Stop propagation of tribal warfare in south Sudan
By Roba Gibia
November 13, 2006 — According to my view and despite the unfolding events, the general security situation in south has normalized drastically since signing of CPA in 2005 on one hand, and on the other the ethnic tensions have ascended in the various parts of south due to enemy’s strategy to destabilize south Sudan. And this requires more vigilance and deployment of law enforcement and security apparatus in every locality is imperative. As this ethnic tensions pose great threats to the entire region, taking into consideration the scenery and vast areas of south Sudan. Beside that the general security stability in south which has just emerged from devastated war is very encouraging, due to the determination of south Sudanese population to live in peace and harmony. But there are unseen hands which is playing a great role behind scenes to lit fire between south Sudanese ethnic groups.
The recent incidents of murdering in Juba and other various incidents in south was an individual act for retribution and an attempt by few to take the law into their own hands, and consequently creating chaos among populace. These incidents were possibly to occur after decades of bitter wars in south. And this reminds us that as we proceed with building of south Sudan and transformation of SPLA forces into professional soldiers or in civil services, there should be special focus, treatment and psychotherapy to our ex-soldiers as well as victims of war. As there are some profound and bitter effects, both invisible and visible inheritance of war, such as mistrust, death, orphans, hatred and sentiment of retribution and reprisals, all these need to be healed via actual reconciliation to overcome its long effect in our society. Without healing mental and soul rehabilitation, the scenario of the individual or group retribution and reprisals will continue to occur in our community with ultimate goal of violence, which will lead to crisis in our community. Thus, it is imperative for our authorities to start addressing these issues in our society through psychotherapy and consolation to accommodate and make those individuals or groups to become good citizens in a society.
There are lots of propagation from enemies of south who are trying to cover the continuous demon deeds of Khartoum security agencies in south, and claiming that the incidents which took place last month between Juba-Torit and Nimule roads and around Juba was a sign of security deterioration in south, and that there is potential eruption of tribal or civil war in south. And despite faulting LRA for the security deterioration, but have put more emphases on what they termed total discontent to the government of south Sudan from some tribes who contributed to the SPLM/A movement during the past twenty-two years, but were sidelined and was not offered any positions in the government of south Sudan, was the main reason for the security deterioration and sign of potential warfare in south! This is ludicrous propagation and its paramount objective is to distort the public and world opinion, and to incite and create sedition among Southerners and consequently turn south Sudanese ethnic groups against each other. And this is a celebrated game of our enemies which we shouldn’t let it happen, as far as there is still a glimpse of hope for our salvation from the bondage of servitude.
The enemies of south had and have been exploiting southern Sudan tribal differences since when the Southerners took arms against Khartoum in 1955, and it never ceased stretching its hands to simmer and flame the situation in south. And that was evidential in sponsoring and arming LRA and the southern militias to create havoc and terrorize people in south. Khartoum never wished even for a day to see south in harmony and synchronization. But rather wished to see Southerners always profoundly rivaling over power, positions and fighting each other to display to the world Southerners’ inability in governing themselves. I believe Bor massacre and split among SPLM/A during the course of movement was the concrete examples and other various incidents, which undoubtedly Southerners should have learnt dear lessons from it and wouldn’t accept to be manipulated again in same manner.
Everyone knows that during the course of past wars, there were immense atrocities committed against south. And south had and has been the battle field of resolving military differences between Khartoum from one hand and southern Sudan factions from the other, and the victims were poor south Sudanese civilians. This strategy serves Khartoum’s land scorch policy and has to be reversed, which is the duty and responsibility of government of south Sudan to embark and continue with the initiative of south-south dialog, to reach to the true harmony, reconciliation, healing of wounds and restoration of trust and confidence among the south Sudanese sons and daughters to reverse the entire process. But nevertheless, this requires collective efforts and clear approach and openness among South Sudanese politicians and intellectuals, to break the barrier of tribalism and unite to protect their homeland. These differences can easily be resolved amicably if we could only come together and find a common ground of understanding and put behind our tribal differences and cement our ties as sons and daughters of one tribe “South Sudan”. By coming together, we would be able to put things on truck and move forward with building of our country. The concern and logic here is to foster love and peace and bridge the gap between south Sudanese ethnic groups, not with an idea of abandoning pride of our tribes which formed South Sudan, but with the overall idea of building a nation far from tribal differences, while each tribe preserves its cultural uniqueness.
Thus, it is crucial for our politicians and intellectuals to foster love and peace amidst of south Sudanese communities instead of antagonism to avert the risk of falling back into the old guards policy of tribal conflicts and Kokora. The politicians and intellectuals have great role to play at this context, as they are the beam to light their own tribes-men as well as voice of their ethnic groups. But unfortunately and sadly enough, we have to fault our politicians and intellectuals for breeding tribalism, corruption, nepotism and the persistent south Sudan quandaries, due to lack of vision and their role in fueling tribal conflicts for their own self-empowerment. This is the situation of our famished southern politicians and intellectuals, who are selling their fidelity for enrichment and whom are behaving without having perfect insight of the whole issues and its consequences.
Therefore, let us not give a room to our enemies to utilize and explore our weakness, but have to resolve our differences amicably as sons and daughters of one family. Our people are at watershed moment, they suffered immensely for decades from terror and instability, no basic services and still living in absolute poverty despite our abundant wealth resources. Their hope and dreams lie on their leaders, politicians and intellectuals to let their dreams come true and live a decent life like any other nations on the face of earth. Let us not let our people down, let us fulfill their dreams by uniting our front and indigenous people and foster love and peace at their midst as brothers and sisters under one large family “South Sudan”. Let us not differentiate ourselves because the enemy’s bullet never distinguishes. Let us stay on course and let us not close the window of opportunity for our children and grandchildren, if the window closes, it will never open again and our sacrifices will be in vain. Let us not go into deep sleep while our house is still in mess, let us clean up the mess first, put things in order then go to the bed, but with open eyes because our enemies are wakeful!
* Roba Gibia is a Sudan Tribune columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]