The Chaos of locating a capital city for South Sudan
by Steve Paterno
April 3, 2011 — The chaos of trying to locate a capital city for South Sudan began with the messy transitional period after the signing of the peace agreement in 2005. Just after barely being sworn in as the Vice President of Sudan and President of the government of South Sudan, Dr. John Garang, the chairman of SPLM/A tragically died, even before he could form his government. The SPLM/A leadership then decided that Dr. Garang will be buried in Juba, the then regional capital of Southern Sudan, which was still under the occupation of Khartoum armed forces.
As a result, a chaotic transition ensued as oppose to a gradual transition in occupying Juba as the seat of the government. Foreign presidents and dignitaries who were paying their homage to the late leader, Dr. Garang descended in town; the biggest of such visit in the history of the town by foreign presidents and dignitaries. The SPLM/A took to the city by the storm. The SPLA soldiers, triumphantly showed their flying colors. The soldiers rusty Russian made T-72 tanks and old trucks ignited the moral in town, with absolute resounding assurance. The mourning of Dr. Garang was quickly overcome by joyous celebration for peace. Town folks cheered the parading SPLA soldiers.
It was the sign of peace, albeit, demonstrated in a chaotic fashion, under a backdrop of no functioning government, institutions, or any meaningful regulations—a celebration in a city that has little to show for. Just overnight, the population of the town skyrocketed. The visiting foreign dignitaries found out that there were even no functioning latrines for them to use on their short visit. The NGOs that came to operate from the town had to improvise by setting up makeshift shops. The big SPLM/A shots who had endured hardship in the bushes of South Sudan were eager to find roof on top of their heads. That means they have to occupy the best housings in town. The overwhelming number of cars, which crowded the town couldn’t negotiate through narrow street alleyways. Pagan Amum, the Secretary General of SPLM, jokingly remarks that before 2005, there was hardly a car driven on Juba streets. The town, which was reduced into military garrison during the war, had only military vehicles before 2005. The military objective was not to fix the roads, but defend the town. Trenches for battles could even be dug literally on the streets, as long as the aim was to defend the town. The only university premises in town was actually turned into a barrack of Mujahideen soldiers, a clear devastating sign of the war.
As human nature dictates, in such chaotic environment and in a town with hardly any infrastructure, there are those who bound to gain by capitalizing on the opportunities such a situation can offer, even at the expenses of others or that of a nation. With the city’s population quadrupling, everything becomes on high demand. One of the most highly demanded commodities, is land, which is also now central to the dispute related to the search for a capital city.
However, the story surrounding the contentions over land issue in Juba is more complicated than the simple line that a certain tribe in South Sudan, particularly, the Dinkas are grabbing the lands of the local Bari people. The real story of land grabbing has even less to do with the dispute over the capital city. Of course, there are instances where lands are forcefully grabbed at gun points by some notorious Dinka elements. Nevertheless, there are also cases of the Bari people, illegally accumulating large pieces of land for themselves, and selling them out only to highest bidders, who are non-locals. For example, a highly placed official from Central Equatoria State, once excitedly promised his Dinka colleague that he would award him with lands as much as he wanted, because in his case, he already accumulated enough to “live in and live on,” meaning he is living in some of the lands and profiting of the others. The point is, there are individuals from both the locals and non-locals who are exploiting and benefiting from this chaotic situation. A friend of mine told me that these clique of people forged their own tribe to corrupt the system, in which all can agree.
One important factor connected to this saga that can never be ignored, is the issue of tribalism. Rivalries among tribes in South Sudan is as old as the South Sudanese people themselves. This fact can be said to be true between the Dinka and Bari, just as it can also be true among the other different tribes. Recent years showed ugly confrontations between Dinka and Bari. Certain circumstances only tend to fuel such ugly confrontations. Several decades ago, the cattle keeping Dinkas fled their areas due to flood and occupied areas around Juba. This marked the beginning of the land grabbing sentiment, since the cattle herding Dinkas could hardly coexist with the land farming Baris. This sentiment intensified during Kokora and after the signing of Addis Ababa agreement, when the Dinkas were perceived to dominate the regional government of autonomous South Sudan. There are those in Equatoria, Bari in particular, who believe until to this day that SPLM/A was formed by the Dinkas in response against institutionalization of Kokora. The allegation is true to some extend, because the actions of some Dinkas in SPLM/A against non-Dinkas are proven to be contrary to the principles of the liberation struggle; in effect, validating such sentiments.
