gajaak people?

Our top leaders will soon drive as to a tribal war for sure if they could continue their unhealthy campaign in order to win the confidence of the people of south Sudan.

How about the deaths of Joseph Oduho, Kerbino Kuanyin, William Nyuon,Samuel Gai Tut, others and several assassination attempts against Dr. Riek Machar and the subsequent killing of his late wife (knocked by a vehicle) in Nairobi-James Gichuru road/junction- did people unearth all these out? What about the Chukudum genocide in 1998?

How about the continuous intimidations by same community towards other South Sudanese and international community in South Sudan from time CPA enactment 2005- up to now? Will this ever end and what is the way forward?

Leave democracy to take its course alone and do not interfere with the process. This time you should lobby professionally than barking against Federalism system of rule in your tribal forums.

If you are those who ran to the bush claiming to liberate the people of South Sudan from oppression with a hidden agenda of ‘’save our tribe first and leadership for life’’ than it is not this land where Dictatorship can take place since all the people inhabiting the country are brave and sound minded.

Points of writing this factual opinion

In my opinion the issue of SPLM chairmanship candidate should be left for the SPLM Convention to discuss and choose who the party thinks can take the SPLM Presidential ticket come 2015 election rather than creating a chaos by telling that SPLM has dissolved itself and did not. President Kirr, Vice President Wani, Dr. Riek Machar, SPLM Secretary General Pagan, Madam Nyandeng or any other SPLM presidential aspirants are all sons and daughters of South Sudan and have equal democratic rights to contest for the Presidency if they want. Many people across the country are still asking about the positivity of the dissolution of the SPLM or not.

Even I myself I am confused like the rests of my people across the country, we do not know which source of information is the right and which one is not the right one.

Last month the declaration for the dissolution of the SPLM structures were announced several times by different leaders on Sudan tribune website, President Kiir, Information minister Michael Makuei, and the country’s VP James Wani Igga, but with different opinion of the dissolution of the party. Some said it was not dissolved and some said the Party has dissolved itself alone.

Now the best solution is to give up misinforming the public opinion and set a date to reconcile your differences socially rather than doing it politically before it is run out of the control.

Like other democratic political parties in the world, SPLM also allows internal democracy through convention or primaries this time around. Therefore, it is up to the SPLM Party to decide who they want to lead the Party and the Country this time around NOT particular tribal sentiments in Newspapers to discourage any of the presidential aspirants with the year 1991.

The former Vice President-Dr Riek Machar had openly declared to the public that he is contesting for Presidency and the writer of this article applaud this courageous idea. The writer is expecting more SPLM candidates or South Sudanese from other political parties to declare their aspirations for Presidency openly without any fear including the current sitting President- Mr. Salva Kiir, if he is still interested to contest for the next Presidency.

For those who are interested and prefer to keep silent, the writer of this article welcomes their attributes too.

Most South Sudanese should have remembered and acknowledged all the positive aspects about the unique leadership style of Kiir in handling issues when he first came to power –before he was messed up by his wrong/tribal advisers who think President Kiir is their tribe mate.

I do not know why it is difficult for most African leaders including President Kiir to retire peacefully like Late  Nelson Mandela of South Africa(R.I.P) who served one term (4 years only) and retired with dignity after delivering Black South Africans freedom from White apartheid regime which was the most important achievement. Nelson Mandela passed away recently on 5/DEC/2013 and his positive legacy will never be forgotten by the world. Why shouldn’t Kiir do like Nelson Mandela or continue in democratic practices?

The write is a concerned citizen of south Sudan; he can be reach on makakopaul@gmail.com

By Elhag Paul

December 10, 2013 (SSNA) -- The widely advertised press conference of Riek Machar and group and the National Liberation Council meeting of General Wani Igga have all turned out to be utter disappointment.  Let us begin with Riek.  He raised the hopes of the people and yet again he failed pathetically to deliver.  This brings us to the routinely asked question: Is Riek a person with a pedigree of a leader?  It is vital that this question is objectively answered if only to ensure that South Sudan does not once more find itself in a grip of another incompetent leader(s).

Riek’s press conference was neither convincing nor offering any hope to the crashed people of South Sudan.  Almost 5 months since his sacking from government, it appears he has not really sat down to cogitate seriously about the problems of the country and those they collectively created including president Kiir as the leadership of the SPLM.  The reasons Riek and his group offered against president Kiir is to say the least laughable.  These accusations are not new and actually South Sudanese upto village level are well versed with it.

The current schism in SPLM mirrors the one in 2004 with Kiir then in opposition against Dr John Garang.  At the time, Kiir as the deputy of Garang was discontented with Garang’s management of the organisation.  He shed tears that he was being sidelined, not considered and hunted by SPLA security.  He lambasted Garang with numerous examples of poor management of the movement.  For example he asserted in the Rumbek meeting that “The chairman seems to have taken the movement as his own property.”

SPLM at that particular time was about to self-destruct but the prospects of the peace agreement with Khartoum and the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement played a very important role in bringing the protagonists together.  With everybody tired of war and in anticipation of a government in Juba funded by share of the oil money Kiir and Garang reconciled.

The minutes of Rumbek meeting of 2004 shows the deliberation was honest.  The meeting identified two thirds of the problems afflicting the organisation.  Here are some quotes that give a glimpse of the chaos in SPLM:

“If we are National leaders, which I don’t believe we are because we have no cohesion with our leadership structure, let us be sincere with ourselves.  After meetings are conducted, we run to foreign countries.  There is no code of conduct to guide the movement.” (Kiir)

“Corruption as a result of the lack of structures, has created a lack of accountability which has reached a proportion that will be difficult to eradicate.” (Kiir)

“I also want to say that the movement is in the hands of few and many are alienated.  National resources must be shared by all, no matter how small it is.  The structures are controlled by a few minority group and this must be sorted out in Rumbek.  This minority group is the problem, hand picking people must stop now because it is creating problems.” (Garang Mabil)

“On structures the only way to resolve it is through the national convention which should be convened as soon as possible” (John Garang)

“At the moment some members of the movement have formed private companies, bought houses and have huge bank accounts in foreign countries.  I wonder what kind of a system are we going to establish in South Sudan considering ourselves indulged in this respect.” (Kiir)

“The Chairman has been everything ever since the movement started. I call upon the Chairman to work with people and not alone. The Chairman should know that he has been wrong because some of the members have not been telling him the truth. Some leaders should be blamed for not doing their part, for many have not been doing things properly. I repeat what Cdr. Salva said that Dr. John does not forget and forgive. So I want to say that those without guns are vulnerable. The Cdrs. Are secure because they have guns to protect themselves from the Chairman, but I ask, who is going to protect those of us without guns.” (Justin Yac)

From these quotes Kiir asserts that they are not leaders (he has proven it), that the movement has no systems and that the organisation is ridden with corruption.  Mabil emphasises the problematic practice of group within a group and Dr Garang acknowledges the lack of structures.   Justic Yac highlights the brutal nature of the organisation.  In effect SPLM internally has always been a chaotic organisation and this is what they imported into the government of South Sudan.  However, externally they projected a false picture of a formidable well managed organisation.  This falsity is falling apart now because as Hannah Arendt in her book ‘On Revolution’ tells us that a king remains respected and obeyed so long as he is clothed.  Once part of his body is exposed by lifting the cloth he loses all respect and with it power.

Therefore, a quick glance at the minutes of Rumbek meeting shows the problems of the SPLM since its inception under its two leaders: late Dr John Garand and now president Kiir.  These problems are not new at all.  They are in fact historically rooted.  What Riek et al did in their press conference was to amplify them for their benefit.  In doing that they shot themselves in the foot.

SPLM being what it is, a tribally dominated joint refused to learn from its weaknesses.  When they came into government soon after the Rumbek meeting they were lucky to be gifted with a government appropriately funded by oil money. Had they been foresighted they would have straight away organised the SPLM introducing membership fees to fund the activities of the organisation and to address the weaknesses identified in Rumbek.  Swimming in petro-dollars the leadership forgot about addressing these serious issues.  Predictably what happened was a continuation of a culture everyone of the leadership decried: corruption, lack of structures, tribalism, abuse of power etc.  They opted to use state funds to manage and promote the SPLM in blatant abuse of power in order to weaken every opposition party in the country as they have done.  Please see my previous article ‘The Corruption Saga – the SPLM big Five Big Guns or the Quintet Squirrels’ http://allafrica.com/stories/201202271279.html 

So they continued with their ways promoting all the ills they identified.  No wonder, it was a matter of time before cracks began to appear in SPLM as it did and indeed it has widened.

What was expected from Riek was first for him and his group to come clean on their contribution in the SPLM to the mess they have done to the country.  This is called taking responsibility and it is a measure of maturity and a sign that they have reflected and come to terms with their weaknesses.  This would at least make the people to have a sympathetic look on them.  But as it is, this group seems not to have learnt anything and they are not better than president Kiir and his assortment of colourful allies.  It highlights the saying that the leopard can not change its spots.

Secondly, it was expected that the groups’ challenge would be grounded on the president Kiir’s violations of the parties governing document with clear references to the violated clauses.

Thirdly, it was expected that Riek would unveil a clear programme of action to get the country out of the mess they created.  

Fourthly and vitally Riek needed to provide extensive explanation on what an administration under his leadership would do to address the pernicious issues of corruption, tribalism, killings etc which they have been part of.  Sadly enough, Riek incompetently did not even bother to delve into these core issues.  The inference inevitably must be this group is not ready to move away from their set behaviours and culture of abuse.  They are only unhappy because they are not in the gravy train of president Kiir.

This group was happy being in president Kiir’s ‘rotten to the core’ government without any inkling.  Majority of them did not speak out against any of the issues they are now accusing president Kiir of.  In fairness, Pagan and Majak tried to do something but they stopped short.  Please see ‘my article ‘The Cogs of the Oyee Machine Desert President Kiir’ http://allafrica.com/stories/201205290096.html

If this group really meant what is in their press statement they should have resigned from the government when abuses were going on under their watch.  For example, Gen. Oyayi Deng Ajak was the minister for security when Isaiah Abraham was murdered.  What did he do to ensure that the murderers were brought to justice?  Why has he been quiet all along?  John Luke was the minister of Justice, what did he do to address the issues of investigation into the murder of Isaiah Abraham, the slaughter of Banyjoth Matoat Tap, the murder of police officers in Yambio, the rampant corruption etc?  Was it not John Luke who vowed not to see any prosecution of people accused of corruption?  Again, was it not John Luke and Michael Makuie with Wani Igga who imposed the shoddy interim constitution on the South Sudanese people?  What about Michael Makuie’s recent bravado with the media fraternity?  What have the members of this group done to exonerate themselves from the accusation of corruption and poor governance?

Riek’s press statement is deficient in elucidating his claim to have a ‘vision and direction’ for the country.  Since March 2013 when he declared his intention to topple president Kiir in the SPLM at the SPLM Politburo meeting, Riek has not made any attempt to explain clearly what his vision and direction for the country is.  He just kept singing these words without providing any flesh to it.  When the opportunity presented itself for him to clarify his position to the people on 6^th December 2013 he ended up saying nothing.  This is a proof that Riek has no agenda at all for the country but ambition to accede to power at the expense of the people and whoever is thinking of voting for him and his group should review that position in light of this evidence.

