Tribalism an obstacle to democracy in Southern Sudan

By Abraham Awolich

March 6, 2007 — The formation of the Government of National Unity, Government of Southern Sudan and state governments is a milestone in the history of Sudan and Southern Sudan in particular. When the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of was signed, I was very excited just as any Sudanese would be except for those who would rather see the status quo unchanged. Nevertheless, I was also very skeptical and very vigilant when I reflected on the past agreements that were abrogated and dishonored. Of course it is intuitively evidence that any agreement signed in Sudan is not meant to stay or be honored but is usually a dilatory trickery. One would say with confidence however, that this peace is unique and the mechanisms that are in place to safe guard it are very promising. Sadly, there are obstacles that are threatening the full implementation of the CPA. There are elements from within the common source and sadly there are elements from within the South. Certainly, tribalism is and will continue to be the most threatening element to stability and coexistence within the South. Most importantly, it is a threat to the formation of South Sudan nation, and obviously it is an impediment to self determination and referendum.

I have been to Southern Sudan twice since the signing of comprehensive peace agreement and I would confidently say I have witnessed the beginning of a long road to freedom. I met some high ranking officials in the government of Southern Sudan and I had a discussion with some of them. I have sat in the offices of others just to observe how they were running their offices. The performance of many ministries impressed me. I have read many terrible comments about the performance of the government of Southern Sudan; I would say for fairness’s sake that these individuals work very hard. Although no much has been done, a lot have actually been done but it is nothing closer to the demands and the expectations of the civil populations. The greatest challenge is that the people expect more than the government can deliver and that is a potential problem. One would not go without saying that corruption remains a main problem even at the county and payam levels. A lot of good things can be said about this government nevertheless.

It makes me proud as a southerner to have something I can call my government. I grew up mostly in Sudan, I never felt I had a government that represents me ever before. The government of Southern Sudan is my government and I strongly feel it represents me. Can’t we be proud of ourselves? The blood of those who died was not in vein. After all, we have peace, we have our land, we have our oil, we have our army, we have our government, we have our president, we have our legislative assembly, we have our supreme court and we have council ministers and above all, a constitution that represents the culture of our people with civil liberties and basic human rights enshrined in it. Further more, we have the referendum which will help us determine our destiny. We can be proud even more, we have survived as the people the brutal genocide inflicted on us by those who which we were not created, by those who think they should define our destiny, by those who only want us because we make them feel superior by treating us like servitudes. We have survived with our culture and our faiths. We must be proud as the people, “the people of Southern Sudan”.

One thing makes me sad though is “tribalism”. I am always saddened and deeply troubled when I read press releases and opinions from people I would say are well educated and clearly understand the nature of problems in Southern Sudan. Not only are these press releases perfidious to the cause of Southern Sudan, but also they are obstacles to democracy in Southern Sudan. The proliferation of tribal associations and the audacity of these associations to make political statements and backing up corrupt politicians just because they belong to their tribes, are not only dangerous to the politicians but also to the existence of CPA and southern Sudan itself. I have read with greater concerns the tribal cronies beating up the drums of tribalism in Southern Sudan with the loudest possible sound they can make. These acts promote only the culture of hatred and preclude the advancement of cohesive society and democracy. I specifically would call upon those tribal associations who are ganging up against other tribes to cease their practices. These practices would only produce more hatred and will increase the number of tribal gang associations who in turn will undermine the operations of the government and uproot the culture of democracy. These tribal associations could be useful if they work to improve the lives of the local people and help them develop their political skills. Instead; these associations are working to undermine the work of the government, the reconciliation of our communities and sadly, they are impediment to the advancement of democracy and the rule of law. They are relentlessly working to obstruct justice and shelter tribal criminals who deserve to be behind the bars and disappear from the public scenes.

I respect tribal cultures and I respect anything with regards to tribal traditions but I do not stand those associations of thugs who assume to represent our people when they are inimical to their progress and development. Isn’t it paradoxical to call for democracy when you are an obstacle to democracy yourself? How could you form a tribal gang in a very peculiar way and assume that your gang represents the whole tribe? What kind of democracy is that? Do the tribal gangs understand that what they are doing is exactly what those who which Southern Sudan do not exist stand for? Democracy does not create the division; instead, it should blur the dividing lines. It should be the only solvent that can dissolve all the solutes. In our case, it should be the only solvent to dissolve our tribal differences. It is tragic that this tribal tool has been used time again and again to divide, to kill, to enslave and to fetter our people from enjoying their rights as citizens. Our people have been used against each other and majority of the killings that happened in Southern Sudan were carried out by Southerners themselves. When can we learn from the past mistakes? Why do we refuse to see a mountain of gathering danger in tribalism? I would say that tribalism is the most dangerous enemy ranking second our archenemies in the South.

