SPLM candidatures questions: The bold stumbles

By Amos C. Ngueny

September 16, 2009 — The public, particularly the supporters of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, is struck on the hardness for the party to nominate her candidates, both for the Government of Southern Sudan and the Government of National Unity as elections approach. This has now left the public in debate on who is the rightful candidate for which position.

The guess the public is making has now gone to the brim, with some believing its difficulty is likely a conspiracy to block some one they see is meritoriously worthless for any of the positions, and could only now be spared by these two grand opportunities. To haul this diverging guess on to the right track, it is imperative to note that, the needed candidates for the two positions are not only to bail the party out of the trouble, but to provide relative certainty that, the people of Southern Sudan are not dumped in an astounding future.

Going adjacently with democratic rights, it may not only be the SPLM to make it final, but there is a possibility that, if the SPLM presents a candidate that Southerners have known would not adhere to their cause, they will not risk throwing a vote. South Sudan is rich in politicians of all kinds, ranging from patriotic to skittish ones, and both have to be handled with care.

This is where Malik Agar comes in. He is a Sudanese and a SPLM member. Therefore, he is fit to be a candidate even for the Government of Southern Sudan because he is a member of the party, and equally, he is fit for the Government of National Unity. As one still believes the SPLM is not a political party for only the South, one will also be on right ground to assert that there is no truth in saying; Malik should not be a candidate to face Bashir on condition that he is not from the South. Does it need any one to be in the South to become the president?

As allegations drift of some individual communities becoming hegemonic here in the South, this would profoundly relieve sections under this complex, because Malik is not from any of the tribes here in the South.

But wonderful enough is the angle of threats being taken that; there may be another split like of 1991 if one of the leaders thought to take over candidature in the South is now not given chance to fulfil what is claimed as Ngundeng’s prophesy. By the way, are people only looking for power or to liberate their own people from bondage of Khartoum ’s yolk? Terrible massacre was made over this split, and as patriotic Sudanese in the South downplays it as a mere skirmish, others will want to resurrect all that people should forgive. If it is becoming another project for getting group gains through threatening split, then why would it be hard for the South to understand the intentions behind this clique? And of course, this is what complicates matters much because there is that clique, which wants to be respected and given position because it can split the SPLM if denied adversely. No one should be given chance to capitalise on the enemy in Khartoum, we all feel pain and die even if there is difference – could be – in perception of slavery imposed by the north!

The SPLM line is even too long. To make it a system of heritage will not bring in any new development but instead will reduce competition in terms of active participation in liberal roles and service delivery. If one knows his chance can only come in the line, then will it need this same person to be committed to win heart of his party members and the citizens? And if one knows he can be spared by the line, will one need to work much to compensate mistakes he might have made in one way or the other over the war? Then where are we heading to if we can not say sorry or work hard to win credit? Based on the delusive principles of this line heritage, a committed and active member who may have ability to manage challenges of liberation, just say, Wani Igga or Pagan Amum who remained focused with Kiir, may be sat on by power seeking and importantly unfocused seniors liberation wise. Is it fair!

Every one can be the top most leader among the leaders of the SPLM, but they must be patient and focused, not only to incline on power but rather on freedom of their people and their people in turn will know who is who before them. It is through patience that Kiir got this position, and probably John Garang became so much stronger as we all know because his later deputy was co-operative and did not want his position even with in the party. It too, gives confidence.

More importantly, there are every many laws the National Congress has been using to limit participation and freedom of all political parties in the country. Among these laws which now need to first be repealed to make the political situation apparently free include the Popular Police Act, Popular Defense Act, only to mention a few. Under these laws, institutions like the police and security agents can imprison and detain some one till one is released – if one is lucky – after the elections. With this, SPLM is under such a tremor that the harsh security structures at the moment would target its candidates. Can we now understand!

Though the south is engulfed in despair that some of the laws are presented to the cabinet different from what the committees presented, but Kiir is in dilemma. His deputy, Riek Machar has sharpened himself against him in search of his position. However, Riek is such a man who is ever in need of becoming the top-most person but he does not know how to wisely make it. His tribal indulgence has thwarted his intentions and he will not make his way anywhere anymore. So, Kiir is struck, between going to occupy his seat in the national presidency and be plotted out, or to remain in the South to ostensibly serve both. I can not say he lacks confidence but I can say he has sharp instinct after learning from what Machar did to Garang.

There is no where in this world except Southern Sudan where members toss their leaders against the other and want something constructive in this drama. This gives is no reason to seduce our leaders to collide at this time because if we could learn any thing from our past, we might have known what it needs us to do to reach The Promised land, and there we are.

The writer is a researcher of Biochemistry and Human Psychology in Kenyatta University, Nairobi. He can be reached at [email protected]