What the people expected to hear was what type of South Sudan this group envisions?  What methods would they apply to bring about their vision?  How would it be measured and how would the man on the street benefit?  How would they deliver basic services (health, housing, employment, education) to the people?  These are just few of the questions.  In terms of ‘direction’: what ideology will guide their actions if they succeed in deposing president Kiir from the leadership of SPLM and by implication from the government?  

Riek having failed in selling his case, the people of South Sudan should not waste their time on him and his group.  They are essentially clowns of the Oyee machine and system. There are not good for South Sudan and South Sudan does not need them.  Ciao!

There are more capable leaders who the people need to start interacting and focusing on.  SPLM-DC has the potential to provide leadership but its main weakness lies in its name.  Being an off shoot of the Oyee and carrying part of the Oyee identity in its name tarnishes its image.  Presently, brand SPLM in the mind of the average person in the country evokes nightmare.  It stands for corruption, lawlessness, disorder, chaos etc.  Unfortunately by association of the name only, SPLM-DC may not be taken seriously by the electorate.  For its leadership to be noticed and taken seriously it will need to jettison the acronym SPLM to enable it to sell its vision to the country. 

Looking widely there are potential leaders who have so far remained silent.  These should be encouraged and supported to take the mantle of leadership to rescue our country.  In my article, ‘Vice President Gen. James Wani Igga’s Folly’ http://allafrica.com/stories/201309240445.html  I briefly drew the attention of the readers to behaviour of two persons: Justice Peter Sule and honourable Richard K. Mulla.  The duo is just an example of capable leaders out there.  The selfless and patriotic stand they took with the issue of the interim constitution prior to independence reveals the calibre of leadership that might just save the country.  In fighting for a democratic interim constitution, it can safely be inferred that these are people who seem to believe in fairness and justice for all the people of South Sudan unlike those (Riek et al) who imposed an oppressive document on the people and created a dictator in the person of president Kiir.  Had the people and especially the rubber stamp parliament heeded Sule and Mulla’s words of wisdom the current chaos would not have visited the country because president Kiir would not have had the powers to exercise dictatorship.  Their values obviously may have been influenced by their legal training and that should be highly welcome.

Turning to vice president Wani Igga’s several arranged National Liberation Council meetings for 22^nd October 2013, 23^rd November 2013 and 9^th December 2013; none of which materialised.  Every time Igga announces a meeting he insists it will happen only for the meeting to be cancelled at the last moment without any explanation.  He constantly inconveniences people and arrogantly moves on without any apology.  Is this behaviour of a sane person?  It smacks of someone who has lost touch with reality.   It appears that both the vice president and the president are operating in a world of their own.  They are so immersed in their world of delusion to the extent that they can not see that they are alienating the people.  More and more it appears that the reason for the constant postponements of these NLC meeting is nothing but manifestation of fear of the unknown.  They must be terrified of what might come their way should they hold it.

As the fight, in conclusion, is an internal SPLM thing and the two groups have disappointed and continue to disappoint, the people of South Sudan need to connect with the silent leaders.  These silent leaders living among them experience the daily pain and therefore understand their sufferings and rights.  It is abundantly clear the Oyeeites are people who truly are out of touch with reality in South Sudan.  They have no clue of the damage they inflicted on the country, hence Riek’s insulting press statement.

[Truth hurts but it is also liberating]

The author lives in the Republic of South Sudan. He can be reached at elhagpaul@aol.com.

By Deng Vanang

‘’If we dwell on discussing presence and the past, we shall find that in between we have lost the future, said the British former war time Prime Minister Winston Churchill.’’

December 13, 2013 (SSNA) -- The stages are set on conspicuously high podia with booming sounds of microphones roaring forth and back between the bickering SPLM’s factions. Each faction has its own identity tag emanating from the duration upon which it articulates its political point of view. Machar’s group is lamenting on the presence as mismanaged by Kiir’s group while the latter echoes the divisive past of 1991. And all have lost sight on the future as the alternative that could bail the party from its current challenges of the failed governance.

It all began on the afternoon of 6^th December when Machar’s group addressed the press in the SPLM house’s compound. At the conference, the group issued their press statement containing a litany of Kiir group’s unforgivable political transgressions. Among them on which to enlighten the public are the issues crippling the party internal operations as well as those that are hampering government service delivery to the long suffering people of South Sudan.

Machar group’s issues of discord

The SPLM outsider faction accused Kiir’s group of sidelining them by surrendering the governance to the ethno - regional lobbies and close business associates who have over run the party affairs in deciding in particular who to be shown the door or allowed to cruise through to the cabinet home and dry. Decried the involvement of the intruders from other South Sudan politically parties perhaps without consulting them, a strategy to dominate cabinet with people who would only pass decisions favorable to him. Much hue and cry from the group is Kiir’s wanton destruction of economy with oil and tax revenues tucked into the thieving fingers of Kiir’s closest lieutenants, especially the Bahr El Ghazal power barons and business mandarins, regionally and ethnically inclined policies that see Dinka ethnic group of below 25% of the country total population always scooping more than sixty percent of the total positions while the rest remain scrambling over less than forty percent. His selling out of the party big time to the foreign agents and former colonial power, the ruling National Congress Party in the north from which several political returnees they regarded as opportunists have clawed back to the SPLM and dangerously rocked the boat from within on the unsafe high seas.

The likely veiled foreign agents may be Sudan and neighboring East African countries that have so far been seen by observers of having a dirty hand in South Sudan internal affairs by taking the advantage of the country’s inefficiency to craft sound economic policies of self - reliance. Not to miss out on the complain list of Machar’s angry and hungry group is the confirmation of the army in the party or party in the army South Sudanese public have all along been complaining about mixing wheat and maize or literally mixing politics and the army when the group found fault with kiir in demobilizing those they regarded as seasoned SPLA Commanders thrown into wilderness of redundancy so as to erase the historical legacy of SPLM and form his personal army under the guise of presidential guards, which in SPLM politics in relation with other political parties such private army is normally referred to as hostile militia group organized to overthrow the democratically elected SPLM government.

Besides appointing second or third tier SPLM leaders/cadres to head two houses of the National legislature as well as to the cabinet when he Kiir had a problem with first tier SPLM leaders/cadres, the historically chest thumping and acclaimed card carrying owners of the party who narrowly survived the horrors of the 23 years old bush war. To break the last straw on the camel’s back is what they publicly riled as Kiir unconstitutional and selective ouster of the elected State Governors namely Chol Tong Mayai of Lakes and Taban Deng Gai of Unity because of politically differing with him with Kuol Manyang Juuk being removed and relocated to the key Ministry of Defense on his consent despite presiding on the ruins of Somalia type State of Jonglei. That is beside his arbitrary suspension of party Secretary – General, Pagan Amum on unconvincing reasons and dissolution of key party’s organs such as the executive wing - the Political Bureau he of late refused to convene its meetings, legislative wing - the National Liberation Council and State Secretariats in whose place he instructed the sitting State Governors, all SPLM members allied to him, to hand pick delegates to the National Liberation Council meeting at which the controversial clauses prone to manipulation and intimidation like voting by a show of hands, the Chairman having to nominate 5% of the total delegates more loyal to him to create an edge over competitors, desirous to appoint leaders of all party organs in the SPLM basic rules and refusal to consider term limit in the party that could be in turn enshrined in the national constitution can be passed without facing any opposition. Which to them, Kiir did such unpatriotic move with an intent to form his own party closely linked to the NCP embraced in the warmth of newly found marriage of convenience over oil flow and Abyei with SPLM and distantly delinked from historic struggle of the people of South Sudan.

The group bemoaned Kiir defamatory statements that suggested having dismissed them from the government due to corruption and failure to deliver services ironically during the dry spell of nearly two years old biting austerity measures as a strong arm tactic means to divert public attention from deceptive methods of servicing none existing 4 billion USD debt the government never bothered informing the public about when borrowing it in addition to infamous Dura saga, shoddy roads construction contracts and defamation letter to 75 SPLM historical leaders/cadres whose identity he is not willing to disclose. And with all the above mentioned arbitrary policies Kiir group has put the party in particular and the country in general on the fatal brink of chaos and disorder, concluded Machar’s group. Or alternatively to avoid this brinkmanship, the SPLM Chairman should call for the PB meeting in order to set the agenda for the NLC as per current party constitution so as to correct the deviation from the SPLM vision and direction, address the present challenges within the SPLM in order to revitalize and resort the SPLM to the driving seat so that the liberation party could rediscover the roots it has lost to hold the steering wheel of two historical processes of both nation and state - buildings.

Kiir group

With kiir group rubbishing most of the accusations as outrageous and equally divisive lies coming from people who have lost grips of power in the party and government while hitting back hard on Machar group’s stone throwing from glass house suggesting it has shared in the administrative anomalies of which they have accused their group. More notably the lost of SPLM vision as well articulated by the party’s founder, the late Dr. John Garang De Mabior whose widow Madam Rebecca and son Mabior are the staunch members of the opposite group and run away corruption that has eaten deeply into the SPLM soul and flesh. The group went on offensive to defend the verbally bartered allies - NCP refugees and poached members from other political parties - dismissed by Machar group as opportunists heel-bent on hijacking the ruling party. Since the chief {Machar} of the renegades, according to them, was in fact a founding member of NCP back in the era of Khartoum Peace or surrender Agreement he himself signed with NIF turned NCP against the SPLM/A he is today preventing other former members of rejoining. And for them the group is just complaining of being outside power after mass dismissal from the cabinet on the 23^rd July far from the party mismanagement and subsequent loss of vision as decried reasons of their multiple discontentments. Kiir group sounded a clear warning to some in Machar’s group to watch out over shoulders on their graft charges with suspended Secretary-General, Pagan Amum requested to be humble enough so as to honorably accept his failure in running the party as its chief executive officer, a repeated allegation the embattled suspended Secretary – General has been rubbishing as untrue since the party administration has been virtually taken over from him many years ago by Kiir’s closest cronies with his backing. Kiir group concluded by asking Machar group to desist from introducing strange vocabularies of divisions and culture of indiscipline via media war into the SPLM, stop inciting the armed forces of South Sudan against the President of the Republic and also the Commander-in-chief and threatening creation of instability, chaos and disorder in South Sudan coupled with alerting the SPLM members and the entire citizens of the Republic of South Sudan to be watchful of the disgruntled group who are nothing but selfish perpetrators with no place in nation and state building.

National Liberation Council

The December 15^th seems to be the final date to convene NLC meeting that gets postponed severally and currently overshadowed by the first public rally of Machar’s group slated to take place on the same date, probably to assure the public on their resolve to slug it out with Kiir’s group over the party leadership come rain come shine. In that meeting, members of the NLC of about 150 and some of whom are not longer part of the SPLM - South while the rest have succumbed to the grim reaper/death or defected to other political parties courtesy of bickering and subsequent confusion that has characterized the operations of the ruling party since 2008 Second National Convention, will attend the volatile meeting. The extra – ordinary meeting shall take place again to fine tone what will be backlogs or contentious issues of the ongoing NLC’s meeting before the Third National Convention to take place between March and April next year, 2014.

