Why all this criticism to Sudan’s SPLM?

By Watts Roba Gibia Nyirigwa

Oct 12, 2005 — The SPLM and government of south Sudan is the only pillow of the Southerners to which their hopes rest. And if we have a comprehensive look at the enormous criticism being swiftly staged on the SPLM leadership and government of south Sudan, it didn’t emerge from vacuum but was utterly due to the sequential number of events that have overridden and swept Southern Sudanese masses during the past nine months, and have resulted in the eruption and detonation of accumulated mixed reactions and emotions.

First of this event was the signing of the comprehensive peace agreement on January 9, 2005 and the overwhelming jubilance and joy to the coming of Dr. Garang de Mabior to Khartoum on July 8, 2005, and his famous speech that “my presence here today in Khartoum is a true signal that the war is over”. This empowered peace loving people in all parts of Sudan, specially marginalized areas, and in particular Southerners beyond any doubt that peace is now alive and at their amidst. And that was the eve of the realization of their hopes and dreams for everlasting peace. And it was re-affirmed by the swearing in of Dr. Garang de Mabior as First Vice President of Sudan, President of South Sudan, Chairman of SPLM and Commander-in-Chief of SPLA on July 9, 2005. He has been regarded widely by Southerners as hero, symbol and light to guard them in darkness and to lift them from the pit of poverty and death. Utterly Dr. Garang was considered as star which signifies vision and as Moses who led his people to the promised peace but died before could see the peace. Upon death of Dr. Garang on July 30, 2005 at plane crash darkness befallen allover the south, and light that which has been regarded widely by Southerners to lead them through the darkness and wildness has faded and disappeared, and that was a great shock to every Southerner. As it was sung by choirs “oh my people, oh my people, who will set your free?” They believe that their redeemer who has come to set them free from the bondage of injustice and servitude has been slain before it could set them free on the safe shore. And after burial people who are watching from afar rushed to the tomb, in dismay and hysterias state, could not believe that their great dynamic leader and hero has slept forever, weeping and singing out “never surrender, never surrender!” As an affirmative signal to the SPLM/A leadership and government of south Sudan that we stand united and firmly behind your leadership and never surrender and never waver and wither. And that was the most tragic and shocking era Southerners witnessed in their modern history. And by the fading and disappearance of the light and star, and everlasting sleep of great leader and redeemer, Southerners have become like sheep without shepherd.

Second of this event was when Lt. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit was selected by SPLM/A leadership to fill in shoes of Dr. Garang and as a shepherd to guard the sheep. Southerners were quickly united under their strong commander and leader Salva Kiir as their new light and star to realize their vision, and considered Salva Kiir as Joshua who will lead and protect them from the brutality and cruelty of the enemy. And Kiir affirmed to the Southerners that he will follow the footsteps of his friend and brother for the realization of his vision and the new Sudan. But when the SPLM lost the control over the two key Ministerial economic sectors of Mining and Energy and Finance, it has been viewed and perceived by Southerners as another dark cloud has befallen on the south. South needs more overflow of money unlike north to start building the non-existing infrastructure of south, in other words to start building south from scratch. This have been seen by Southerners as the continuous injustice and disparities being applied on Southerners. Controlling the two key economic sectors and in particularly petroleum, have been considered widely by Southerners that, had air and sun were to be at the reach of Northerners, they would have deprived Southerners too from breathing air and sun light! Here Southerners have got their reasons to speculate and presume whatsoever, simply because you can’t be seated aside and entrust someone to oversee and control your own possessions and grant you, looks ridiculous and makes no sense, but it reflects greediness and egoism of the human nature. Firstly we have to be perspicuously honest with ourselves by taking into consideration all the surrounding circumstances in order to face the real challenge ahead us. You will never have a steady development if there is no regularity of the cash flow and if it is not in your hands, and if the cash flow is cut for one reason or another, you will be stranded and will have no option but to admit the small portion let to you. This is the perilous circumstances of having your fate on someone’s hands without a clear transparency, accountability, mutual understanding, confidence and good faith. Let us go back deep into the history and rediscover ourselves and move forward with steady velocity for the realization of our goals and vision with all the required necessary tools to guarantee our reliability.

From all these tidal waves of events which swept the Southern Sudan during the past nine months, Southerners have seen a very little glimpse of hope from all these unfolding events. Thus great number of criticism started hammering on SPLM and government of south Sudan, as they have no other leadership or government to whom they can voice their resentment except their only pillow of hope. And this can be conceived as the banner to building a strong democratic foundation as well as viable good democratically government in south. As the greatest democratic societies and countries today around the world still do not escape from swift criticism which is the base of building a strong democratic society, and that is the practical democratic initiation in our south Sudanese society. Thus, we can’t skip criticism whenever we are and under any circumstances, as it is the mirror which reveals and reflects everyone’s deeds, with an ideal review of everyone’s behavior.

* Watts Roba Gibia Nyirigwa, a Sudanese from Cairo – Egypt
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