Airplanes Nightmare for South Sudanese
By Steve Paterno
May 4, 2008 — Plane crashes have killed South Sudan leaders in recent years more than anything else. Of course, South Sudan also lost leaders in other related incidences such as war, sickness, and assassinations. However, to lose an average of one leader a year in a three years span in a plane crash, it begs more questions. Then, with such trend, what is next?
In summer of 2005, traveling on Ugandan’s presidential chopper, John Garang, the first ever legitimate Sudan’s Vice President who is a Southerner and the president of South Sudan died in plane crash and all those on board the chopper died along with him. That was to follow with near fatal plane crashes, involving high ranking South Sudan leaders. Rumors of Salva Kirr, the successor of John Garang as South Sudan president having died in plane crashes become the order of the day. For the last three years, one actually loses counts on how many times Salva Kiir is rumored to have died in plane crashes. And then, the fate of the South Sudanese leaders seems to have been sealed in the recent plane crash that killed Dominic Dim, the South Sudan Minister of Defense, Justin Yac, the advisor to the President of South Sudan, and all those on board the plane, which include family members as they were nearly landing at Rumbek’s airstrip.
They say, it is actually safer to fly on the plane than traveling on a car. The risk of fatality while flying is very minimal, something like one in millions. However, such statistic does not seem to hold any truth for those who are risking flying in remote places such as South Sudan. In South Sudan, the risk seems to be very high. The fact that an average leader dies in a plane crash a year, is pretty significantly the highest.
There are many factors contributing into such highest risk of flying in South Sudan. The fact that South Sudan comes from a poorest continent of the world, Africa and South Sudan itself is very poor is one of the contributing factors. According to the recent reports on air travel safety, regionally, Africa fared among the worst, “with accident rates as high as six times the global average.” The major reasons on why Africa airlines are the worst as far as air travel is concern is “due to lack of quality personnel or the appropriate work isn’t being done, or there’s just wholesale disregard for safety,” according to William Voss, president of the U.S.—based Flight Safety Foundation.
Such problems are even worsened when it comes to South Sudan. First, South Sudan does not have a credible airline and therefore, no aviation laws, and if there are aviation laws, they cannot be rigorously enforced. The South also does not have its own aircraft fleet. The only aircraft South Sudan has are scraped of old planes it received as donations from sympathetic countries. No wonder all the South Sudan leaders died on board the planes that belong to foreign countries. In the case of John Garang, it was a Ugandan chopper and in the current case of Dominic Dim and Justin Yac, it is a Kenyan chatter plane. As the South does not have aircrafts, it also does not have proper facilities to render safety for operations of airplanes. The airports or airstrips as they called them, are rugged with few or no technological equipment that would ensure safely of flying. And yes, South Sudan lacks quality personnel in aviation industry.
These, however, do not suggest that there are no measures that can be taken which will reduce risk of flying in South Sudan. For one, South Sudan has the money, and as we know, money cannot do all, but many things to improve the situation. For example, the airstrips can be upgraded, personnel can be properly trained, and money can also be allocated in maintenance of the aircrafts including acquisition of new ones. The other measures that also can be taken into consideration will be simple common sense such as avoiding unnecessary travels, following common sense safety approach etc.
Otherwise, South Sudanese have already declared airplanes as their enemy number two. Whatever the case, airplanes will be the enemy that the people should not wage war on, but rather understand and improve so that both the airplanes and the people are safer. In all, bon voyage for those who tragically lost lives aboard airplanes and those who will continue to board airplanes!