Between theses exchanges of barbs, the public and the press seemed to have a soft spot on Machar group they regarded as diplomatic in expressing their own political point of view as opposed to Kiir group’s no - holds - barred attack on personalities in Machar camp rather than eloquently deliberating on pertinent issues of discord. Kiir group whose members except Dr. Riek Gai Kok seem to be falling short of oratory skills before the public gallery compared to more eloquent members of Machar camp, is also proving what Machar group laments as their dictatorial stand because of its many futile attempts to place a lid on party politics which is the free market place of progressive ideas, especially in trying to prevent the group from exercising their civil liberties such as freedom of expression, movement and association which are the core elements of participatory democracy. Machar group has not come out of this verbal war unscathed either. One, in its ranks and files are individuals publicly accused of lining pockets with petro-dollars, effectively depriving them of high moral ground to preach ethics of good governance. Two, the fact that they were dismissed and not voluntarily resigned from the government made them accomplices in the politico-economic crimes they accused Kiir and co. of perpetrating against people of South Sudan. Their cry from outside the fence can likely be viewed by the public as a groan of a jilted wife over the opportunities she has unwittingly lost.

Deng Vanang is a journalist and Executive member of South Sudan’s leading opposition party, the SPLM-DC.

By Kuir ë Garang

December 15, 2013 (SSNA) -- South Sudanese are becoming too simple minded. Even worse, we’re starting to adopt a culture of ‘if you’re not with us then you’re with them.’ This Bushitic, Reaganitic and Thatcheritic political simplism wouldn’t be in anyone’s favor in South Sudan.

No! South Sudanese society is more complicated than that simplistic, scare-tactic sorry politicking.

The current wrangling within SPLM is not only an embarrassment to the current leaders and the ‘party’. It’s also a desecration of liberation history and abuse to the fallen heroes and voices of the liberation struggle starting from 1947.

Who is clean in the SPLM? Who has built and developed his/her constituency to raise any voice against anyone? Leaving the government doesn’t translate into being free of corruption! SPLM leadership is corrupt to the core.

Good leaders don’t whine; they initiate methods that lead to resolution of the problems in hand regardless of how such methods affect their lives. It’s time for the SPLM leadership to stop accusations and counter-accusations and come up with workable solutions to the country’s problems.

Stop telling us what we already know. We know what problems the country is facing and we know how incompetent SPLM leadership is! What we need to hear are appreciable strategies to solve the problems.

Riek Machar, Pagan Amum and Nyandeng de Mabior, among others, came out in force to accuse the party (mostly confused with the government) of failures of its leadership. The failure of the party (government) is apparent. We know it. But we don’t know of anyone who’s come out to clearly spell out the best way out. We are sick of hearing complaints against Kiir and failures of the party by members of the same party!

Kiir Mayardit, Wani Igga and Kuol Manyang, in response to Riek and company, acted like school boys: “You abuse me, I abuse you! You tell me I’ve done this, I tell you you’ve done that!” How old are these people again?

If leadership is lacking in South Sudan, then what happened to the wisdom of tribal Africanness, of age? What happened to the integrity of the African elder man?

We all know 1991 was a disaster that almost derailed the people’s struggle. This is a historical fact Riek Machar and Lam Akol have to deal with forever; whether they are dead or alive; whether they like it or not. However, reminding us of 1991 all the time is political blame and grand irresponsibility we don’t need. We need history mentioned to improve the country not to destroy it, to divide it and win apologists!

And then president Kiir is talking of having never ever betrayed the people’s struggle! Really? Isn’t that same Kiir who was part of those sent by the Sudanese government to kill their brothers in Anyanya II in late 70s and early 80s? Wasn’t it Riek Machar who convinced the same Kiir in 2004 to come back to the movement? Kiir almost betrayed South Sudan at the eve of CPA signing! The saddest thing is that President Kiir is doing exactly what he accused John Garang of in 2004.

Mr. President, we are writing history down so protect your legacy!

Riek is corrupt and so is Kiir! Riek once betrayed the aspirations of the people! Kiir is betraying the aspirations of the people now! Riek showed his incompetence in his handling of Nasir-group! Kiir has proven now beyond any reasonable doubt that he’s incompetent. So gentlemen, we’ve seen you! Can you now sit and talk before you embarrass yourselves even more…and destroy the nation?

Mr. Wani Igga, you terribly failed South Sudan in your response to complaints raised by  the 14 members of the political Bureau. Instead of acting like a leader, you acted like a teenage boy in a school back yard. You need to show leadership!

We know Riek Machar and the group are not any better. They are equally corrupt and they publicly criticize the party they assume to be protecting. That we know is wrong! They need to seek internal avenues to solve the problem.

However, what they are saying is the natural truth. SPLM is a mess and things need to change! Small minded people are saying Nyandeeng de Mabior is spoiling her legacy by standing with Riek Machar. They see Riek Machar as dirty and untouchable. Well, they are either too self-righteous to acknowledge the problems, bigoted or they are those who see the world in black and white: “If you don’t agree with us then you agree with them.”

This is very common among the Jieng of Jonglei; especially the Nyarweng, Hol, Twi and Bor people. They are very self-righteous as if the world revolves around them. Okay, a number of prominent liberation leaders come from their tribes: Dr. John was Twi, Arok Thon was Twi, Akuot Atem was Twi, Kuol Manyang is Bor, Majier was Bor …and Nyandeeng herself being Twi…among others. However, that doesn’t make you better than anyone. Stick with ideas rather than personalities.

As much as we don’t like Pagan and company as they are, like Kiir and company, two sides of the same coin, we have to learn to acknowledge the truth. Why convene National Liberation Council (NLC) meeting before the Political Bureau (PB) meeting? Leaders don’t avoid problems, they solve them!

Those bashing Nyandeeng need to grow up and look at what’s happening in South Sudan. John Garang stood with Riek Machar in Nairobi and welcome him back after their bloody disagreement. He also made Riek Machar the third senior leader in the SPLM. Maybe we should blame John Garang for bringing Riek back to the SPLM. History is known, but it should not divide us!  

Kuir ë Garang is the author of ‘South Sudan Ideologically’ and “Is ‘Black’ Really Beautiful?”   For contact see www.kuirthiy.info  or follow him on Twitter:@kuirthiy.

"A house divided against itself cannot stand” - Former US President, Abraham Lincoln.

By Luk Kuth Dak

December 18, 2013 (SSNA) -- Cde Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Republic of South Sudan (RSS), Chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), had a tone of potential and an opportunity of a lifetime to be a permanent member of elite league of the world's great leaders. His name could've been easily mentioned in one sentence with iconic such Nelson Mandela.

Like Nelson Mandela, Kiir spent most of his adulthood fighting to free his people from slavery, oppression,racism and bigotry by the successive Khartoum regimes. Most importantly, he let his country to its independence, and subsequently, was elected as first President of the RSS.

However, those potentials and those opportunities of becoming a great leader are now slipping away, because the President has chosen to follow not the footsteps of the great leaders, such as Mandel. Instead, he's now clutching arms with the must brutal dictators. Now, if you don't see him hanging around with Sudan's Omer al-Basher, he's over the phone chatting with Isaias Afewerki, Idriss Deby and Robert Mugabe respectively.

It's so true that ever since Kiir illegally ousted the SPLM's historical leaders, such as Cde Pagan Amum, Cde John Luk Jok, Cde Deng Alor among others, Kiir's actions have been nothing short of treason to the principle on which the party was founded. On any given day, the President is constantly violating his oath off of office. " If you don't like my policies, he was quoted as saying, go ahead and form your own party."

Also, in a bizarre turn of events, the relations between the RSS and the Western nations are things of the past. The President was absent from the UN General Assembly session, but had all the time to visit with his new pal, the ICC most wanted man, Omer al-Basher.

And so, if you are a concerned citizen of the RSS, you should be very, very worried about the direction of the country we all cherish. In a short couple of years, you'll head to the polls to elect the leader of our nation for the next five years. Unfortunately, that election will be between Cde Salva Kiir Mayardit and Cde Salva Kiir Mayardit.

Here's why:

The President is aware that if the election were to be about his performance and potential, he would be defeated by just about anyone, because he poorly performed during his first term. That explain why he's taken control of the three government branches, not to mention the military for which he's the Commander-in-Chief. Bluntly put, the election won't be a fare game, and no one in his/her right mind would want to take a risk of running against a dictator with so much powers in his hand. The fade will be fatal.

And if the recent events unfolding in Juba are indicative of anything, they indicate clearly that General Kiir's now more determined to use deadly force against those who simply disagree with his regime.

Our only choice: Impeach the President.

The author's a former broadcasting journalist & a regular writer for Sudan Tribune, South Sudan News Agency, the Upper Nile times and Gurtong. Hit me on e-mail at lukedak@hotmail.com, to let me what you plan to do to save our country.

By Pel K Chol

December 19, 2013 (SSNA) -- The last three days have been extremely painful for the majority of peace loving South Sudanese and frustrating for some. The ongoing slaughter of Salva Kiir's political opponents by his servants and puppets has not only shattered the lives of families whose love ones have been murdered, but also the event has tarnished the image of this nation. The lies and deceptions in regard to the events of 15/12/'13 would also make one wonder what the vision of this president is all about for this country.

Over the last two days over 1000 people, mostly Nuer, have lost their lives and the situation still remains intense, spilling over to other states. No one could really predict how many more lives will have to be lost before Kiir realizes his actions and plans were boldly stupid.

The people of South Sudan knew very well that there was no coup attempt what so ever. Therefore, it is important to let the world know about the brutality of this man. His media briefing, the day after the attack against his political foes, was not to persuade the people of South Sudan, as they know his evil tactics very well. Rather he was trying to blindfold the world to his actions in killing those who differ from his policies by trying to make it look as if he were the victim.

Undoubtedly one might ask how this could be a coup when Kiir himself had ordered his puppet, General Gathoth Mai to cut his holiday short from Australia and return to Juba as soon as possible. If he did not, Kiir would act without him by arresting the ex- vice president, Dr Riek Machar and other loyalists.

The motive behind the arrest was that Kiir did not want to lose party leadership in the   SPLA convention due to be held before the 2015 presidential election. Upon Kiir's request, General Gathoth returned to Juba and within the day of his arrival, President Kiir ordered the army to arrest his political rivals. As that is unconstitutional some army officers within the army barracks resisted Kiir's request. By refusing to act, Kiir loyalists began shooting rampantly at forces loyal to Dr Riek.

Kiir has had a plan for a good number of years to resort to the army, which he does not control, when he discovered he was losing party support for nomination. The concern of party members was due to rampant corruption within his government, nepotism, massive unemployment and all other issues including lack of a clear vision for the country. Such prominent members include Rebecca Nyandeng, the widow of late founding father of SPLA, John Garang, Dr Riek Machar, Deng Alor, Lol Gatkuoth, Chol Tong and Taban Deng to say the least.