With all that said, I call upon all the people of Southern Sudan to fight tribalism at any level without impunity. I also call upon the Government of Southern Sudan recognize tribalism as a problem and pass appropriate legislations to combat this horrendous crime in our society. I call upon the Sudanese intellectuals around the world to stop ganging up along the tribal lines and adopt a sense of nationalism and promote the culture of unity in diversity with great respect for each other’s cultures. If we reduce ourselves to tribal properties, who can remain to safeguard our national identity? Our collective action is necessary for the right of self determination and referendum to take place. For a complete independence to take place, we need to burry our tribal tendencies and destroy our tribal hideouts to enable us to match majestically tall and proud to freedom and self determination.

For Southern Sudan to gain a prominence in African politics and in the world, we must fight tribalism in its all forms vehemently. We are proud people and our pride is inherently our identity and strong traditions and self esteem. These great values should not work contrary to our cause, in fact they are our strength and they are the foundation of our pride. We have been well led into our liberation and our leaders did not rely on tribal havens for the liberation of our country and our people. The foundation for a complete liberation of our people is an end to tribalism. SPLA has stood and remain resolute in the face of unrelenting enemy because our people have acted in unison. Could peace have come if individual tribes were left to deal with it alone? Would it have been possible in Naivasha to negotiate as individual tribes? Would there have been a government of national unity for that matter if we are represented as individual tribes? Our independence is a function of our unity just as tribalism is a function of failed Southern Sudan state.

I call upon the tribal militias to cease their existence and close their ranks with the SPLA for it serves no purpose whatsoever to have an army that represents a particular tribe. Long gone are those days where each tribe would recruit warriors to defend their cattle and raid other villages. We are people of Southern Sudan, we must respect individual property and we must live in harmony so that peace benefits all of us. If every tribe starts associations to threaten other tribes, form gangs, recruit militias and support individual politicians from their tribes what would be the result? All these associations tell me that we should form a tribal confederation to compete militarily for power and disregard the Government Southern Sudan. There is nothing mendacious and tenacious than to try and get our people divided and get Southern Sudan to trash the CPA. If we cling to our tribal identities, when do we think we can start our national identity? These tribal tendencies must be discourage and a process of national building and national reconciliation must be initiated.

If at all there are issues within the Government of Southern Sudan, we must try and separate individuals from tribes. If a politician is charged with a crime, that politician must be charged as an individual not as a tribe. Individuals do not become ministers because they belong to a certain tribe; they become ministries on the basis of their qualifications and also the basis of their service and loyalty to the government. We must not judge our politicians on the basis of their tribal identities but on the basis of their political performances and commitment to public service in the interest of the people they represent. A true leader is one that endures all hardships and cut through difficult walls to reveal the truth and abide by the truth.

Finally call upon all the citizens of Southern Sudan once again to fight tribalism, or recognize tribalism as a significant problem and combat it in all forms. I urge the politicians to resort not to their tribal hideouts when they are implicated in political complications, but to resort to the constitution of the Southern Sudan as the only legal frame work for resolving political differences. Making publicly provocative comments that imply incitement of tribal tensions must be punished and any discrimination based tribalism must carry severe punishment. In my opinion, any tribal association that promotes the culture of hatred and seeks to heighten tribal tensions in Southern Sudan must be banned.

The surest way to democracy in Southern Sudan is the abolition of tribalism and promotion of unity within diversity and respect for all cultures. We must stop declaring tribal wars in Nairobi, London, New York, Toronto or Melbourne. We must go to Southern Sudan, get involved, help the people out of poverty and help fight AIDS, illiteracy, lack of infrastructure and backwardness. These are the issues that we must deal with. The CPA was not signed to bring the war to an end between the North and the South; it was signed to bring an end to tribal wars also. We must declare war against ourselves and destroy the gains that have been made. Tribal associations should work on improving the lives of their people not focusing on trying to engineer tribal wars. Those who are catalyzing the tribal tensions must know that they are conspiring against the nation and that in other word is treason. I wish some day that these individuals come to their senses and realize the magnitude of their crimes.

The author is the Director of New Sudan Education Initiative and President of ALCOM. He can be reached at [email protected]