S. Sudanese youth to mobilise in defense of the nation

By Julius N. Uma

April 1, 2012 (JUBA) – The youth league chairman of South Sudan’s ruling party – the SPLM – on Saturday condemned Sudan’s military aggression on the country, and urged youth all over South Sudan to be ready to defend the nation, when called upon.

Speaking at a media briefing in country’s capital, Paul Akol told the youth, who account for nearly 70 percent of the country’s population to reconcile all their differences and unite for purposes of defending the South Sudan’s territory and its peoples’ freedom.

“I call upon all youth in all bomas, payams, and counties all over the states of South Sudan to unite as one. It’s time to defend the country and you should be ready to do so when called upon,” said Akol, as members applauded.

Clashes last week between the armies of South Sudan and Sudan have raised fears of a return to war. In March Sudan announced an national mobilisation campaign to recruit soldier to the Popular Defence Forces a paramilitary group used widely on the north-south border in the previous conflict (1983-2005).

Since South Sudan’s independence in July last year the two sides have failed to demarcate the controversial oil-rich border and resolve a host of other issues.

Akol’s remarks came a day after South Sudan’s president instructed governors of the country’s five states bordering Sudan to mobilise the public to be ready to defend South Sudan from northern attacks. These states include Upper Nile, Unity, Warrap, Northern and Western Bahr el Ghazal.

The SPLM youth league chairman also warned of an imminent “Arab spring” in neighbouring Sudan, citing the economic crisis facing the country following South Sudan’s decision to shut down its oil production.

Exporting southern crude through the north was halted after the National Congress Party in Khartoum began confiscating oil accusing Juba of not paying appropriate transit fees.

“The NCP should not divert from the real problems facing its people. Sudan’s economy is on the decline and it’s high time they focused on that instead of destabilising South Sudan,” Akol remarked.

Both sides accuse the other of backing rebel groups in each others territories.

INTERNAL PROBLEMS

Akol appealed to youth all over the country to desist from being exploited by politicians for their own purposes. He did not name any officals, but threatened to expose them, if they do not halt the practice.

During the violence in Jonglei State earlier this year South Sudan’s President and Vice President warmed that politicians were encouraging the ethnic fighting behind the scenes.

Akol, who is a member of the SPLM’s National Liberation Council (NLC) – the second highest decision making body in the ruling party – expressed concerns over the fighting last week that led to the indefinite closure of Juba University, the country’s oldest institution of learning.

Several students were injured in the fracas, which started after a minor argument over a football match, but erupted into tribal confrontations between Dinka students and those from Central Equatoria.

Recently, the SPLM youth league came under severe criticism from a group calling for its reform. The concerned group for restructuring the youth league claims the current youth leadership was “undemocratically” elected and petitioned the SPLM leadership for change.

Reacting to the matter, however, the chairman of the SPLM youth league lauded the group’s call for reforms, saying every party has critics, whose views sometimes help shape the party in the right direction.

He denied any speculation that the current youth leadership was illegally in power, arguing that their mandate is guided by the youth league constitution.

(ST)