As Kiir felt that he may lose nomination for presidency of South Sudan, he structured the army by removing those he thought would stick to the rule of law with those he can manipulate. This resulted in the removal of many commanders from their positions such as Bol Kong, Gatwech Dual, Tang Ginye and many others.

Now that he had cleared his way by replacing them with his puppets, he declared war on his political rivals using the army to kill his own citizens, while at the same time making false claims of a coup plot against him.

As Kiir declared war on democracy, for which many people have sacrificed their live during our struggle against the north, I do not think it will take too long before we see his demise either through political transition or through the language that he understand.

The writer is a concern citizen of South Sudan living in Australia

By James Moises*

Kampala, December 20, 2013 (SSNA) -- The Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni has ordered his special forces to help his student Salva Kiir Mayardiit of South Sudan deals with the political and social crisis which is now taking place in Juba. This is exactly what I said back in July.

About five months ago, I have warned the world to take note of Museveni’s evil feats long planned against South Sudanese who do not like the way Salva kiir runs the new country.

What my dictator forgot is the fact that his thirst for South Sudanese blood will not go unpunished!

My hat off to the late Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi who told Salva kiir to mind his own business after he (Kiir) first approached Addis Ababa to help him carryout his inhumane and undemocratic plan.

In July of this year, I promised the world that I will expose the actions of Ugandan ruthless killer, Museveni, with secret documents that will blow the minds of any human being on this planet earth.

On the 18^th of December, 2013, I have decided that enough is enough and that all documents that I promised the world to see are now in the hands of very few agencies that will soon lid the bloody smoke long stored in one of the Uganda’s secret organisations.

Please, revisit my previous report here: http://www.southsudannewsagency.com/opinion/articles/ugandan-president-has-a-deadly-hand

My fight against Museveni’s evil deeds is ON, be READY, and prepare for the UNTHINKABLE!!

James Moises is a former national security agent in the government of Uganda and has extensive knowledge of the covert security deals signed between Kampala and Juba. He can be reached at james.m.moses@yahoo.co.uk

By James Okuk, PhD

December 24, 2013 (SSNA) -- De-celebrations of unhappy Christmas in many parts of the nominally Christianised South Sudan is real. No longer does the white angel says "peace and life be upon you!" It is only the black lucifer that has been saying "war and death be upon you!"  The agents of the dark lucifer are now the very so-called leaders who used to sit in the front benches in the churches of South Sudan. Alas!

Instead of Christmas laughter filling the air it had been human blood and tears crying on the ground! The bad chicken has come home to roost so painfully. The whole world had to shake its head in disgust and throw up it arms in despair when it looks to the newly discovered brutal and brutish nasty nature of some South Sudanese. Vanities of vanity!

Is it the very South Sudan that thrilled us with the happy ululations of peaceful and successful referendum in January 2011? Are they the very South Sudanese who amazed with admiration the whole world  in the evening, the night and the morning of the celebrations in the streets of Juba in July 2011. Is it any longer a joyful independence? Has it become a sorry leadership? Where did things start to fall apart? For how long are things going to remain fallen?

Cry my beloved country! Mourn my beloved people! It is indeed the unhappy Christmas that lost its meaning in South Sudan. It is a hopeless New Year 2014 that went back to the dark ages of human history. Not only have we spoiled Christmas and New Year for ourselves in South Sudan but also for the friends and concerned Christians/humanists worldwide. A bitter human paradox!

How do we bring the Republic of South Sudan back to the civilised age of human dignity?

It doesn't make sense any longer to identify who killed who and who was killed by who. The more you make sense of sensless killings and counter killings the more emotional it becomes for demands for additional blood and painful tears spilling in South Sudan. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth has disabled South Sudanese with an ugly outlook in the face of the rest of the world.

It is normal in some ethnic cultures of South Sudan to emotionally fight and kill first before sitting down for logical dialogue later. There is no place for morality and future prospects. It is 'now' and 'now' with whatsoever cost. And the 'now' has to be connected with heartless revenge, avenge and looting of whatever can be seen on the side of the perceived enemy or on any suspected crossings. The civilised world has not understood this yet. They are still theorising while things have fell apart and more are still falling apart.

When the madness of mass killings and looting stops, and when jungle justice had established itself, perhaps it would be the time to collect the human skulls in one place. The buried South Sudanese in single and mass graves have to be allowed to decompose and get dried up so that their skulls could be brought to a museum as a reminder in future.

It would be the time to tell the the generations to come about how dear lives of South Sudanese were not valued after the declaration of their independence.

In sad times like this political analyses tend to be meaningless. In deadly and anarchical situation like what the Republic of South Sudan is going through, narrating what had happened does not solve the problem but brings more trauma.

What is urgently needed now is not addressing the root causes but the symptoms first. That is, stopping the madness of killings and looting immediately.

But who is going to help South Sudan with painkiller in this tormenting moment?

The United Nations under Chapter Seven is limitedly helpful. Leave alone protecting the civilians but they are unable to protect their own lives from being lost in the trying situation.

The United States of America, the United Kingdom and the rest of nations can only afford to evacuate and protect their own citizens in South Sudan to a very limited capacity.

The Government of the Republic of South Sudan has been paralysed by its own absurdities and internal contradictions. It can no longer protect all its citizens with trust and without ethnic discrimination.

The rebels have taken Nuer's ethnic dimension and they cannot guarantee security to the Dinka  and other Non-Nuer's ethnicities. For them everything is Upper Nile, Nuer and Oil. The rest will settle itself later. It is no longer SPLM or SPLA.

Hell has been left loosed and nothing is seen but atrocities after atrocities emanating from absurdities. Kalashnikov has to die naturally of old age on 23rd December 2013 but at the same insane time with South Sudanese. His invention of the most deadly killing machine known as AK47 has really facilitated the South Sudanese atrocities. What a man!

No amount of any eloquent speech could help now even if Dr. King Jnr., Mandela and Gandhi have to resurrect and talk to South Sudanese at these satanic moments. No amount of verbal or written statements could help either. No talk of peace could be a way out now except military intervention for more war of containments.

If Americans are really the friends of South Sudanese, they should intervene immediately via military means to stop the blood bath. The current heartbreaking situation shall not end except by more war. War from super power is the only strong message that will deter the waring parties to revert to peace in South Sudan.

I call for immediate military intervention from the concerned members of international community. There is no any other option left to save the remaining dear human lives in South Sudan. Can any World Leader hear me!

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Dr. James Okuk is reachable at okukjimy@hotmail.com

By: Daniel Abushery Daniel and Luk Kuth Dak

December 27, 2013 (SSNA) -- In the wake of aftermath of the Juba massacre, Luk and I debated as to why the Dinka intellectual community was stone silent about the calculated, wicked, despicable and heinous cold blooded murders of the Nuer people, orchestrated by the President of the Republic of South Sudan (RSS), Lt. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, and executed by the the so-called Presidential Guards, mostly from Kiir's hometown. As a result, thousands of lives of innocent Nuer children, women and men were lost for no apparent reason other than fact that they happened to be members of the Nuer nation.

The only Dinka intellectuals who stood up tall in condemnation of the massacre, with the strongest terms possible, were none other than the widow and the son of the visionary, the late Dr. John Garang de’ Mabior. Mama Nyandeng and her son, Mabior announced to the entire world- through the media- that what had happened was not a quo attempt, as alleged by the President of the Republic, General Salva Kiir Mayardit, but a plot to eliminate his adversaries in the SPLM. The Nuer community will be forever indebted to Mrs. Garang and her son Mabior for their heroic stand. 

If South Sudan were to remain a united country, it's time we had an honest, frank and heart-to-heart talk about the future of our country, the Republic of South Sudan. We're pretty sure that if you've read our individual articles, or if you had a chance to talk with us one-on-one, you know that we've loudly spoken and consistently written about the importance of our unity. We're both well documented for criticizing some leaders in our own tribe, the Nuer, when we thought they were wrong.

But, that's not the case with our brothers in the Dinka intellectual community. In the aftermath of the execution- style massacre of innocent Nuer people in Juba, we waited patiently hopping that maybe, just maybe, some peace-loving Dinka intellects- a minority- would be thoughtful enough and come out to denounce the massacre, which's now threatening the existence of our nation.

But no!!

The burning question is: how in the world didn't the the Dinka community see that their heinuos crimes would ultimately drive the rest of the country over the edge? And who should blame Dr. Riek Machar, and Generals, James Koang Choul and Peter Gadeet for standing up for justice? Talk about shooting oneself in the foot. To put it even more succinctly, the Dinka nation of all ethnicities in South Sudan have nothing to gain in destabilizing the country, but everything to lose. After all, aren't they the ones that are enjoying the fruit of our labor, and the ones in total control of the nation's wealth?

The notion that the Dinka deserve to have it all is only going to make matters unbearable for others in the country. It's so true that since President Kiir took office, the wealth gap between the Dinka and the rest of the country has grown to its widest level. That's unacceptable.

And so if we must continue to be under one umbrella, as a people, and as a nation, we must shift gears in a hurry. Daniel and I truly believe that, if we all work for the common good, if we can begin to resolve our difference peacefully and respectfully, we will have a chance of a building a unified nation. This must become true.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., puts it best: "The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined unconformity who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood."

You can reach the authors by e-mails at ddnaniel575@yahoo.com and lukedak@hotmail.com.

By Stephen Par Kuol

December 27, 2013 (SSNA) -- Having come to term with the embarrassing truth that genocide in Rwanda could have been prevented, the world leaders under the leadership of Bill Clinton of the United States in 1994 vowed: “never and never again shall there be another Rwanda in the 21^stcentury”, but in many other betrayals to humanity, it happened again and again in the watch of the United Nations and its founding super powers!. It is now happening in South Sudan again and the UNIMISS in Juba is doing exactly what the French troops and the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission did in Kigali during that time of Rwanda genocide. Helde Johnson in her diplomatically unacceptable exotic miniskirts is still praising Kiir and his killing machine ( Dootku Beny or rescuing Kiir brigade)  for bringing the situation back to normal in the national capital.  What Ms. Johnson’s mission has managed to do in this tragic time of calling is setting up an open concentration camp around UNIMISS compound in Juba where they are providing nothing to save lives from other natural hazards such as Juba blazing sun, hunger, disease and thirst as the door to door lynching of Nuers continued until yesterday, December 19, 2013 when I narrowly escaped the reddish eye bolt of the ongoing onslaught. I therefore , write to inform New York and the  entire international community that UNIMISS’s  mandate under the United  Nations Resolution  Number  [S/RES/2109]  underscoring  UNIMISS’s  role in protecting civilians, improving security and supporting peace building efforts is administratively abandoned  exposing the civil population to genocide in South Sudan.

Just like the deadly complacency in the case of Rwanda, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan( UNIMISS) has left the crisis to Kiir’s genocidal operatives and the rebels to figure it all out.  It goes without informing the records that there were many feasible steps to prevent the genocide that would have been taken in the case of Rwanda but they were all ignored and the genocide happened. The history is repeating itself and genocide is happening once again in South Sudan. Those who argue against this assertion must consult the book for correct definition of genocide.  Genocide is a Greek word for killing a race or an ethnic group. Geno is the race or an ethnic group and cide is the act of killing.  The Modern International Criminal Justice has defined it as a systematic plan of a political authority to eliminate a specific ethnic group. In political term, the targeted ethnic group is politically convicted of a collective guilt by the state with jurisdictional authority in a given state territory. This is how it happened in Rwanda and that is how it is now brewing in South Sudan. The Nuer Community from which Riek Macher hails is currently lynched to collectively punish them for Riek’s alleged coup and rebellion.

