Reflection on SPLM-led GoSS at fifth anniversary of CPA

By Roba Gibia

January 17, 2010 – While we celebrate the fifth anniversary of comprehensive peace agreement signed on January 9, 2005 in Nairobi, Kenya between SPLM and NCP we have to precisely appraisal SPLM/A’s manifesto, objectives, vision and implementation of its revolutionary and party ideology after governing south Sudan for more than five years. Any revolutionary movement in this world is being guided by its ideology and after transforming itself into political party it continues to abide and implement its policy. Thus, time has come to question SPLA/M integrity as ex-movement as whether it still sticks to its ideology and vision of equal opportunities regardless of tribe, race, gender and democracy or it has been washed away from its real course. I wish if every SPLM/A leadership, intellectuals and those who claim to be south Sudanese politicians could ask themselves this same question and try to evaluate themselves collectively as whether we are driving south to the right direction! Normally after harvesting, a farmer has to determine as whether the production was according to the anticipated harvest, and if not what are the measures that has to be considered in the next cultivation? This was how a farmer evaluates its performance and it continues to make necessary reforms in the farming process, and it was not just matter of sowing seeds but to watch closely germinate of seeds, its yield and the setbacks in the farming strategy and rectify it, which is a continues procedure in any institution whether being in private or public sector’s policy.

What I wanted to share here with my readers and patriotic south Sudanese people at this juncture is that, and as the watchdogs of peace and developmental process in south, we have to hold our GoSS leadership accountable for the past five years, and question what SPLM-led GoSS has accomplished in terms of infrastructure and basic service as peace dividend to south and marginalized people of Sudan? We were all aware that south started from nothing but that shouldn’t constitute as hanger to hang all current non-implementation and building or providing basic services such as sanitation, hospitals, schools, clean drinking water and other essential needs to the people of south Sudan. As south Sudanese citizens, proprietors of peace and its defender, we have the responsibility to query our GoSS leadership, where are their children schooling, in south or outside borders of south? It seems our leadership is not taking education seriously, while education is the key to eradicate poverty, disease and means of improving citizen quality. Thus, where are GoSS leadership and officials being treated, in south or in foreign countries, and if it is in neighboring and foreign countries, why not in south, and from where did they get these hundreds of thousands or millions of US dollars for treatment abroad instead of utilizing this huge amount for establishing hospitals and healthcare centers in south or in Juba, seat of GoSS? Then what about poor citizen who can not afford the cost of treatment or schooling in neighboring and foreign countries! Without those poor citizens, you will never be a president or minister or holding key position in Government of Southern Sudan! We have seen and witnessed in the past five years, some government employees in Juba and various southern Sudan states going without salaries for nine months while GoSS leaders and officials are traveling and staying in five star hotels, getting best treatment and their children are attending best schools in foreign countries with millions of US dollars at the expenses of penury south Sudanese people. Where is the justice and equality where SPLA/M fought for more than two decades! Do not tell me that GoSS has set up government institutions and systems in place, but where is the primary and basic service to the people, set up a strong government and lay a burly economic policy or foundation and genuine governance system in ten southern Sudan states with absolute transparency and accountability but not a culture of favoritism and nepotism which breeds tribalism, theft and system of self empowerment with absolute impunity!

The SPLM-led Government of Southern Sudan has to confess that it has mishandled south’s oil share and failed people of southern Sudan miserably during the past half decade in one way or another, by not at least meeting their least anticipation of fundamental life aspect. And that was evident, as some of the buildings that are used today as government offices at GoSS seat in Juba was built after Addis Ababa agreement, and it was just renovated but there are some ministries under GoSS leadership that has been contracted for construction to contractors and its money has been released hundred percent, but has not yet been handed over to the concerned ministry for more than four years now! Leave alone schools in Juba and various parts of south that remain in bad shape without renovation since initiation of Government of Southern Sudan five years ago. What I understand and know was that there has to be a plan to execute and implement any work or project, and if you set up a four or five year-plan and started its implementation, there has to be continues review and reformation of entire policy process but without thoroughly review of policy and its follow up, there will not be tangible progress in policy implementation and economic development. South Sudan has got virgin land and fertile soils for agricultural products but after five years of peace, south still depends solely on oil share and even on agricultural products from neighboring countries! Some foreign media used to anticipate and falsely claim that Government of Southern Sudan’s oil share is being used entirely to arm race and to equip SPLA forces for anticipated war between south and north, but I could not concur with this false notion and claim because the SPLA affairs ministry is one of the most corrupted institutions in south, and I wish if 50% of south’s budget goes to modernize and acquire military capability and especially air force to deter falling of bombs on innocent south Sudanese women and children as it used to be during the past fifty decades’ war between south and north.

Precisely, south Sudan needs strong leader who doesn’t care only about his small family, tribe and area but about the whole people of south as large family, and once south has got that strong leader, people will see south’s economic progress within two to three years period. Thus, in my view, the past five years was a critical, decisive and enticing period to SPLM-led GoSS to display and ensure to the whole world and people of south Sudan its leadership potentiality, steadfastness in governing and overall development policy of the region, and the past five years was enough as an ideal indicator for Government of Southern Sudan to consolidate and execute its policies of change with its basic and fundamental aspects but not after one or two decades to start realizing its ability of good governance and economic development! I do not have any doubt that South Sudanese people are capable in governing themselves, because they are no lesser than any other nation in this world but what I am after is the ideal and burly government to maintain peace, security and economic development to lift south Sudan people from the pit of poverty and tribal conflicts. Because the south Sudan’s enemy is exploiting poverty and ravenous of south Sudanese people and politicians to sell their fidelity for individual or tribal empowerment to carry out atrocities against their own south Sudanese brothers and sisters, not knowing that when he/she assists enemy to committee atrocities or murder his/her own brothers and sisters today, tomorrow the enemy will turn against him/her when enemy reaches its ultimate goal. Thus, outrageously enough and as this writing, south’s enemy is still using south Sudanese intellectuals and ravenous politicians who are dehydrated and thirsty for power and militias by supplying them with weapons and ammunition to create havoc in south and especially in South Kordofan and Upper Nile. It pains me to death to see that we marginalized people and especially Southerners that Khartoum is terming it slaves are still forming alliance with Khartoum against south! And that was evident, as when those of Pagan Amum and Yasir Arman were detained last year in peaceful demonstration, were beaten like criminals and Yasir Arman was told by one of the police generals in an insulting manner that “if it is not to be you, these slaves could have not come to Khartoum!” Thus, I thought that our people has learned dear lessons from history and especially during the split in SPLA/M movement in1991, but it is obvious that we have not yet learned the lessons! Therefore, the question is for how long will we subjugate people of Sudan and especially south has to remain puppets and stooges at the hands of those who claim to be our masters in Khartoum! Therefore, one wonders as whether we south Sudanese people are doomed and damned to not learn from the past events and history? The coming general elections and referendum will be the decisive factor if it is not jeopardized by Khartoum and its proxy south Sudanese traitors. Hence, let us wait and see!

The author is a Sudan Tribune journalist he can be reached at [email protected]