Thanks Southern leaders for capital relocation proposal
By Isaiah Abraham
February 5, 2011 — As the 193th new nation awaits her official proclamation in six months time, the leaders in Juba wasted no time but to propose a new capital for a new nation to be. The Council of Ministers of the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) has suggested that the new capital should be between Ramciel in Lake State and around Mangalla area north of Juba, in Central Equatoria. The reason being that, the current city Juba, isn’t a balanced place in many respects to be the capital city of a nation; a wrong place indeed and has a lot of problems surrounding it. Some problems dated to colonial British town structure, while others have anything to do with the potential size of a growing city.
To be specific, Juba has some problems in terms of feasibility, urban planning bottle necks due to lack of spaces, squabbles about who should call the shot on land planning between the Central Equatoria State and the GOSS, seismological occurrences, geographical location for the city and poor social behavior against other communities by the so-called owners of the land around Juba.
Hence the leadership in Juba must be congratulated for being conscious and responsive to what constitute a capital for a whole nation means in the first place. Moving away from Juba is a brilliant idea and must be pursue with diligence and urgency it deserves! This is an idea its time has come, and it is popular one. A capital to be exact must reflects the face of us all, and should be about tomorrow in cases of modernization, expansion and urban planning. Juba has zero on the aforementioned situations in few or more years to come. The city capital among other things should be a place where the national government can spread out its ‘wings’ freely without being stopped by someone who runs with one piece of a law leaving others hanging.
Today in Juba even spaces for stadiums aren’t around, saved for some dotted spots where kids run around kicking balls. Developers and investors moreover find it very difficult to invest here in Juba, or simply feel comfortable to own the land and use it for the benefits of the people in the city. Investors in Juba, as of now, are struggling to settle due to too many hands on who actually is legally responsible for land in the city. But more importantly and as I have said above and should repeat it again, other communities that are government employed staff are being harassed, discriminated and humiliated when the look for land or just try to hire it (rent it).
Certain ethnic groups (Nuer, Dinka, Shilluk or Murle) aren’t wanted in city. Imagine it has been four years when leaders in Central Equatoria were asked by GOSS Council of Ministers to move their headquarters to Yei River, the Parliament there fumes, and the government of the state stayed put to date. What does this tell you about these people in the long run? They might kick anyone out one more time once they feel everything has been set for them inherit. We must not be duped twice! We must create space for everyone to enjoy the fruits of our labor and be at peace. Peace of mind is important!
I was surprised the other day when I find a huge land named after Nuer around Jebel Kujur, and when I ask as to why the place was named like that I was told that the land was taken by force by that ethnic group because initially they were soldiers around there and they were refused land so they decided to have it willy-nilly. This scenario brings to mind that the issue of who owns land is in the city capital would be resolved once we find ourselves in a land where locals aren’t serious about land ownership.
I know there are some beneficiaries of land, individuals who have acquired enough land or built several apartments here; people who would resist going away from Juba, but these people are either corrupt figure, land grabbers or simple figures who are riding on the financial anarchy that characterized 2006 and 2007. These are ill gotten wealth and believe that our brothers in Central Equatoria will benefit from these assets.
Therefore the idea of Ramcial makes a lot of sense. Mangalla still a trouble spot, and must be avoided. I believe that Chiech people are much flexible than Mundari/Bari ethnic group and are even far away from that land; a bit of no man’s land, where no one would want to know anyone where she/he comes from before getting a land. We will all be proud Southerner Sudanese in our own city, own by everybody. Ramciel is in the central of our republic for all to enjoy access. It is flat, beautiful and so large that everybody would find space. The city would be run by a governor, not by the Lake State appointed Commissioner. We shall stretch our city capital to the River Nile near Shambe, and then push it near Panyijar County in Western Upper Nile State (wrongly called Unity State). Juba is too hot throughout the year and full of diseases. Another bye bye for our people!
The author lives in Juba. He is reachable at [email protected]
Gatwech
Thanks Southern leaders for capital relocation proposal
Dear readers,
What does this prophesy of Ngundeng mean, is it a coincidence? Read it below:
In Nuer: “Waale ba pal mat keel, bako bieh wec we tong, ci deng riek ni maat. Thiele how cok mi nang wec dor muoc deng ni jiok. Loka gok mi dual cie bi nang jen dor. Kan dhol mi dhol gandol met nen.”
In English: “This year we will have a joint prayer (celebrations), we will build the country’s capital (headquarters), God has united (put together) shrines. There is no ant that will take the country to wilderness… I don’t like a fearful prophet (leader?), and will not be the one to take it to the wilderness. I have never seen a boy like the boy of “gandol.”
Bieh to Ngundeng means a headquarters or capital.
While I could understand the first sentence of the prediction to mean our new capital, I fail to understand the second sentence which talks about wilderness or fearful prophet (leader?). What wilderness and fearful leader (prophet) is Ngundeng talking about?
Welcome our new capital in the wilderness!
Bol Deng
Thanks Southern leaders for capital relocation proposal
I agree with the author that Juba has been considered by Bari people as their own land while not knowing the great human sacrifices that SPLM/A enforced on Juba during the war.
I would be glad to accepted the relocation of our capital if those who think Juba is there own land want this in a respectful way. But if they want Juba by themselves by force,the Juba is going to remain the capital.
Ramciel has been proposed longtime ago by Dr John Garang de Mabior but this proposal was put in rest because we thought that Juba is our city which some kind of development.
The central equatoria need to be asked whether they want the rest of Southerners to live Juba because they thought the Juba land belong to them. If that the case then who has liberate those EQ states? this is more than creating chaos!
Facts Check
Thanks Southern leaders for capital relocation proposal
Yaa Gatwech or witch!