Even if we  accept it  for the sake of argument that Dr. Riek Machar and his armed rebels still  pose danger to Kiir’s Government, but do we the unarmed civilian pose that threat now in Juba?  Why should my colleagues like Lam Chuol Thicuong , Honorable Jal Thiech, Brigadier General Martin Kueth Peat and Ustaz Reath Thoan who have nothing to do with the mutiny named coup  lose their lives because of their ethnic identity if this is not a genocide?

The preliminary stock of the Nuer civilians killed so far between the December 16 and 19 makes more than half of the death toll reported so far in Juba. According to eye witness report from the battle field, the real casualties of the military confrontation were 27 soldiers only. These other casualties were cold blood victims of Dootku Beny Brigrade, a private armed force of President Kiir in akin to Hutu ENTERAHAMAWE composed mainly of  Dinka boys from  Greater Bar-Elghazal states of  Northern Bar -elghazal and Warap. The Dinka language meaning of “doot” is recuing or reaching. It was privately and specially equipped to protect Kiir from perceived threat posed by the Nuer elements in the SPLA proper.  In their genocidal operation, Dootku Beny and Kiir’s security operatives have turned the national capital into a festive heaven for vultures and other scavengers as the corpses begin to decompose around the city suburbs. Many innocent victims have been murdered in 107 township,  Jabel ,Gurei, Gudella and Manga residential areas where those butchers hunt only for those who speak Nuer language. Many of the Kiir supporters including family members of Kiir’s cabinet ministers have been killed even in ministers’ residents.

Being the nature of the beast, genocide knows neither maverick nor moderates! That is why Nuer ministers and intellectuals who are Kirr’s strong supporters had to be evacuated to safer enclaves within the city where they are either protected by armed relatives or people closed to the president where they are compelled against  their own conscience to condemn the so called attempted coup in the media. Other than that, they have no other use for this rogue regime. Retrieve the last Presidential Press Statement declaring curfew and the ongoing state of emergency which General Kiir declared in his sub- conscience thorough a slip of the tongue but was politically corrected by his shivering chicken ministers before the press. This secretly declared state of emergency has made it a nightmare to be a Nuer now in Juba.  Evidently, there are few moderate Hutus among our Dinka cousins in Juba to protect their Nuer cousins at the time of this writing. With the death news from Juba, the SPLA forces are now confronting one another along ethnic line in various barracks across the country. Events on the ground have their own dynamics and should this continue unabated, revenge killing will ensue plunging the entire nation into the abyss of genocide that could be worse than that of Rwanda.  Let us face it; we are at the apex of genocide by all legal and political meaning of the word. The  International Criminal Court (ICC), which has  the jurisdiction to prosecute crimes of genocide has legally defined it  to mean any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, such as:

While many cases of group-targeted violence have occurred throughout history and even since the Convention came into effect, the legal and international development of the term is concentrated into two distinct historical periods: the time from the coining of the term until its acceptance as international law (1944-1948) and the time of its activation with the establishment of international criminal tribunals to prosecute the crime of genocide (1991-1998). Preventing genocide, the other major obligation of the convention, remains a challenge that nations and individuals continue to face. Lack of preventive diplomacy at the United Nations has rendered advocacy against genocide futile.  Preventive diplomacy is practiced only where there is a vital interest of the super powers in the balance. .A nascent landlocked fragile state like the Republic of Sudan South is nobody’s business. 

So, only South Sudanese intellectuals, civil society and political leaders must rise to the occasion to reverse the unfolding catastrophe by doing the following:

Honorable Stephen Par Kuol is a former Deputy Ambassador of the Sudan to the United Republic of Tanzania and  the State Minister of Education in the recently overthrown Government of  Jonglei State by Dr. Riek Machar’s forces. He is also a researcher and freelance writer on academic topics pertinent to Human Right and Post-conflict Criminal Justice Administration. He can be reached via stephenkuols@yahoo.com /kuolpar@yahoo.com.

By Abraham Deng Lueth

December 29, 2013 (SSNA) -- The, hopefully, simmering down political situation in South has a long history. The aspirations of the people of South Sudan that emerged during the CPA and referendum times were abused by the leadership. Instead of building on those, a stern sectarian politics emerged and time and time again, hatred and greed continue to guide the institutional and individuals relationships.

The leadership of south Sudan failed to convene its political and social forces to amend the movement vision to suit South Sudan as an independent nation. National vision and shared values were eroded and sectarian visions and values based on hatred and greed arisen. Ministerial positions just become symbols of status to many folks in the government as opposed to delivering the services.

The SPLM, since its last convention in 1994 in Chukudum has not sat down and revised its essential documents to reflect its change from a guerilla movement to a professional ruling political party. Some elements within the party have shown their interests in the party leadership. The SPLM party leadership politics is linked to that of the nation in the sense that a chairperson of the party is the one who runs on the party ticket for president in the national elections.

This situation has caused a crack between the party members in the government and those outside the government. For sure, there are interests. The party elements in the government do not want President Kiir challenged for the post of the party chair. They like to continue to have him as the party chair; hence, its candidate for president in the 2015 general elections to give them another round of power in the post 2015 era. On the other hand, the party elements mainly outside the government wants democracy to allow those vying for the chairmanship of the party a chance to challenge President Kiir and hence, giving them a shot at the presidency comes 2015.

Several requests for meetings of the political bureau, the SPLM highest structure, are reported to have been tabled by the then Secretary General of the party, Pagan Amum, but they were turned down by the president. After the pressures for the leadership of the party amounted on the President and his close aides, he started to swirl his powers and hit everyone he deems opposition to him.

Consequently, a series of decrees were officiated; private presidential guards (believed to have hailed from the President’s regional states) were recruited and trained without the knowledge of relevant military leaders, some elected governors gone, the entire cabinet gone, the entire SPLM party structures gone, requested meeting for the political bureau, denied, NLC meeting called without consultation from the political bureau and there were more threats only decrees away.

December 6 Press Conference

As a result, a team of SPLM high ranking officials, headed by Dr. Riek machar called a press conference to explain to the party members their unaddressed grievances. This team also scheduled a public rally on December 14 to do the same to the members of the public. The rally was later canceled to give room for dialogue after the spiritual leaders urged both sides to resolve their political differences internally through dialogue. Among the group, 3 individuals, namely; Mama Nyandeeng, Pagan Amum and Dr. Riek Machar were vying to challenge president Kiir for the party chairmanship. The group was united to fight the dictatorship tendencies within the party which normally spillover into the national affairs time and time again (e.g. firing of elected governors). Many had hoped that something positive was going to come out of the vice President’s press conference on Monday. Nevertheless, hate speeches and nicknaming of the dissident voices group were what came out of the press conference.

The group had hoped that canceling their rally to give room for dialogue would also necessitate the president to cancel the NLC meeting so that a meeting for the political bureau was convened and the differences would be worked out and agenda items for the NLC meeting would be set. However, to no avail, this opportunity to resolve the outstanding issues was also ignored and the NLC scheduled meeting continued.

The dissident voices group gave dialogue another chance and attended the meeting, hoping that the outstanding differences will be given a consideration but again, none was considered. Instead, the president, a leader of the party and the nation, came out intimidating and was rubbing on past historic wounds within the party such as 1991 Bor massacre. This rigidity of the President and his close aides to open up to addressing fierce political differences caused the dissident voices group to boycott the NLC meeting on its last day.

December 15 Sunday Presidential Guards Incident

The darkest days of South Sudan since its independence began on Sunday, December 15. A fight broke out within the PRESIDENTIAL GUARDS. The causes (s) of this incident are storied differently and none is yet confirmed as the reliable cause because there has not been an investigation into the incident so far or at least that is known by the public. On December 16, the president was seen in military uniform on SSTV, flanked by some cabinet members, addressing the nation that what occurred on Sunday night was “a failed coup.” Dr. Riek was accused for the coup and, interestingly, arrest orders were also issued for other linked politicians to the “coup” who turned out to be members of the dissident voices group with no connection to the presidential guards or the army, whatsoever.

Dr. Riek has come out and denied the coup and claimed that President Kiir took advantage of the incident that happened within his own presidential guards and used it to deter or eliminate the opposition. There has not been a strong proof that the alleged coup d’état (which the world would not recognize) was, indeed, an attempted coup. That leaves the public to wonder about what is going on. Is it a poor judgment in differentiating between a mutiny and a coup or is it a pure calculated politics based on ill-hatred of fellow citizens and obsessive greed for power?

Dialogue and Negotiation Process

Regardless of the fact that the public seems to remain divided on who to blame for the crisis and process differently the potential conditions leading to the conflict, it is apparent that it is opposed to the unwarranted violence and would like a peaceful way of addressing political differences. Therefore, in a rare circumstance, allow me (member of the public) to say thank you to both warring factions for agreeing to sit down and talk.

Moreover, it should also be noted that the crisis has taken different forms over time and in the process, has created slightly differentiated but substantially linked cohorts. It is important to understand how those slightly differentiated groups developed and how they still link to the main issue that brought our country here. In my own view, I think it will be necessary to approach the dialogue in two phases.

A. Solving Political Differences Through Political Dialogues

Phase one should focus on the political differences within the SPLM party and the SPLM national policies because as a ruling party, its policies influence how the affairs of the nation are run. Therefore, it is critical to address political differences within the party and the party national policies under this phase of negotiation. This is where Dr. Riek and the detained politicians are one group. Therefore, in this context, yes, Pagan or any other member or members of the detained group may part-take in the negotiation process. Therefore, Dr. Riek is not wrong to appoint Pagan if he is thinking in this context and Pagan, on the other hand, is not wrong to accept the appointment if he is sticking to his December 6 conference allegiance.

B. Reconciling The Warring Factions: Kiir vs. Riek (Dinka vs. Nuer)

The second phase should focus on the violence that began on Sunday, December 15 and its effects. This phase should cover President Kiir unconfirmed coup accusation, risking the lives of Dr. Riek, other accused politicians and the killing of innocent citizens in Juba. It should be noted that the killing in Juba fitted the Nuers against the Dinkas more than the coup accusation itself.

On the other hand, this phase will also focus Dr. Riek and the killings in Bor, Akobo, Bentiu and Malakal. President Kiir has an indirect responsibility for the killings in those other towns because the killing in Juba catalyzed the actions of the Nuers against Dinkas in those towns. The main goal here should be to give the two leaders a chance to reflect back on their actions and how they could have contributed to the unwarranted crisis that caused several losses of lives and resulted in several war crime accounts. When that is done, it is when the two will see a dire need to reconcile and move on.