The fact of the matter is that people joined SPLM/A as individuals and all those individuals have different reasons, some of which are genuine and others are sinister motives. There are the genuine liberators; anti Kokora; thieves; career criminals; those who want to acquire guns solely to fight the rival tribes; and the list is long. However though, dispute these arrays of people, the genuine liberators within SPLM/A will eventually prevail, because the cause for liberation struggle is greater.
The issue of capital city is a national call that affects South Sudanese of all walks of life. Therefore, tribal sentiments and rivalries, among certain tribes of South Sudan, plus individuals’ greediness must not compromise the genuine quest for locating the suitable capital city for South Sudan. The way forward is for South Sudan Legislative Assembly to enact into law, the “Juba Capital City Act” as ordinance to guide the expansion and constructions of the city. Such an act must include provisions related to the other counties in proximity of Juba, since all will be affected with Juba being the capital city. The act must address the grievances of the local people who will be affected as well as put a stop into illegal practice of land grabbing. The issue of the capital city is one of those that overate tribal differences and individual’s greediness. With proper regulations and enforcement mechanism in place, South Sudan will be able to rid the bad elements who ride on the backs of their tribes for personal gains. The South Sudanese people should not allow themselves to be deprived of co-existences of peace loving and law abiding people of all the tribes in the would-be capital city of South Sudan.
Remember, lack of land is not actually the issue that hiders the search for the South Sudan capital city. The real issues are the characters and attitudes of people, which tend to promote corruption and tribalism, and that couple with absence of leadership and lack of political will. Had lack of land been the issue, swath of land, more than the size of some countries, would not have been leased out in bogus and unscrupulous investment deals to foreign companies. Ironically, Central Equatoria State, where the capital is proposed, leased the most landmass to foreign companies than any other state in the post-CPA period.
Steve Paterno is the author of The Rev. Fr. Saturnino Lohure, A Romain Catholic Priest Turned Rebel. He can be reached at [email protected]
Hero
The Chaos of locating a capital city for South Sudan
I totally agrees with Steve Paterno on everything you have said above.Our government need to enact the law as soon as possible and stop looking somewhere else, because Juba is right for many reasons to be the capital city of South Sudan.
harry
The Chaos of locating a capital city for South Sudan
Dear Paterno,
Good informative article. You just taught me about the background of Kokora. I did not know about how the problem started. I thank you for the information regarding the history of Kokora.
However, I’m a big fan of relocation of capital from Juba. Juba should be our historic and commercial capital due to its strategic location.
I don’t mind if the new capital will be located within Equatorial regions, but I prefer the capital to be in independent location so that new capital don’t have to share its geographic and political hegemony with others states. In other words, I would like to see the new capital free from states domination just like the Washington DC in United States of America.
I think it would be great idea if GoSS would consider it. We need a new modern capital for South Sudan because we are new nation with new generations. Thanks.
Harry,
Liberator
The Chaos of locating a capital city for South Sudan
Steve
Juba is suited for Commercial and financial capital for the new nation may be in 50 years could be consider as the top Commercial & financial hub in the whole region(of East, Center and Southern Africa regions as well.
VETERAN-2000
The Chaos of locating a capital city for South Sudan
Mr. Cibaipiath Junub,
Nothing to add and remove from your comment.
Here we go!
Shuillk kingdom
The Chaos of locating a capital city for South Sudan
Mr,Steve.
I appreciate your article concerning the capital city of S.Sudan.
I personaly encourge the ideas of re-building a new capital city,juba can be a good commercial city due to its strategic location,we need a independant capital city in South Sudan.
