What the S. Sudan government owes its citizens

By Philip Thon Aleu

March 15, 2009 — The Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) owes the nationals more uncountable debts than the leaders thought. These demands range from the right to information to implementations of policies as promised to citizens during public rallies or through the media, among others. Unsurprisingly enough, a government with silent opposition or without opposition parties is comparable to a monopolizing polygamist man who does not understand his own cruelty.

The GoSS is gravely indebted in the implementation of services to the Southern Sudanese particularly the education and health sectors, leaving alone the matter of redressing chronic insecurity. After the attainment of peace, Southerners celebrated the January 9, 2005 ceremony with hopes of enjoying guaranteed studies, extended public health services, practical freedom of press and right to expression as stipulated in the principles of the governing party, the SPLM. Failing to answer these demands, leaders have pointed to South Sudan’s only partially independent status in the transition phase (interim period) from 2005 to 2011 as an answer for the to lack of improvement in the above sectors, contrary to the fact the 50% of the oil share is allocated for whatever budgets the Juba Assembly passes. History won’t forgive any one causing delays if generations may forget whatever wrong steps are taken by elements in Southern Sudan government.

Juba government also owes for accelerating the decline of seemingly progressive states in the South like Western and Central Equatoria, Jonglei, Upper Nile and Lakes States. In 2008 for instance, The Dr. John Garang de Mabior Institute of Science and Technology was opened in Bor town for the benefit of poor high school graduates to attain university studies at home. But at the time of writing now, progress is yet to be made to pass the institute’s budget — a sign that it might not enroll new students until the second semester for the pioneering class of first year students.

In another frustration by Juba, once-peaceful Western Equatoria State is in turmoil now from Ugandan rebels, which was avoidable if GoSS had understood her military strength against foreign intervention. Western Equatoria, unlike other states of Southern Sudan, has few internal resource-based conflicts that could create losses of hundreds of lives comparable to those being lost today from the fugitive Lord Resistance Army (LRA). The LRA fought alongside the Khartoum government since 1986 and Southern Sudan leaders should have opted to avoid chairing the negotiations in Juba between Uganda and LRA. Apart from the failure to achieve peace in the talks, it is also clear that Juba itself is not a secure place to lobby for Uganda’s peace — just as one must have peace with himself or herself to bring warring parties together.

Central Equatoria State is claiming an inter-state border crisis which, in my view, is not an issue to discuss today given outstanding issues like the warrant of arrest for disgraced President Al-Bashir for which the GoSS position is yet to be clear, plus delayed demarcation of south-north border among others. I think Southern Sudan leaders owe Central Equatorian citizens on this point: they should make a public to call to suspend such disputes for the sake of unity of our States. It is, however, unlikely that a press briefing like this could be made in Juba by top leadership since speaking to the media is becoming a taboo — it is yet to be comprehended why Southern Sudan’s leaders are so shy. For example, an official says millions of Sudanese Pounds were revealed to be used illegally by a certain ministry but objects to using of the word “corruption” in this case! So, how do we call the misappropriations of public funds? This shows that our leaders are not in a position to lead objectively. This is also an indication of coordinated corruption in the leadership. Well, although there are no documented evidences of corruptions in South Sudan, the fact that official buildings are in poor condition, roads in appalling shape, 200 pupils attending lessons in a single classroom, villagers and hunters drinking from natural wells, all this demonstrates maladministration. Or if there is no budget for these services, as usually said by officials, then what is budgeted for?

In another provocative development, South Sudan has allowed clashes in 2009 ignited by controversial militia leader Gabriel Tanginyang Gatwech, who returned to the Upper Nile capital Malakal to repeat previous fighting despite the fact that it could have been avoided from the 2006 experiences. The familiarity with Mr. Gabriel’s tactics and the fact that NCP – the major partner in the CPA — hosted him for three years should have been used to bring him to justice rather than waiting for other clashes. The questions is: what did the GoSS do to Gabriel Gatwech given that he was responsible for 2006 fighting when up to 150 people died? We citizens really need explanations on contentious national issues — achievable through press conferences. If at all Mr. Gabriel had been forgiven, it appears there is compromise when coming to peace-threatening affairs.

There are high chances there will be no change in our state of affairs until Southerners have democratically elected parliaments in the States and Juba. However, I am of the view that the current leadership should try harder to adhere to the principles of SPLM and where possible, listen to your subjects’ voices. Our leaders are not informed about our expectations and others put personal interest ahead of national principle. Indeed, weak opposition parties in Southern Sudan have led down the citizens’ quest for better governance. But this is what is expected from opposition parties formed to take up their CPA-allocated 15% representation in Southern Sudan. Unfortunately, they have no objectives to act as an engine of development to the ruling party, SPLM, in any way. The southern opposition parties’ platforms for the campaigns for elections scheduled for this year are yet to be seen — if at all the CPA timetable will hold with embattled President refusing to face judges in The Hague.

Therefore, for Southern Sudan leaders to win faith and trust from citizens and be entitled as Excellencies, the promised services should be prime by all means.

Above all, how will an innocent man perceive a news that John Garang Institute in Bor failed to open in time due to lack of budget? What will be said about LRA killing in Western Equatoria without any working decision taken to end the crisis? What trust can a Southerner hold in a leadership that does not bring culprits like Gabriel Tanginyang to book? For how long will Southern Sudan’s assembly pass budgets without monitoring of development funds? When will the Government in Juba focus on national issues, waiting till 2011 to address local differences?

In brief, citizens need daily updates on national development or constraints, rather than waiting in silence when leaders’ voices are needed. When Al-Turabi was released Sunday night from two months in jail, he addressed the press the following morning to show his position on the ICC warrant of arrest — a sign that Khartoum is falling apart. Therefore, Juba ought to come up with a clear position on the ICC to end the doubts. South Sudan government truly owes us a lot.

The author is a Sudan Tribune journalist based in Bor, Jonglei state. He can be reached at [email protected]