Most of the talks under this phase should be between Kiir and Riek. If they want to use other people to represent them, they should pick people from their warring sides. For example, Dr. Riek can appoint either Gatdet or any of the people fighting with him now because they are the ones who can answer why they killed people. Kiir, on the other hand, should appoint someone within his inner circle to explain why they were rigid to changes and eventually, rushing to calling what happened on Sunday an “attempted coup.” Moreover, they should be the one to answer why they ordered the presidential guards to kill innocent civilians in Juba who may not have any clue about politics.

Last but not least, the three parties (warring factions, Kiir & Riek, and the accused politicians) affiliated with the crisis should converge here as well and collectively reconcile. The detained politicians should help mediate both sides. Their contribution, especially, at this point will be a key catalyze for the reconciliation between the two leaders and the affected ethnic groups of Nuers and Dinkas. The two leaders must first reconcile before the reconciliation of the Nuers and the Dinkas, followed by a national healing process if a meaningful and comprehensive peace can be achieved in the country.

Matters pertaining to the security of Riek, members of his forces and the accused politicians must be negotiated and it will not surprise me if power-sharing becomes the solution. Therefore, continuation of talks to involve the detained politicians is necessary regardless of the fact that they are not affiliated with the war. Pagan Amum can continue as one of the chief negotiators but Dr. Riek will need to appoint other co-chief negotiator (either directly or indirectly involved in the war) to sit alongside with Pagan to answer questions regarding the war.

Power-Sharing between the warring factions

So, yes, a power-sharing may not be a bad idea given the fact that the president has continuously shown his inability to lead with the nation interest in the center and continuously misuse his presidential powers. It will also be the best way to guarantee trust and security between the warring factions, including the detained politicians. Power-sharing will create enabling, safe ethnic and political environments that will be necessary to move the nation forward.

The power-sharing resolution should have a life span, ranging from when the negotiation deal is sealed until next election when the nation will elect its next leader. Both President Kiir and Dr. Riek should lead the country during the power-sharing period and must not run for election in 2015 in order to forgo the war crimes. Otherwise, if they choose to take part in the leadership and still run in 2015, they must be investigated for the war crimes committed over the last 2 weeks.

The Resolutions of the Political Dialogues

The resolutions of the political dialogue should ensure the following:

I. Provide comprehensive solutions to the SPLM party political processes relative to the nation political processes, hence, reconciling the party ranks;

II. Reconcile President Kiir and Dr. Riek while acknowledging where each of the two leaders could have prevented the crisis (power-sharing should be obvious);

III. Reconcile the Nuers and the Dinkas to bridge the ethnic gap created by the conflict;

IV. Provide national healing because the current conflict has affected every South Sudanese in a very profound way.

Abraham Deng Lueth is a Community Support Specialist at Truman Behavioral health Emergency Department in Kansas City, Missouri, United States; he is the President of Greater Bor Community-USA. He previously worked as a critical care laboratory technician and conducted an independent undergraduate biomedical research project which was published in the Plant Science Journal in 2007.

South Sudan's neighbors threaten to step in to end fighting

By Dr. Peter Kopling Joseph

December 29, 2013 (SSNA) -- East African leaders on Friday gave South Sudan's warring factions four days to lay down their arms after nearly two weeks of widening violence.

If they don't, the leaders of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) warned they'll "take action" to stop the conflict that the United Nations says has killed more than 1,000 and forced some 121,000 from their homes.

The group didn't specify what sort of action it would take. But a communiqué issued Friday in Nairobi, Kenya, appears to throw the group's weight behind South Sudanese President Salva Kiir.”

The above is an excerpt from CNN news online. If true then I must say I am bitterly disappointed but yet not surprised by the move of Kampala and Nairobi in particular. How can those who live in glass houses throw stones?

Museveni of Uganda, rules his people with iron fist and manipulates the constitutions to allow him to rule till death do him in and groomed his son to take over, he essentially murdered his opponents and democracy in Uganda, do we expect anything different from him than support one like him and that he understands Kirr and supports him? As I write his UDF are already fighting for Kirr at the frontline, so what is new here other than making it formal and now with kenyan support?

In Kenya the Kenyata’s tribe have ruled and monopolized power and economy which kirr is copying for his Jiengs in South Sudan. The Kenyan President himself is a wanted man, so why will AU and international leaders give us those with blood stein in their hands to mediate?

Is it surprising they would throw their weight behind Kirr who clearly has destroyed democracy in South Sudan and now have massacre women and children in the capital Juba, in the footsteps of these leaders who pledged him their supports?

Kirr committed the first sin of recruiting tribal militia; the same that initiated mutiny among them after Kirr ordered those opposed to his rule be arrested to include Riek. This same militia went about and killed women and Children and the elderly of the Nuer people not too far from Kirrs Palace and to say these leaders of Uganda and Kenya support such and these are the very same one to mediate who are now throwing threats here and there?

If these East African mediators are honest, they should and must condemn Kirrs Massacre of Nuer people in Juba, Which they have not done till today. Without which, Musevenis Soldiers who are already in the front line are now being Join by Kenyan soldiers to come and complete the genocidal ethnic cleansing of the Nuer people started in juba by Kirr. Is this really what Nairobi and Kampala are advocating for? Are they prepared for this?Have they really understood this?

Let the Kenyan and Ugandans ask themselves very carefully, when they join Kirr in the front line, who are at the other end of the firefight?

The answer is very simple; at this point it is the very same Nuer people who are fighting for their dear lives, preventing being wiped out by Kirr as he started it in Juba not just to topple Kirr. Their fight is a direct response to kirrs intents and massacre. Do the Kenyan and Ugandan wants to make it easy for Kirr to complete his work of genocide and ethnic cleansing?

I am not a Nuer but a very concerned Southern Sudanese and I must warn the Ugandan and Kenyan, the day you step into this war, it is the day the wait if over for the rest of us. We shall not stand by and see our Nuer brothers and Sisters wiped out by combined forces of Kirr’s tribal gangs and his foreign mercenaries. The rest of South Sudan shall join in and we shall fight it out to the very last man.

Given Museveni armies are already in the front line for Kirr and if Kenya too joints them, they have already lost credibility of being neutral and they should abandon mediation to Ethiopia and other world leaders, unless they are ready to participate with Kirr in genocide he started in Juba only halted by Riek and his forces.

Kenya and Uganda must not swallow kirrs poison and buys all that he says, The rest of South Sudan is watching closely, instead of pouring water, they are pouring gasoline and the fire that shall flair as a result, they will find it hard to extinguish.

He who maintains Silence in the face of massacre is a murderer

Dr Peter Kopling Joseph can be reached at drkopling@aol.com

By Jean C.B. [name withheld for security reasons]

(a) SPLM & DEMOCRACY:

December 30, 2013 (SSNA) -- The fate of this young nation is in the hands of two men whose rivalry and distrust goes back to the beginning of SPLM/SPLA. What started out as a political problem is now threatening to take this young nation to the brink of a civil war. Dr. Machar having lost his vice presidential seat realized that his only mean of ascending to power is through the democratization of SPLM. Pres. Kiir, on the other hand, understood that democratization of the party is a threat to his regime. The demands put forward by Dr. Machar and Pagan Amum at the most recent party meeting were aimed at weakening the powers of the presidency. The long term goal was multi-partism and democracy in South Sudan. But Machar, Pagan and their other ten colleagues understood that; forming their own party would be deemed as betrayal by South Sudanese. And they are reluctant to leave a party which they have been participants in building and nurturing. Pres. Kiir demands the same level of reverence and respect that was accorded to the late Dr. John Garang. However, Kiir unlike Garang is not a consensus builder. He tends to be very frustrated by political process while Dr. Garang did not personalized politics, Kiir keeps political grudges and demand complete loyalty. His failure to enforce the appointment of Telar Riing as justice minister made him very skeptical of a democratic SPLM. Afterall, Kiir is a military General who abides by the Military code of conduct.

In short, out of fear of democratic process and Dr. Machar’s presidential ambitions, Pres. Kiir has resorted to his last option: amilitary rule. This was why the presidential Guards – a majority of whom are from Kiir’s very own subclan-was formed in the first place. The Guards main job was complete loyalty to Pres. Kiir, not to the South Sudan’s president or to the Rep. of South Sudan but to Kiir himself. The only reason there were some Nuers and a small numbers from other tribes within the group was due to fear of disintegration within the SPLA. In order to nationalize the army, it was necessary to integrate the military. This was supposed to weaken likely potential rebels. In particular, the late Gen. Matip Nhial, Gen.George Athor, Gatdet Yaak and Tanginye. And also to entice YauYau, who is still rebelling against South Sudan. The overall objective in forming the presidential Guards, was to ensure Pres. Kiir remains in power by any means necessary. The aim was to ruthlessly silent the democratic voices within the party led by Dr. Machar. It must be noted that Machar was only a de facto leader of the group due to his seniority within the party.

(b) The Plan: a fabricated Military Coup And why a Coup?

A fabricated coup was the only mean of ensuring Pres. Kiir remains in power as a "failed coup" in african context is almost always justified with an establishment of a brutal military regime. The plan was to either arrest/prosecute or assassinate some the 12 politicians. An emphasis of "dead or alive" was placed in Dr. Machar's case. During this upheaval a strict curfew was to be established in juba, malakal and Bor. An immediate order was to be given to govt. Montytuil and govt. Kun pouch in unity and Upper Nile to protect the oil fields while re-inforcement arrived.

So what went wrong? For once the dreaded presidential guards being mostly young recruits and given their limited military experience in SPLA were extremely indiscipline in their execution of the presidential orders. A number of them having long held personal grievances against Machar and the Nuers in general for the Bor massacre of 1991, decided to carry out revenge attacks on the Nuer civilians in juba. This gave Machar time to escape. The guards also completely destroyed Dr. Machar's home in juba and there was a speculation in the presidential circles that he might have been killed in the rubbles. This meant a couple of hours were wasted trying to find out machar's whereabouts. And before long Gen. Gatdet in Bor had received intelligence about the massacre of Nuers in juba. Gatdet is well known for being a nationalist but a pro-nuer at heart. His objective was always to fight for Nuer first. His support for Machar is a consequence of his loyalty to Nuer and not on shared principles. As a result, Pres. Kiir and his confidants hope that Gatdet- given his new found faith in South Sudan Unity and his elevated status within the party- would take a couple of days before he get a wind of what was actually going on in Juba and make a decision to defect. During this time he would either have been persuaded to stay within the rank and let the judicial process take place or implicated in the “Coup”. Perhaps, Gatdet’s military experience and distrust of Koul Manyang and Kiir told him otherwise. Another major blow was the defection of Gen. Koang in Unity State- This was never anticipated by the high command. Kiir’s inner circle were generally inept in their execution of this plan. The major mistake was the luck of understanding of Nuer’s sentiments in the SPLA and in the populace. And the desire to deny the Nuers any elevated status within the movement by some of the staunch supporters of Pres. Kiir. There was a fear that the Nuer would coalesce around Machar upon his arrest but that ultimately Gen. Hoth Mai might be in a position to re-establish order if needed.

(c) IGAD/Geopolitics: Kenyatta & Museveni

Once, the high command received the information that Machar had escaped and that Gatdet had defected. Two objectives were put in place:

1. To immediately put down any potential mutiny within Juba. This means the execution and imprisonment of some of the senior members of SPLA who were deemed loyal to Dr. Machar. Particularly, those from Lou Nuer and Bentiu.