Paul Ongee
The Chaos of locating a capital city for South Sudan
Steve,
Thoughtfully written. It’s pretty fascinating because it analyzed constructively both sides of the issue of relocating the “capital city” of South Sudan, land, Kokora, and above all unity and peaceful tribal coexistence of Southerners in the emerging new country. Keep it up.
I omitted the word “tribalism” because its definition is essentially based on individual’s prespective. Yet we cannot ignore the reality of the large tribes such as Dinka, Nuer, Azande, Taposa or Bari in Southern Sudan when it comes to appointments based on educational qualification and merit or not in public offices located in a specific location.
Some of us were not politically conscious after Addis Ababa Agreement of 1972. In addition, I was still in a second year in seconday school during Kokora in 1983. Even after getting out I didn’t work in any ministry. But I have questions for those who point fingers at Dinka and Nuer in particular that whose community or dialect was dominant in almost every ministry after Kokora? Can any Equatorian answer this question?
People are complaining because Dinkas are considered, based on individual perspective, to be leading GOSS as though there are no other larger tribes in South Sudan. In essence, GOSS is never run by Dinka alone as some people out there believe.
However, this is a reflection of what Khartoum feels about the unity of Southerners and independence of South Sudan at this particular political climate. Khartoum keeps warning returning displaced peole in the North especially after last elections of April 2010 that never go back to the South because Dinka are occupying your land; they are the one running government in Southern Sudan. If the President of GOSS were to be from Azande, Bari, Taposa or Nuer, what will make Khartoum make a different comment echoed currently by irrsponsible southerners?
What I know our blood is still full of “dilect” whenever we happen to be in public offices or on any occasion where majority is determined by which individual community is outnumbering the participants in the events. Even in social settings, when Acholi, Lotuka, Taposa, Madi or Ding-Dinga happen to be the majority, the same thing often happens on daily or occasional basis. I don’t think anybody can deny that. What we need to realize is that we got to change our attitude to be able to accommodate or involve whoever is present in order to get along well with each other as Southern Sudanese in public offices or places. Sorry for dwelling a little bit on that.
Back to the issue of relocating the capital city of South Sudan, I would like to add on Steve’s opinion urging SSLA to enact “Juba Capital City Act”. Based on the current interim constitution of Southern Sudan, the issue of land needs to be solved first with the specific community intead of land-game players before reaching a conclusion that Juba must remain to be the capital city of South Sudan.
This would fall under one of the options indicated in the proposed three different locations. If Juba is going to remain to be the capital, the H/Qs of CES government should be relocated somewhere else to avoid administrative confusion. The cost of relocation should be shared by GOSS because it is too heavy for the government of CES alone. Up to this moment no any response yet from CES. The current interim constitution needs to be amended to balance the power held completely by the specific community owning the land.
Gondokoro was one of the options but no any response from the contacted landowners/community. And the last options is “Ramciel” where assessment team was recently sent, headed by the GOSS Minister of Investment, Oyai deng Ajak. While waiting for proper response, we can only ask ourselves some questions why Bari community’s position on this relocation issue is not yet clear so far. Why are they reluctant and assessment teams has never visited any site for carrying out feasibility studies of the potential construction of the capital city of South Sudan? Does the Bari community want the interim constitution amended first in the SSLA to balance the power of land ownership?
Paul Ongee
Khartoum, Sudan
Paul Ongee
The Chaos of locating a capital city for South Sudan
Steve,
Thoughtfully written. It’s pretty fascinating because it analyzed constructively both sides of the issue of relocating the “capital city” of South Sudan, land, Kokora, and above all unity and peaceful tribal coexistence of Southerners in the emerging new country. Keep it up.
I omitted the word “tribalism” because its definition is essentially based on individual’s perspective. Yet we cannot ignore the reality of the large tribes such as Dinka, Nuer, Azande, Taposa or Bari in Southern Sudan when it comes to appointments based on educational qualification and merit or not in public offices located in a specific location.
