Tribal GOSSIP may put South Sudan Govt in Problem

By Gongich C Ngueny

February 25, 2008 — “ This is not Congo, not Rwanda or, Kenya. It is southern Sudan, a country not yet born, still there is already an emergence of struggle for political power based on ethnic lines brought by some enemies of togetherness’ far as I know it has never worked any where instead it brings animosity and anarchy.

They struggle for power not knowing the hour. Please brethren, let us unanimously kill that attitude before it grows; most especially a state like southern Sudan, a state that is not yet born”.

We people of southern Sudan should know and be proud of our history. A history which has consumed 2.5 millions lives, a history, that has turned Southern Sudanese tribes against one another: Nuer vs Uduk, Shilluk vs Anyauk, Monyjiang (Dinka) vs Beer (Murle), and Equatorian vs great Upper Nile. In after-math, a final peace was achieved.

Beforehand my thanks goes to our heroes: Josheph Lago, William Deng Nhial, Abel Alier Kwai, Dr Garang Mabior, William Nyoun Bany Salva Kiir Mayardit, Kuol Manyang Juuk, Karbino Kuanyin Bol, and of course our tribal leaders among them late Mabior Ngueny Chol for their tireless support to SPLM/A during the strugling period.

Peace is the absent of war and war absent of peace. People of Southern Sudan are at peace shore at the moment. We have been fighting against brothers in the North due to their brutality, lack of democracy and ignorance of Southerners toward process of nation building as well as political participation

No single family in Southern Sudan that has not lost life in the war agaisnt Islamic regime. This mean we shouldn’t be confused by somne fake and weak politician like professor Taban Lo Liyong of Equatoria. I have failed to understand professor Taban for his miscalculation on Dinka, Nuer and shilluk.being behind subordination of his fellow equatorian. Absolutely, this is ridiculluos and an unimaginable to believe. Dr John Garang and his followers were aiming for Freedom for all Southerners. Even upto date SPLM advocate for Democracy & Freedom which I thinks is the right thing to do. I can’t foresee line of contradicting the vision of Southern Sudanese as whole.

It’s categorically evident that while the rest of other southern Sudanese are trying to breath an air of relief from conflicts. some power hungry people instead of a cordial unity to fight injustice and preserve human right and rule of togetherness, theses disgruntled people are already trying to sow a virus seed of discord into minds of young southerners. Such people are nothing than enemies of the state which is still in the wormb- a state not yet born. We just finished a war we do not want infighting because that isn’t the way forward.

N/B no one wins a war only the dead wins a war. for no more sounds of gunshots I implore the right thinking Southern Sudanese to reframe from internal power struggle. That is not the main theme of our collective struggle.

Anyway, self expression is welcome in every free and democratic society. I believe in addressing tribal issues with care and positive result. Racism signals can always keep us in two parralell lines which never meet. Dinkas, Shilluk, Latuko Mundari, Nuers are just one people in difference tongues. They have been going along together for years without problems. The issue of Dinkas cattle grazing on Equatorian soil is not for now and has no link to land intrusion policy. Intelectual people like Lo Liyong should avoid preaching hatred through using countries like Kenya, Somalia, Congo, and Uganda as an example to create same politcal unrest in Southern Sudan. We (Southern Sudanese) are not Jo Luo nor, do we relate to Kikuyu in anything.

Recently, I was in Kampala-Uganda for my placement. Just five km away from the organisation I worked for is the Kampala International University. This University is mostly occupied by students from various part of Southern Sudan. Suddenly I met a friend from Fajulu by name S’t ( Arabic name). We introduced each other and engaged in a short conversation. He then went on and asked me how Southern Sudanese communities were doing in the Netherlands. They are doing great and fine, I replied. What of here, how are they couping? I asked. We are okay but there is lots of tribal GOSSIP going on right here, students groups themselves based on tribal lines. You have group of Equatorian students only, Dinkas alone, Nuers alone, shilluk alone ect. In such groups tribal differences and GOSSIP are often the main topics of their discussion and later used against the other groups, he explained. Ooh! Ooooo! That sound no good, this may put Governtment of Southern Sudan in Problem (GOSSIP), I said. Yes indeed, concluded Sebitt. Sorry, sorry, I gota go back to the office, I interupted. We shall talk again!

To draw a final conclusion from that short conversation, I thank God that those behaviours and attitudes have no rooms in the Netherlands, we are very strongly and cordially united . No GOSSIP, no hatred preaching, no desire to imitate other countries crisis as professor Lo Liyong wishes. Liyong preaching may brain wash young generation of Southern Sudan leading them into a wrong track. Let me just beg the rest of Southern Sudan communities to adhere unity wherever they are. We did not just inherit this great land from our parents, but we borrowed it from our children and their children’s children. So let’s make it a better place for posterity.

The author is a student of International Business and Management studies at Rotterdam University. he can be reached at [email protected].