Steve Paterno is the author of The Rev. Fr. Saturnino Lohure, A Romain Catholic Priest Turned Rebel. He can be reached at [email protected]
young paul
Airplanes Nightmare for South Sudanese
Steven Paterno , I admire your writings there are always mire with logic and common sense. I actually don’t have much to add, but mine is just an inquire why was those government officials travelling with there wives on an official paid aircraft I am not sure if that meets the standard of corruption. But by the way it was once rumors that Dr Justin Yaac , celebrated with a big bottle of Johnny walker, when our late hero Dr John Garang met his fate in that mysterious Uganda plane crush, it is said that Dr John had marginalize him for so long, any how I not sure about those allegation but what I am well sure of is that this old man is a very controversial figure he once stood up in South Sudan parliament and declared that Dinks are the large tribe in Africa therefore God have given them the right to rule non Dinks. My condolence goes to all the families victims and may our almighty God rest there soul in eternal peace.
young paul
Airplanes Nightmare for South Sudanese
Chameleon Chameleon, what very your name is, don’t get me started here because I am capable of taking it to an high level and it won’t be good for your late uncle Yaac,. Concerning this allegation of Johnny walker thing it has been confirm by reliable resource that yes, he celebrated the death of Dr John out of envy. Check for yourself with any one who was in South Africa by that time so this is not some thing I made up. I am not sure if you have any memory of” Kokara” but this thing that I am born to rule was one of the factor of Kokara. So I think every tribe of South Sudan will need a country of its own so you don’t end up becoming a second class citizen in your own country I thought we fought the Jaballa for 21 years to have equal rights. Just for your information I am an insider I known a lot do you want me to tell you the story of how Dr Yaac first wife die. For Mr. Steven I am sorry man I am in the middle of mess with this amateur so keep the good job you doing I will see you soon once I visit USA.
Mabior Ayuen Dengajok
Second hands goods and services are threat
Second hands goods and services become increasingly dangerous to the people of South Sudan, such as delta connection that crash two vital ministers to death.
We Southernerness are facing difficulties in getting brand new goods or services.
As comprehensive peace agreement was signed since last three years (CPA), therefore, many returnees and migrants are getting into South Sudan particular.
As economic is booming, neighbouring countries are bringing in an old school (used services) services into South Sudan and people there does not have an active people who can simply look into which services should be allow to enter into the country or which one should not be welcome in.
So the government of South should pays more attention and only allow a brand new service that can last longer and one can serve lives.
“They says short cut is a dangerous path” buying thing in less cost make it last in short time, and it is likely to cause threats to people who are using them.
Any goods or services must be tested regular whether it’s new or in use.
Such as in western countries, planes, trains, boats and cars are test on their regular basic term in testing station, so south must adopt not such to learn through mistakes.
We are just getting into civilisation and we are not well educated in various fields such as an aircraft-engendering, technician and so on. Never less, we are extremely going to face great loss at all the time if the government of South Sudan do not act quickly and the history of crashes will keep on repeat it self.
Government should find a ways to tackle such tragic or freak accident from occurring again, so we can know whether its engine failure or there is link to crash.
By Mabior Ayuen Dengajok
Moe Montana
Airplanes Nightmare for South Sudanese
Comprehend that these deaths although very unfortunate are a sign from God. The southern government is much much more corrupt than the northern government & i say this based on fact. In addition, in the bible, Job 27:8 it states “For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?”.
No one but God Almighty shall these people answer to, everything is written and honestly enough with the divisions between north & south, we need to stop the bickering! We must think as one nation, together united, by the same moral principles & actions which God willingly shall have us respected as a people all over the world. Finally, may God forgive those whom have past away, grant them salvation and bless their families!
God is Love,
Mohammed Ahmed.
young paul
Airplanes Nightmare for South Sudanese
GOOD NEWS FOR Mohammed Ahamed
Mohammed Ahmed, stop projecting your evil thought among the sons of South Sudan, we will always have differences but at the end of the day we are united by one course to defeat the enemy. Did you obtained those obscured dates of corruptions from your homo Omar Basher . By the way our God is God of love, doesn’t not avenge and his merciful. The only god that I known that calls people to fight on his behalf is the god of Muslim. The heroic Jihadist Prophet of doom Mohammed was one who introduced hypocrite and corruption to the world ,by have sex with a little girl of six year old and taking her as his wife