Some of us were not politically conscious after Addis Ababa Agreement of 1972. In addition, I was still in a second year in Senior Secondary School during Kokora in 1983. Even after getting out I didn’t work in any ministry. But I have questions for those who point fingers at Dinka and Nuer in particular that whose community or dialect was dominant in almost every ministry after Kokora? Can any Equatorian answer this question?
People are complaining because Dinkas are considered, based on individual perspective, to be leading GOSS as though there are no other larger tribes in South Sudan. In essence, GOSS is never run by Dinka alone as some people out there believe.
However, this is a reflection of what Khartoum feels about the unity of Southerners and independence of South Sudan at this particular political climate. Khartoum keeps warning returning displaced people in the North especially after last elections of April 2010 that never go back to the South because Dinka are occupying your land; they are the one running government in Southern Sudan. If the President of GOSS were to be from Azande, Bari, Taposa or Nuer, what will make Khartoum make a different comment echoed currently by irresponsible southerners?
What I know our blood is still full of “dialect” whenever we happen to be in public offices or on any occasion where majority is determined by which individual community is outnumbering the participants in the events. Even in social settings, when Acholi, Lotuka, Taposa, Madi or Ding-Dinga happens to be the majority, the same thing often happens on daily or occasional basis. I don’t think anybody can deny that. What we need to realize is that we got to change our attitude to be able to accommodate or involve whoever is present in order to get along well with each other as Southern Sudanese in public offices or places. Sorry for dwelling a little bit on that.
Back to the issue of relocating the capital city of South Sudan, I would like to add on Steve’s opinion urging SSLA to enact “Juba Capital City Act”. Based on the current interim constitution of Southern Sudan, the issue of land needs to be solved first with the specific community instead of land-game players before reaching a conclusion that Juba must remain to be the capital city of South Sudan.
This would fall under one of the options indicated in the proposed three different locations. If Juba is going to remain to be the capital, the H/Qs of CES government should be relocated somewhere else to avoid administrative confusion. The cost of relocation should be shared by GOSS because it is too heavy for the government of CES alone. Up to this moment no any response yet from CES. The current interim constitution needs to be amended to balance the power held completely by the specific community owning the land.
Gondokoro was one of the options but no any response from the contacted landowners/community. And the last option is “Ramciel” where assessment team was recently sent, headed by the GOSS Minister of Investment, Oyai Deng Ajak. While waiting for proper response, we can only ask ourselves some questions why Bari community’s position on this relocation issue is not yet clear so far. Why are they reluctant and assessment team has never visited any site for carrying out feasibility studies of the potential construction of the capital city of South Sudan? Does the Bari community want the interim constitution amended first in the SSLA to balance the power of land ownership?
Paul Ongee
Khartoum, Sudan
Garang
The Chaos of locating a capital city for South Sudan
Paul! you seem to be behind news in the place where you are. As it is said in the above comment, Bari Community through its Chairman Dr.Tungon and H.E Alfred Ladu Gore declared its refusal to the proposal of establishing the capital for South Sudan on any Bari land.The community held a consultative meeting in Juba some weeks back in which all its members agree not to accommodate the capital on their land. I think the CES Government should respect the Bari Community,s decision and accept the transfer of the capital to Ramciel.
Madina Kebir
The Chaos of locating a capital city for South Sudan
Steve Paterno.
I think you mention the things that, were correctly being said, by most of Equatorians people such as grabbing our lands, took our Equatoria land illegally and they started attacking none Equatorian inside Juba city and they were telling people to leave Juba. The Western Equatorian people also starting immediately discriminating the Dinkas people after the peace agreement was being achieved while, thousandths of bravers Dinkas men in the SPLA Movement had pay a big price in all Equatoria regions just, because they want to do something good for the people of Southern Sudanese and for them Equatorians people unfortunately, the majority of Equatorians seem to forget how hard these Dinkas men have tried in their best in the SPLA to make this dream come true for all Southern Sudanese citizens and others Sudanese parts.
