Can Kiir’s cabinet-reshuffle also reshuffle our hearts?
By Taban Abel Aguek
July 11, 2007 — It has appeared that the recent reshuffle, the first of its kind since the formation of the Government of South Sudan, is being used by some opportunists to bring forth their agenda of setting South Sudan apart, both politically and socially.
This is one of the tests South Sudanese has failed to pass many often as from the time we were in the bush to the current days of peace; the days that should actually be meant for serious devotion and commitment towards building a free modern Sudan rather than indulge in rumors and baseless allegations against one another or any section.
There was a reason for any conscious Sudanese to be surprised by the alarm caused by the cabinet reshuffle in the GOSS administration because there was nothing strange with it. Many states have done so in the recent past and neither is it the last of its kind for the Government of South Sudan. Therefore, anyone left out today or transferred to any other undesired post may make it back any time again as long as these changes are being done by us, not by the Government in the North.
Nonetheless, there was nothing wrong with the recent reshuffle. People have already gone to some unassessed complaints about Bahr el Ghazal and individuals termed to be Kiir’s ‘loyalists’. This makes me ask if there are a number of people who count themselves ‘not loyal’ to their president. And if it happens to be, then there is no reason for such people to fight to be in the cabinet led by the SPLM.
Cabinet appointments, as is being misunderstood, should not be based on tribal lines. Rather it is somebody’s work, capacity and qualification that determine what ministry you should be allotted with based on the platform and the party policies. Moreover, the commitment and the health conditions of individuals are major factors.
It is a concern of many people to see a formidable development in the South and this can be obtained through the deployment of right people into the right places; and qualified to render services to the general public in a system where corruption is averted.
The transfer of Madam Rebecca Garang was wrongly taken as something not only against her but also a grudge between Dinka Bor and Bahr el Ghazal. The same ‘devil activists’ went as further as spreading lies that Kiir has fell out with Rebecca and that the SPLM is facing internal troubles.
In my opinion, Rebecca’s appointment as an Advisor puts her exactly now in the position of her late husband, Dr. John Garang. There was nobody in the life of our late father that had stayed closer to him than his own wife Rebecca. By the virtue of her current appointment she becomes a ‘Dictionary’ of the nation where we shall refer to at any time of need. This at the same time brings her closer to Mr. Kiir so that they join hands in decision making as we badly want women also in such a field, for what comes out of them may be cure of the whole nation. So, as someone already wrote in an article to the Sudan Tribune that Kiir had “put square pegs in round holes”, it is good as well that it were pegs put into holes. It would have been a mistake if our president had used sticks, not pegs. Maybe, it was right material into a wrong place – and that is not a big mistake.
Maybe, the long-awaited reshuffle of the Government of National Unity will never come as our behavior has already indicated that we need to protect some people because ministries have become ‘Tribal Houses’.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Dr. Lam Akol is serving no Southerners. It will have to stay there because the Shilluk will be angry. Mr. Aleu, the Minister for Interior Affairs is incapable of running such a busy office. The tribe will have to comment first. Prof. Peter Nyot Kok, the Minister for Higher Education from my home state has to attend to his own health rather than be entrusted with such a vital office at this time. There will be turmoil from his community. Who wants such a government and which society will flourish under such rules? Unless we want to put competency in the grave and remain the way we are.
Southerners should come together and avoid sectarian politics where people think along ethnic and tribal lines. By doing so, we give advantage to the one on the other side. The terms like Bahr el Ghazalians are so abysmal to hear from our fellow brothers and sisters.
These allegations and unconfirmed rumors – all hidden under the verge true democracy,
can do us double harm than the bad appointments we blame the president for.
During the war, Bahr el Ghazal was really at the bitter edge of it, but that does not mean that they ought to be rewarded with the coveted ministries of Finance, Defense and the Chief Justice. If so, then the citizens of Bahr el Ghazal should not have criticized their own brothers who objected a move by the President to remove Mr. Arthur Akuen Chol.
Still, it is citizens of Bahr el Ghazal who are unhappy at the reappointment of one of their own sons, Mr. Justin Yac Arop as an Advisor because he is ill, tired and exhausted to be entrusted with any duty again. It is time we realize the need for unity.
We fought all for the liberation and freedom of South Sudan – whether in our hearts or through the barrel of the gun, from the battle fields in the South through to the heart of Khatoum up to the refugee camps in the Diaspora. Yet we have one reward all, not ministry allocation, but freedom of all kind; and to quote one young man “even freedom to make mistakes”. Better the devil you know than the angel you don’t know. And to this, one would love to see a Southerner every time makes his cabinet, whether bad or good. Period! Or one has to compare the past with today so as to choose to oppose or support.
In the Legislative Assembly of 1948, soon after the Juba Conference, there were thirteen Southerners out of ninety-three. Today we have about 30% of the National Assembly, almost 90% of the South Sudan Legislative Assembly (most members sent in by other parties including NCP are Southerners) and state assemblies.
Kiir’s bad appointments, if they happen to exist, are far much better than Beshir’s good ones.
This is no good time for regionalism and partisan politics for South Sudan.
At a time when we are not sure of what would become of Abyei, Southen Blue Nile and at the time the North-South border has not been demarcated. And at a time when 50% wealth share is divided in the darkness and when we are still half-way down to the 2011 referendum.
During the September 11 terrorist attacks in America, George Bush of the Republican Party embraced his Democratic Party opponent, Tom Daschle. Dick Armey, a firebrand Conservative, put an arm around Maxine waters, a firebrand congresswoman on the Left.
I don’t think if SSDF (very much against its good name) should opposes SPLM at this critical time just because it is on the opposite bench. We can not shoot ourselves in the foot and we still say we want to go on a race. Those who disintegrate Southerners are worse than those who joined North against the South. Lest we forgot our target, it is good to know that we have not achieved the total freedom we fought for.
Our negative agitation, lies and rumors about ourselves should stop and we rally behind one cause – creating a free peaceful South Sudan. Kiir will mess up like that and one day he will find the fitting poles. It is good to remember, though, that it was the cabinet that was reshuffled, not our hearts, please!
* Taban Abel Aguek is a South Sudanese working in Rumbek. He can be reached by email [email protected]