Please stop your Ngudeng nonsense. S
o was the last war Ngudeng predicted between the North and South right before two different flags are raised the “war” that Gebrial Teng government militia are fighting now in Upper Nile?
Ngudeng is becoming annoying to me when foolishly misquoted by the so called intellectual community of my uncles!
Jada Lotole
Thanks Southern leaders for capital relocation proposal
I have always had a respect for Mr.Isaiah Abraham! Your approach to this issue has really made me to wish that we had a thousand people like you ! The young people who often contribute to this forum should emulate Mr. Isaiah’s approach except for one thing .
With due respect Mr. Isaiah , YOUR CONCLUSION has made me to withdraw the respect that i always accorded You ! Please revist that last statement you posted and put it right lest I brand you as ” Catylist of South Disuniting tool” and secondly , lest I call you a hyna in goat’s skin.
Thanks .
Chanson
Thanks Southern leaders for capital relocation proposal
Isaiah Abraham.You said it all brother.your artical is really interesting with alot of fact in it.Infact I have to say it is rich artical.Relocation of South,s capital city from Juba-Ramciel.Is really awise idea from GOSS leadership.That is it.
Imagine from some part of the South Sudan,going to the city can take travelers 3-4 days to reach Juba.Which is not right.Capital city is suppose to be place in the middle/center.So that all of us may gain the same momentum when going to the city.I totally and completely agreed with you for that bro.
It,s some time hurt so bad for you to be mistreated in your own country and this is what have been going on inside our capital city.Those who claimed to be the more owners of Juba.Used to use abusive languages when the have seen agroup of Dinkas,Nuer and non Equatorian group.I don’t really knows, exactly how do they identify those who are not Nyamnyam? Let them remain with that city but one thing that I know.Juba will goes back to the dog I swear God. Say goodbye to Juba The old capital city and welcome Ramciel the Nu city
Thank once again.
Chan$on.
Kolong
Thanks Southern leaders for capital relocation proposal
Colleagues,
I do agree with the proposal for a new Capital City as recommended by the Council of Ministers-GoSS. However, I have been reading some of your postings with reservations which I have to make observations on.
We do not need to prempt the committees decision by suggesting that Ramciel or Mangala is the most convenient place…your opinions seem to be driven by tribalistic thinking just like the proposal by Dr. John Garang in the first place. Such arguements make me think that education has not rehabilitated us from this awful thinking.
I am not a Bari, although I would say it is a lie to say that the Bari refused with land. We ought to be critical of certain behaviours often which is characteristic of some communities and individuals now termed land grabbers. GoSS has all the powers to make decisions as regards land but choose not to excercise it because it could injure some of them (not sure though if they are land grabbers too) but a resolution was never too far to be reached.
Beside other factors like space for expansion of the City to be, there are other critical issues to address, one such issue is the cultural diversity that the proposed location should accommodate…if I am allowed to cite an example, the naming first of all brings into question the location in Ramciel. So why not give the committee the opportunity to issue their recommendation first and we get to contribute ideas if need be.
It is also important to consider the fact that if the proposed location does not meet the standards of a City, then it will have to be relocated in the future just like Dodoma/Dar es Salaam; Abuja/Lagos. For now, let the committee do its work.
Best of luck.
Kolong
Nhomlawda
Thanks Southern leaders for capital relocation proposal
Lokaku,
Correction: All public buildings and other assets including Juba stadium and Port are South Sudanese assets not CES. They were built with South Sudanese tax money during British and Abel Alier governments. CES and her citizens had no right to claim them leave alone renting them to GOSS.
I agree with you on the aspect of financing a new capital city especially when GOSS had other competing priorities such as provision of basic social amenities to citizens of South Sudan.
Nevertheless, the decision to relocate capital city to Ramciel or Bor – Bari Eastern Corridor is necessary at the moment for the following reasons.
Bari and CES categorically refused to host capital city in Juba. GOSS attempted to locate downtown in Kondokoro Island in 2008, Bari politicians and academics refused and threatened to organize mass unrest against GOSS and Dinka perceived to behind GOSS move.
Bari and CES had made it almost impossible for people from other states including EES and WES citizens to acquire land for basic use. This had pushed people’s anger to the brim and the wounds of Kokora era had been re-opened. GOSS failure to respond to that critical situation may cause recurrent of Kokora in large scale with unimaginable consequences.
Capital city is a symbol of national pride and require single authority to plan it on long term basis. In Juba, there are a lot of rivalries, CES, Juba County, Bari Chiefs and Politicians and GOSS. Who has authority over who is unknown and the result is a messy city with a lot of land disputes and allegations of land grabbing and forceful eviction of people.
Naming problems – Thongpiny and Jebel Dinka were named before SPLA/M was formed. Now Bari politicians and all equatorians are annoyed with those names. Names like Lubasmapi and Rugalmapi and Hai Jalaba are the best names for equatorians. Is that not a seed of hatred? Imagine a capital city of South Sudan without a Dinka names? Is it possible? Simply it is not.
Dinka are accused of land grabbing in Juba, take capital city to their land and let them grab their land over there. Good deal for all, not so.
GOSS failure to respond to people’s disaffection with the status quo may lead to civil unrest which no one is prepared and want it to happen in South Sudan again.
All South Sudanese need peace of mind to enjoy life Arabs had denied them for long. We are tired of war and quarrelling for the last 55 years.
Imposing conditions on Bari and CES will not make them happy and allowing them to misbehave in capital city will make others unhappy too. To strike a win win solution, GOSS had decided to take capital city out of Juba.
We support GOSS move to relocate capital city for the benefit of everybody and peace in South Sudan.
May God bless South Sudan.