In fact, the nation Capital city should always be in the center of the nation unless, if there is something wrong at the center area then, the move would probably possible to relocating to different area. A part from they words they Equatorians brothers and sisters use to disencouraging their brothers and sisters who is sharing one nation Southern Sudan. I strongly belief that, Juba city can not and will not be the nation’s Capital city for three factories reasonable and consideration. 1. Juba is on the fire of seriously Earthquakes zone area and this is something that, no one will ever deny for what happen in 1989, when thousand rocks have fallen inside Juba and killing many people. 2. Juba, it is also too close to Uganda and the Idea of Capital city should be always at the center of the nation period. 3. The open areas for million of business people that, would like to make investments is too narrow, too small and the local people of Equatorian communities particualr Bari community have been repeatedly over and over again that, their land were being taken away from them and when you look at these factory then, you will considering that, Capital city should go to Yirol in my view where Upper Nile regions, Bahr al Ghazal regions and Equatoria regions will be equally distance of center.
The issue of Juba was not merely the first time, they Equatorians people always dislike others Southerners Sudanese especially the Dinka tribe and Nuer tribe, Seemingly that, there were same similar situation facing Dinkas and Nuers after the Joseph Lagu officially signed the well known deceivable of the Addis Ababa peace agreement with col.Ja’arfar al Mohmmed al Numayri. After Joseph Lagu signed peace agreement immediately, the local people and the whole Equatorians started chasing away none Equatorian out of Juba city even they tried to attacked animals keepers around so that, they can leave Juba. I think the GOSS and ROSS will make a right choice to choose the good area for the national Capital and talks to local people to be more and more opening minds citizens not to dislike same citizen they shared common interests and common stories and that is all the few things I would like to add anyway and thank.
monyluakkur
The Chaos of locating a capital city for South Sudan
Dear Pateno,
Well, your writing is always educating the Southern Sudanese but you need sometimes to think twice before you could write on something else.Otherwise, you are going to be a ring leader according to my personal point of views. you look as if you are a negated person, who talks on debris things often about tribalistic instead you should identify yourself of your own achievements.The so called Dinka’s people,you are always suiciding on the free lance media have fought much for this country than your mother-fuckers cowardic Equatorians’ people. Leave alone for whatever they take out of that soil,because they have lost their loved one.Where were you during the post civil war struggle? Now,I’m going to be your enemy here if you won’t halt talking on negated impacts against my people.You are too tribalistic than you should write good for what bring people into one core.Stop, talking and degrading on Dinka as your child,we are not too stupid like your cowardic people who are food lovers.They don’t either have a future at all, they always remain individaulistic on their own. Who are they then? You have to declare on your own liberation instead you are fond of writing about nonsense most of your time on behalf of other tribes’fiasico.You are so disgusted here my friend.
Bol Deng
The Chaos of locating a capital city for South Sudan
Dear Steve,
I thought you have accomplished your theme but you fall short. Indeed, you might be thinking broadly when you outline your writing narrating the consequences that you think had storm the Bari as the residence of Juba city.
My dear friend, this land grabbing that Bari and the rest are talking against Dinka has nothing to argued at this time while we are still waiting the land issue from Khartoum before the end of interim of CPA.
One thing that Bari tribe and many other Equatorians do not know was that,the Juba has been fought for the right of South Sudanese at large but not just for Bari tribe. If you do not know this then let me tell you that there are a lot of empty spaces across the Juba areas but Bari tribes with the influence from those of Alfred Gore and the rest who had inner issue with Dinka will understand and they will be happy when SPLM/A leave the Juba and relocated the capital city to Ramcheal or other propposed location.
My advise to my people including Bari is that we need peace and unity because Juba and the entire Equatoria areas were liberated by SPLM/A that you are complaining as for Dinka. If you think that way then why not the Bari tribe encourage the SPLM/A at the time it was fought heaveily with the same weaopns that you undermine as rusty weapons.
No matter what Bari tribe think,i would like to tell them that anyone must be careful on addressing this Juba land issue because you might most your live simply for just nothing.
I will be more than happy when SPLM relocate Juba to other area because i believed that this kind of argument about Juba which almost eliminate our heros during the war and these heroes are mainly Dinka at while others defect and others run to Uganda! this really must be caution because people must not play with really hot iron in the South Sudan.