2. A call was made to Pres. Museveni and to Pres. Kenyatta for support. Museveni and Machar have a long history of distrust given that Museveni believed Machar “financed” the LRA. A rebel group that created havoc in northern Uganda. And Machar is not very fond of Museveni’s dictatorial tendencies and interference in South Sudan’s politics.

Mr. Kenyatta , on the other hand, wants Pipeline through Kenya and Pres. Kiir promised to deliver. Major investment plans have already been put in place to this effect. Kenya would immensey benefit from the pipeline. Machar was reluctant about the cost of building such a pipeline and believed that Kenya will hold South Sudan hostage once the pipeline has been built. Kiir would rather see a pipeline through Kenya as he didn’t trust Bashir regime. Ethiopia was not cantacted until guarantees had been made by Mr. Kenyatta and Mr. Museveni. Once support was established Mr. Kenyatta was used to woe Ethiopia’s prime minister. Note that Ethiopia is generally seen as sympathetic to Machar as there is a large population of Nuers in Ethiopia. In fact, a whole sub-clan of Nuer (Gaajak) live in Ethiopia. Furthermore, Kenyatta having been a beneficiary of tribal politics and a victim of Mr. Odinga’s political maneuvers, understood Pres. Kiir’s sentiments on Dr. Machar’s presidential ambitions. Note that Kenyatta was very supportive of Moi’s anti-multipartism in the early 1990s. He was a product of KANU- a party very much like South Sudan’s SPLM- and a beneficiary of one party rule and tribal politics. The results of the two recent elections in Kenya provide a strong evidence of tribal politics and Uhuru’s desire to transcend such politics. A goal he ultimately failed. He has been accused of instigating tribal violence that killed upto 1500 people and displaced more than 25,000 civilians. Kenyatta’s case was recently dropped due to “insufficient” evidence. However, Kenyatta’s reputation is still tarnished and the West does not trust him. Any positive efforts in helping solve South Sudan’s crisis would be welcomed by the West. There is also Chinese economic interest in East Africa and there is fear that Kenyatta’s effort might not be genuine. He is likely to be on the side of the Chinese/Khartoum.

Once this two objectives had been achieved. The next goal was to convince the international community and in particular the US government that indeed Dr. Machar carried out a coup. The problem however, was persuading Susan Rice and John Kerry to this fact. Dr. Rice having interacted with both Pres. Kiir and Dr. Machar was very skeptical. She does not believe it was in the best interest of Machar to carry out a coup. How was he going to do so without an army at his disposal? Why would he carry out a coup given that he was winning the political battle within the party? And why would Machar wants to use his tribe to face the army of South Sudan given the painful memories of 1991 and his current support from some Dinka leaders? And who would finance him given China and Sudan had made a deal with GOSS? There were too many unanswered questions. The US government did not buy into the coup allegations. The explanation given by Dr. Adwok, that there was aninfighting in the presidential Guards, was deemed more plausible.

(d) MILITARY INTERVENTION IN BOR:

The next step was to re-take Bor from Gen. Gatdet. Pres. Kiir then gave UPDF- Uganda’s military- the permission to bomb Gatdet’s strategic position in Bor. Machar did not want a repeat of 1991 and asked Gatdet to pull out. The truth is there was no “re-take of Bor” by the GOSS troops. Gatdet had already pulled out some hours before the government troops arrived in Bor. The skirmishes in Bor were from a small group left behind by Gatdet as a decoy. This allowed him to escape. But not before he made a major mistake in mistaking US aircraft for UPDF Planes. This was both unfortunate and very costly to Machar’s effort in persuading the US of his non-participant in the alleged coup.

(e) The Strategic Stalement: is Machar Cornered?

Right now, the objective is to re-take the oilfields and to counter any move Machar is likely to make. Pres. Kiir has succeeded so far in winning IGAD to his side. Machar is left with Khartoum and some oil fields. Machar’s demands on the surface seem basic and reasonable but in the bigger scheme of politics; they constitute a great threat to Kiir’s objective of a military rule. Machar wants the detainees to be released. He wants Pagan Amum – a nationalist and a shrewd negotiator- on his side. Pres. Kiir would be foolish in releasing Mr. Amum. And he has used Pagan’s past alleged corruption charges to keep him under arrest. Machar also wants a “credible ceasefire” to be negotiated. This would give him enough time to re-established his contacts and re-group with his detained colleagues giving them an equal status on the negotiating table and taking Kiir’s a long step-on.

Any form of power sharing would mean Machar would achieve his objective of democratizing the SPLM. In short, Machar- being the strategist -is thinking three steps ahead. But for Machar’s plan to work, he needs some leverage. Currently he has three options: The oilfields in Unity/UpperNile, The White army and Bashir/Chinese. Given Machar’s overall goal – complete independence of South Sudan from the North- the third option would be his desperate and last move. The use of White army would lead to unnecessary bloodshed in Bor and Akobo. There are some Lou Nuer in Akobo segments who are skeptical of Machar but given John Luk Jok- Akobo’s son- is in detention, Machar can persuade the Lou Nuer. And Machar needs both the Bor/twic and Lou Nuer on his side. Creating a war between the two sub-clans would leads to a result very similar to 1991. This would ultimately undermine Dr. Machar’s presidential ambition and little support from the international community. Most of his colleagues in detention are mostly Dinkas. He needs to convince the world and the Dinka community that he is not weighing a tribal warfare. While he might not be entirely convincing, he would create some doubts within the Dinka community. He needs to be seen as a non-tribalist.

The best option and the most credible move Machar is likely to make is holding Pres. Kiir’s government hostage. Machar will in effect attempt to control the oilfields in Upper Nile and Unity. But for him to get financing he needs to be able to re-direct the oil revenues to a bank account he can control. This would mean he must either make a deal with Bashir/Chinese or simply use both the oilfields and a negotiated ceasefire as a “credible threat”.

In order for Machar to retain his current control of Unity oil fields; he must control Mayom county and make a direct threat to overtaking Warrap state. He must tempt Pres. Kiir to direct all effort to Warrap state and maintain a hold of Kuajok. This would leave Jonglei vulnerable as the SPLA with its limited resources will be overstretched. Machar will then solidify his control of Akobo and use Bor as a ploy to keep hold of Mayom while being in a good position to negotiate. It should be noted that Machar is a product of the civil war and can be very resourceful. It would be a mistake for Kiir to undermine any proposals he make. Even if these demands seem rather odd. Machar is a shrewd strategist. He will not admit to defeat. The tribal politics of south sudan dictates that both the Dinka and the Nuer be participants, if there is to be any national building. Otherwise, civil war is likely to occur.

(f) What is the best outcome for South Sudan?

The best outcome for the country is for Pres. Kiir to negotiate right away with Dr. machar. Eventually, the SPLA will democratize and Pres. Kiir can still win election under a democratic South Sudan. He is likely to garner atleast the majority (51%) in any given election. Perhaps, he won’t negotiate due to influence from his close confidants (Telar Aring, Hoth Mai, Mr. Makeui Lueth, Mr. Juuk) who have more to lose in a democratic SPLM.

An immediate release of all political detainees (particularly, Mr. Amum and Mr. Alor) is a very unlikely outcome in the short run. The truth is the stalemate is likely to continue until Dr. Machar is in a strong negotiation position. A scenario I don’t foresee anytime soon. In so far, as Machar is not in a position to procure external financing, he is unlikely to achieve his short term objectives: a negotiated ceasefire settlement and the release of ALL detainees. If indeed Dr. Machar manages to somehow negotiate for himself a favorable result, it will only speak volume of his strategic capabilities and the loyalty he commands from the Nuer people. As the situation stands, Pres. Kiir is in a winnable position, but a position that could ultimately lead to the very dreaded civil war if he overplay his hand and tempt fate. Makuei and Kol Manyang are currently persuading him in that direction. This would be an ill-advised move, as it would simply prolong the stalemate and led to civil war.

After many decades of warfare, 2014 should be a year of re-unification for South Sudanese. It’s upon the two leaders to put aside their differences for the sake of national interest. Politics must stop at the water’s edge.

By Fr. Mark Opere Omol

January 5, 2014 (SSNA) -- The 15^th December 2013 will forever bear a memory of a “black day” in our nascent nation. The fighting that erupted in the presidential guards unit in Juba, spread rapidly to other areas and is now plaguing the whole country. The conflict has already claimed numerous human lives, damaged infrastructure, displaced thousands and created humanitarian emergency. The military confrontation between the two forces is still raging and there is a reasonable fear that it may deteriorate, and plunge the nation altogether into a full scale civil war. The cause of all this should be unquestionably imputed to power wrangle that had been blistering for years within the leadership of the ruling party. They failed to address and resolve their internal differences amicably and peacefully, thus resulting into division in the party. This article doesn’t intend to delve into the nitty-gritty of all the factors that contributed to driving the country to where it is now.

An IGAD-led peace initiative, with an international backing, has just started in Addis Ababa. Whether or not this effort will yield fruits is what the days ahead will testify. What is hoped for to happen quickly is that the rivaling parties agree to cease hostilities to prevent more bloodshed and restore security in the country. Having come out of decades of bloody war, with millions of lives lost, South Sudanese want to live in peace and harmony. Unfortunately, this is what the current conflict seems to want to jeopardize and erase. Regional and international bodies must step up efforts to ensure that the talks in Addis Ababa achieve positive outcome.

Since the conflict erupted, concerns have been mounting that killings were being effected on basis of ethnic affiliation. This has brought into being the thesis of a planned “ethnic cleansing” that is being echoed by several media outlets regionally and internationally. This feeling of being targeted on ethnic affiliation has contributed robustly to the rapid expansion as well as the exacerbation of the conflict. It is difficult, presently, to establish the quantity of human lives lost since the conflict is still ongoing. This will and must be done afterward through investigation by independent bodies and systematic collection and filing of testimonies from survivors and relatives of victims. The outcome of all this will serve as cogent basis for confirming or refuting the thesis of ethnic cleansing; and identifying the elements to hold responsible for the whole happenings.

Thousands of people have deserted their houses and sought safety within premises of UN in different areas in the country. The UN’s humanitarian coordinator, Toby Lanzer, has repeatedly expressed concern over looming humanitarian calamity if hostilities don’t cease very soon.  Amid horrifying stories lived by survivors from Nuer and Dinka, there are cases of outstanding and touching testimonies of patriotism and nationalism by some religious men during this time of conflict. They have stood up with courage and determination to protect and save lives of innocent civilians. Their testimonies worth being recounted to the public in order to strongly underline the important role faith-based institutions can play in shaping the future of our society. This is the type of the patriotic and nationalistic spirit we all need to bear witness to in order to build a truly united, reconciled and fraternized society:

Abraham Makuac, an Evangelical Pastor from Dinka saved lives of several Nuer in the aftermath of the fighting in Juba. Despite having lost a brother in the fighting (brutally killed), he opened his house and Church to protect and save innocent civilians. This man of God admirably transcended tribal spirit and acted spurred by love and faith.

