Azande slam WES new governor, call to resist tribal-colonialism

The new controversial Governor of Western Equatoria State who was appointed via Salva Kiir Presidential decree, General Samuel Abujohn arrived in the state on October 2nd 2006, after almost a month delay. Local Western Equatoria citizens said that was because since Abujohn is hated by the local population he took time to organise for his arrival in Yambio and send people from Juba who would receive him and so hence many lorries had ferried some supporters from Juba before his departures to Yambio then.

Reports say on his arrival at the airstrip there were hardly any locals who went to receive him except the JIU and SPLA soldiers and those who came from Juba. Also others say they were forced to close businesses and go to receive him and people were beaten if they did not comply to close and go to receive him.

The Governor was companied by some backers from the Juba dictatorial/totalitarian regime and these were in the form of Dr. Festo, Anthony Makana, Joseph Bakosoro, Phillip Nvue the proposed agriculture Minister, James Bage the proposed Commissioner for Yambio, Mulana Makuei, Cdr. Gier Chuong Aluong, Ayubu Gaza.

Immediate upon his arrival the Governor held a rally in the state house which was widely attended by the military forces rather than the local population.

During the rally the Governor attacked Western Equatoria Youth as problem who does not allow other tribes to setlle in Western Equatoria. The Governor also attacked some people he termed as engineers who do not like him and causing problems for him. He further reported to have said Western Equatoria is big and vast and all tribes are welcome to settle there and the Western Equatoria should people should not hate others.

Local now interpret this as a call to invade Weston Equatoria by other tribes under his auspices.

These days there is a great dismay and distress all over Western Equatoria. People wonder what the fruit of fighting for 22 years were. Mutual co-existence does not mean that you leave your house and invade your brother’s house and torture him/her to make a Governor happy so that he applauds and praises you as a good citizen.

Further people thought they had a fought to achieve freedom, democracy, dignity, freedom of speech and development but we have here an elderly Governor who is misunderstanding it all and now seem to base his rule on allowing other the tribes to come and settle in the West Equatoria. This is a misinterpretation of what freedom and citizenship is about and this situation could degenerate into a very serious situation soon. You have been warned. By threatening to declare war on the Youth population of Western Equatoria Abujohn is confirming his stand as a man against the interest of Western Equatoria. The only government which can ignore one sector of its community is a dictatorial and totalitarian one and they usual aim for one thing, self interest.

To verify this point you can read below what the Western Equatoria own official media officer had to say about the rallies there:

“On Tuesday 2nd October 2006, the Market was closed and people were told on the road or even in the houses to go for the rally. He addressed the community with the same points he has to be implemented. In his speech, he said Western Equatoria state was ignored with development because youth has spoiled the state and if it is how youth will lead, better ” balas” He further said, he will not tolerate those who are hating other tribes.

During the second meeting today Wednesday 3rd October 2006, he had with the traditional leaders and the chiefs in the State headquarters. He presented the same mission to the chiefs and urges them to support him to achieve the mission. Chief Wilson Hassen Peni presenting on behalf of the Chiefs in the state said, there is a lot to be addressed, some are Cattle owners who invade northern part of state, LRA , Ambororo, unnecessary torture by JIU and SPLA especially at night and harassment of people”.

Well it is clear that what the chiefs are concerned about is what the Govnernor thinks as where the citizens of Western Equatoria are wrong. The Governor is not there to protect them from their concerns: invading pastoralists, LRA menace , Ambororo and unnecessary torture and mistreatment by SPLA soldiers who are mostly from other tribes. To the Governor the chiefs concerns and that of the Youth are evils he will use his SPLA troops to eradicate. The citizen’s of Western Equatoria has to sacrifice with their blood , and act as slaves and allow outside cattle to eat their cultivation at will. This is the price Western Equatoria has to be pay for being part of South Sudan; but the question is for how long local population will put up with such a high price?

The Chairman of World wide Zande community is calling on all the citizens and people of Western Equatoria to unite to resist tribal-colonialism within the boundaries of South Sudan. WES citizens want equality, inclusion and respect for each others cultures within the recognized state boundaries that existed, and it is not about allowing pastoralists to chase original citizens of WES and treat them as second citizens within their state. Respect for one another cultures and social believes is not about hating other tribes or allowing unnecessary settlement as punishment. Nobody is trying to rewrite history here. We also call on all Equatorians to support WES, remember whatever happens in WES today will also happen in other parts of Equatoria soon.

Eng. Charles B. Kisanga

Eng. Kisanga is chairman of Western Equatoria Azande Community world wide Organisation and he can be reached on [email protected], Tel: +44-770899 8373