Madut Tong
The Chaos of locating a capital city for South Sudan
thank you Steve for being realistic in your article though I have some reservations on some observations in the article. What I want to say about the location of the Capital City of the new Nation, is that we should think well about the location as some of my colleagues have previously commented. to avoid the issue of people talking about the capital as their land, let’s do what Americans did when they established Washington DC as the Capital City of the United States. they cut the land which was between three states and build it as a capital city. and I think the government of South Sudan can do the same and leave Bari community alone and any other tribes and ethnic groups so the it will be in a place where they could serve the whole region without tensions.
and God bless South Sudan nation.
Dhaal M. Aterdit
The Chaos of locating a capital city for South Sudan
Dear Steve,
Many thanks indeed for your behaviors and attitudes that are based on strong loyalty to your own tribe. Some of the wordings here are worthless in mentioning for an elderly man, patriotic and national figure like you as you may proclaim. You hold ill-illusive Ideology.
I quoted you mentioning
……..“There are those in Equatoria, Bari in particular, who believe until to this day that SPLM/A was formed by the Dinkas in response against institutionalization of Kokora. The allegation is true to some extend, because the actions of some Dinkas in SPLM/A against non-Dinkas are proven to be contrary to the principles of the liberation struggle; in effect, validating such sentiments.”……….
This is a worthless understanding of SPLM/A. First, SPLM was percieved from its inception by Khartoum footed government that it lacks national concepts. Secondly, The Arab Islamic government in Kartoum during those days fabricated that the movement was formed by Dinka to fight their tribal foes in Southern Sudan. All these falsehoods were propogated by the government to tilt the objectives of SPLM/A and discourage other major and minor tribes in joining its moral campaign.
You must prove yourself wrong in mentioning that SPLM/A was formed by the Dinkas in response against institutionalization of Kokora because the first echo of the gunshot of the two decades of struggle was first heard in Bor and proceeded to the vast areas of Greater Equatoria. Most of the towns of Equatoria were librated unlike Vast Dinkalands of Upper Nile and Bhar El Gezal. SPLM/A was a national libration movement which was fighting margenilisation all over the Sudan. And you might have not gotten in some of the books written after the war that there were two war zones; War Zone one (Southern Sudan) and War Zone two (Northern Sudan). SPLM/A was fighting in Equatoria and Northern Sudan where there are no Dinka owned villages. Even Dinkas are not boastfully saying that the were the ones unleashing the war campaign alone with out tribes of Southern Sudan and indeed the Sudan in general.
Please Peterno, you must think first before posting an article in any electronic or print media.
Dhaal Mapuor.
Jada Lotole
The Chaos of locating a capital city for South Sudan
Hi Monychaos,
Did you nkow that ” A toothless person often feels guility when a bone is mentioned ? ” When will you ever stop being suspicious of prosperous people ? when will you ever stop calling people who are menat to be your brothers ” Food lovers ? By the way , who cultivated the food and who looted the food the most ? why are all your idioms so childish ? ! Let me assume that your mind is not fractured with egoistic, selfish and tribal sentimentality to an extent that you even can’t give due respect to the host of the war that ragged for over 2 decades right here in the South Sudan !! your likes cant explain what it means to be ” A war Host” Nothing tribalistic has been made metion of in the article in disscussion! If all dinkas were like you , South Sudan would not have reached this far !! Thank God ! You are just a drop of a drop of a drop of water in the sea of peace loving Dinkas ! I pray people like you will just keep on crying in the rain and every peace loving S.Sudanese will just take your tears for rain water !
Deng Ateny Lueth
The Chaos of locating a capital city for South Sudan
I did not understand any thing you want to Address in your article my friend Paterno. the only thing i understood in your passage is the issue of Dinka with Bari tribes. i mind about the rest of Allegiations you charged against Dinka. the issue of KORKORA was real issue and i just don’t know how in the world you guys allow arabs to occupy it and reject Dinka from Occupying it. History and time will tell these. Dinka has liberated you all but no one seem to acknowledge the gift of blood we have offered to free south sudan.