Micheal Abang, a Presbyterian pastor from Shilluk, also worked strenuously to save human lives during the fighting in Malakal. He generously offered shelter and safety in his house and Church to displaced families from Dinka and Nuer. In the aftermath of the fighting, he was seen participating in the collection of dead bodies and arrangement for their burials. This is such an extraordinary gesture of “charity” that can only stem from strong faith and love.

Paulino Lual, a Catholic priest of Franciscan Order, hailing from Dinka, created a network of volunteers from Dinka to protect the Nuer population in Aweil. This priest is known for his courage and firmness in condemning tribalism, corruption and all sort of social ills in the country. He missed narrowly being murdered by soldiers from his own ethnic group, who were angered by the protection he was according to Nuer civilians.   

Joseph Makuei, a Catholic priest from Nuer, also organized volunteers from his ethnic group to protect and save human lives in Bentiu. He personally, together with the volunteers, participated in accompanying members of Dinka community to the UN premises for safety. He did all this because of his love for the country and respect for human dignity.

The examples set out by these servants of God deserve admiration and must go down in the records for history. They have acted like “heaven-sent angels” to protect and save lives of fellow human beings, amid deadly conflict and fighting ravaging the country. Their gestures originate from patriotic and nationalistic spirit, belief in the sacredness of human life and dignity; and profound love for God and mankind. These are the type of testimonies the country demands of its sons and daughters in the face of a crisis like this.  

The incident of December 15^th 2014 has put to a tough trial our leaders’ prowess to manage and resolve crisis through dialogue and political settlement. What is happening now could have been avoided if the wise advice of the religious leaders was heeded to. This conflict, considering its consequences, is destined to produce very negative repercussions on the social and political dynamics. The country will never be the same. The talks between the rivaling parties in Addis Abba are one positive step towards restoring security, tranquility and normalcy. However, there is an urgent necessity of carrying out a nationwide process of peace and reconciliation if our young nation is to lay a strong foundation for peaceful co-existence, social cohesion and national fraternity. The Churches and all faith-based institutions can play an important role in this process. For they still represent a credible “voice” that can reach out to the heart and conscience, instill spirit of love, peace and forgiveness, and educate to rebuild trust and sense of belonging in the citizens. The testimonies of the four religious men recounted above are a good example of how Churches should live to bear witness to Christ’s message and become source of light and hope among people.

The author is a Catholic priest from South Sudan, currently residing in Italy and can be reached at: Operomol@aol.com

By Kuir ë Garang

January 6, 2014 (SSNA) -- There are two things that should make us gravely concerned. When this crisis is all over, we’ll still be governed (ruled actually) by the same leaders, who brought us into the heat of this crisis. And the gravest of all worries for South Sudan is that the young generation has taken after the old tribal dirt. (Watch my Video message to young people in Diaspora)

If young and educated people, 15 – 40, rally around their tribal, conceptual supremacy and only talk about atrocities committed against their kinsfolks, then you know South Sudan present state has been destroyed and its future is a destruction waiting to happen.

Something has to seriously change!

Sadly, at the end of this crisis, South Sudan will remain the way it was before the war started. Some optimistic South Sudanese would say that this crisis will change South Sudan forever, for better.

We have to remember that South Sudanese only got what I can call a conceptual independence. The substance of independence and liberation fruits were only restricted to politicians, their relatives, friends and foreigners. Average South Sudanese were left in the cold and even treated like dirt (second class citizens) in their own country. There were reports of Ethiopian, Kenyan, Somali and Indian businesses employing their fellow nationals as South Sudanese youth remained unemployed.

So how can we get out of this crisis? Not an easy question to answer and not an easy process when the crisis is all over.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs or Directorate of Tribal affairs

South Sudan is a country of tribal nationalities. This is a basic and bitter reality we have to deal with. For centuries, this has been the case and will continue to be so. We can’t change tribal realities but we can change tribal mindsets. No South Sudanese leader has ever tried to make sure involuntary inter and intra-tribal exchange of ideas, traditional politics, norms and traditions are given greater emphasis and resources allocation.

Chiefs should be given structured, funded Tribal accountability Models (TAM) within that ministry (see South Sudan Ideologically). The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports has a superficial role that only helps to foster individual tribal traditions and cultures, however, it doesn’t actually make prominent, the interaction between and among tribes.

This calls for a Ministry of Tribal Affairs to play a greater role in making sure South Sudan understands itself, tribally. The pros and cons of tribal practices could be discussed openly.

TAM should be strengthened and clear modalities put in place to make sure different tribes learn from each other on regular basis. Tribes in South Sudan don’t know that some of them have similar norms, traditions and ethnographic origins.

This would give tribes power over leaders; making it hard for power-hungry leaders to take advantage of tribal differences.

Proper Education and Investment in Nationalistic Attitude of Young People

Properly educating and sensitizing young South Sudanese is the only way of reducing fanatical tribonationalism. Young people who are not well educated about the affairs of the country are easy to mislead. We’ve seen that feeding young ones with tribal nonsense that they’ve been marginalized fuels the growth of hatred. These young people grow up with the general feeling that their education and ideas will be geared towards freeing their tribes from external, dominant, tribonationalists: both conceptual and real!

Many young South Sudan are getting educated, however, fanatical tribonationalism will destroy the future of South Sudan. The current crisis has exposed the danger been nurtured both at home and abroad.

If highly educated young people come out only to be fanatical tribonationalists then something needs to change if a prosperous and peaceful South Sudan is to be realized.

If South Sudan invests in proper education of the youth, it’d be easy to shape young South Sudanese into helpful nationalists rather than fanatical tribonationalists.

A few western educated young people who’d want to maintain seeds of tribal fanaticism will be told off by educated South Sudanese with credible inter and inter-cultural knowledge base.

Institutions, Governance and Policy Making

Dr. Marial Benjamin, South Sudan current minister of Foreign Affairs, is fond of saying that South Sudan has functional institutions. We can understand Marial’s position as he’s ready to protect the president and government at all cost; even at the expense of South Sudan's future.

We all know that South Sudan has organizations and department, but to call them functional institutions is a disservice to South Sudan; a path to its destruction.

The police, the army, the security services are all a mess. They are undisciplined and tend to see their role as the protection of individual bosses rather than allegiance to the nation.

Financial institutions, the National Parliament and Judicial Services have no sense of independence as they feel they owe their existence to the president.

The security services, financial institutions like Central Bank of South Sudan, Judiciary and the national parliament need to be set to be independent and free from executive manipulation.

These institutions need to be professionalized and set in a manner that makes them free from executive influence and manipulation; and be free to give checks and balances to the executive.

As things stand now in South Sudan, all these ‘institutions’ (if you could call them so) are conceptual rather than functional. They do what the president says and this is a marked failure of institutional function in South Sudan.

This fact in tend affects policy making as these ‘institutional’ leaders tend to work to appease the president, his close allies and the executive. Governance therefore revolves around the president, frustrating decision making and producing mediocre governance and policy.

National Constitution and Declarative Clarity

Breaking the national constitution is one of those unforgivable things in a country. However, when the person who’s supposed to protect it breaks it and warns people who remind him of that gross danger, then you know that the government is a situation run amok.

Decisions have to be made in South Sudan with clarity of purpose. In South Sudan, the president makes his decisions in form of ‘decrees’ that are read out on National Television in manner reminiscent of 1984 big brother decisions. The decrees are unquestionable and aren’t passed through parliament as always the case in constitution-respecting, democratic nations.

The parliament is a mere, timid formality of ‘yes sir’ men and women!

The president needs to explain the reasons behind his decisions in order to show that his decisions are for the interest of the nation and that he’s actually accountable to the people. Good leaders know that the people are the boss and if people resent certain decisions then the president has to either rescind his decision or kindly and conscientiously convince the citizens about the value of the decision.

Constitutional provisions need to be followed to the letter so as to set leadership examples. Breaking the constitution and expecting respect from the citizens is wishful thinking. The removal of Lakes State governor, Chol Tong Mayay, and Unity State governor, Taban Deng Gai, were all unconstitutional as the reasons behind the constitutional invocation were neither explained nor met.

National Army Integration and Transition to Non-military rule

South Sudan is a military state. The claim that it’s a democratic, civilian government is illusory. From the president, national ministers to state governors, all still go by their military titles. Remembere, they are not regarded as ‘retired.’ The president is not a ‘retired’ general but an active one. We saw that on December 15, 2013, when the president clearly flaunted his military fatigues.

Admittedly, South Sudan needs to move away from military rule and become a nation run by a civilian government.

Besides, the government has no proper way of integrating rebel forces into the national army. Some of these forces are included in the army conceptually but they remain under the command of their former rebel leaders in exactly the same place they used to fight.

These forces therefore still maintain their allegiance to their former rebel leaders instead of the national army leadership. To make it worse, these forces tend to be overwhelmingly or completely uni-tribal.

Way Out of the Current Crisis

It’s certain that peace will come back to South Sudan. It’s a question of when not if. The warring parties shouldn’t cultivate the thought that they are the ones who only have the interest of the nation in heart or that they are not to blame.

Without question, both sides should accept their mistakes and be practical about what they say. Civilians have to be protected and peace-talks have to be taken seriously.

South Sudanese government under President Kiir should start institutional reforms in readiness for peacetime and the way forward. Both President Kiir and Riek Machar need to draft ways in which path to inter-tribal truth and coexistence will be started and strengthened. South Sudan’s stability rests solely on stability of tribal trust.

We should also know that South Sudan’s stability will also be defined by the rethinking of Riek’s and Kiir’s political lives. Riek’s penchant for fall back to exploitation of sensationalized tribal fanaticism is a dirty mark on Riek capacity as a national leader. Without positioning himself clearly as a national leader and a person who hasn’t or can’t exploit tribal fanaticism, then the Addis Ababa talks will only be a respite in South Sudan stability not a long-terms solution to the crisis.

President Kiir should rethink his policy making, his governance policy, his speeches’ sensationalism and his role as the development leader of the new country. Kiir has failed to show humility and leadership in the last two years and this has brought us to the current crisis.  It’d also be good to rethink presidential powers, the national constitution and the clarity of SPLM rules and regulations. Without any change in President Kiir’s attitude and leadership style, then South Sudan would descend into real tribal anarchy. 

So in simple terms:

• Formalize cease-fire with international observers to stop the fighting
• Agree that violent ascendency to power is unacceptable
• Agree that things shouldn’t be business as usual and that serious concessions will have to be made
• The two sides have to acknowledge the wrongs done
• Be serious about holding perpetrators of the crimes to account
• Draft serious and long-term inter-tribal trust-building
• Funds for civilians displaced or affected by war
• Encourage new leaders other than Kiir and Riek as their presence is a psychological reminder of the tragedy

Not only is South Sudan in a crisis as we speak, the future of the country is also a crisis waiting to happen. Tribonationalism is the feel-good sentiment among the youth and this makes a cohesive future South Sudan bleak. A tribally divided youth is a warning of an unthinkable future for South Sudan.

Kuir ë Garang is an author of seven books including “South Sudan Ideologically” and “Is ‘Black’ Really Beautiful?” For contacts see Twitter: @kuirthiy or his blog, www.kuirthiy.info.