S. SUDAN: Achieving independence and failing our country

By Beny Gideon Mabor

April 2012 — The achievement of the independence in South Sudan alone without
launching the process for nation and state building provided under the
Constitution may risk turning the Republic of South Sudan into a
failed state. There are four elements of a successful state namely
national security, economic development, foreign policy strategy and
equitable political settlement. All these elements constitute firm
basis for stable government and governance. The most unanswered
question is where we are now? Are we improving in building those
elements or not? In my humble view, we are very faraway and facing
very acute challenges of nation building. If no immediate change or
solution is found we shall degenerate into a fail state.

Nonetheless, our country has a lot of potential. It can improve in
achieving all the above goals even faster than countries that got
their independence before us. Unfortunately, the current political
leadership and constitutional post-holders are incapable of rising to
the challenges the new Republic is facing. Further, they are busy
engaging in unpatriotic activities that apparently undoing our
sovereignty. The spread of tribal ideology in politics and governance
and massive corruption are clear evidence.

These practices go to the highest level of office in our government.
It is absolute disgrace to our nation in view of the fact that we lost
about three to five million people in our struggle for independence.
None of our martyrs could ever stomach that politics has become a
trade and business of the leadership of the SPLM/A. Furthermore,
incompetence, tribalism and profiteering are the marks of ministerial
post holders. Accountability and service to our people has been thrown
out by all our leaders.

Second, the government cannot be stable if core obligations and duties
are not performed successfully. Our national interest can only be
secured and advanced by a combination of our military, diplomatic and
political means, to address the mounting challenges of nation
building.

The other most important question is what is the Government of South
Sudan, a country born into highly antagonistic and war-like situation,
doing to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity? How come
that we do not have a defense force ready for combating our enemies?
How come we lost Abyei in battle? How come we lost Heglig two days
ago? How come we do not have Air Force? How come we have not mobilized
our youth and people for the defense of our country and how come we
are always ready to roll over and appease Khartoum?

And the answer is simple and clear that we refuse to accept that the
defense of our sovereignty and territorial integrity is an absolute
imperative. The roots of these defense strategic failures are embedded
in the so-called New Sudan Vision that allowed, amongst other things,
that Abyei to be treated as Ngok Dinka territory and not as a South
Sudan territory inhabited by the Ngok Dinka. It is a vision that
crippled us from developing and implementing the total defense
strategy in the last seven years.

It continues to threaten our ability to develop a coherent national
strategy for safeguarding and securing our realm because significant
strategic portfolios and key positions in the Executive are held by
SPLM cadres fed with and blinded by New Sudan Ideology. A case in
point was Dr. Luka Biong and others’ role during the GoSS interim
period and in particular at Presidency, which favored the
transformation of the Sudan and not the independence of South Sudan.
Had the good doctor and company, for example not obstructed the reform
of public sector five years ago in the best interest of the South, we
would have today a civil service capable of assisting building our
country.

The essence of our liberation struggle ever since the Torit Uprising
in 1955 was for the liberation of South Sudan to become an independent
State in order to guarantee freedom, justice and equality for our
people. This struggle of the separatists was subdued by the unionists
but not defeated after the unification of the SPLM/A movement and many
of the separatists remained active and loyal to the desires of the
majority of Southern Sudanese. Amongst such separatists were comrade
Salva Kiir Mayardit, comrade Deng Alor and “surprisingly” comrade
Pag’an Amum who was one of the original founders of Anyanya II.

With the separatists securing self-determination as a key pillar in
the CPA and the failure of Khartoum administration to make unity
attractive as stipulated under the CPA and the unfortunate death of
the Prophet of New Sudan Ideology comrade Dr. John Garang de Mabior,
the South voted for independence 99.83 %. From this it is self evident
that all the citizens of our Republic voted for independence, be they
SPLM/A, SPLM/A splinter groups, Southern parties, civil society
organizations, Diaspora or even NCPs. The achievement of our
independence is a victory of the people for the people and by the
people.

Now we are facing the daunting challenges of State and nation
building. Now we know without any doubt that the SPLM ruling elite and
cliques are ill prepared for the task. In fact, they lack the
necessary capabilities to carry out the tasks of governing in the
interest of all. And surprisingly, the SPLM remains a reservoir of
massive leadership talent and abilities all elbowed out by a handful
of vested interests.

Consequently, the call of all marginalized South Sudanese people to
create new State able to fulfill its constitutional obligations of
good governance will remain unmet. The lives of our people will not be
protected. Basic fundamental services like education, medicines and
food security will remain dreams unless and until the SPLM renews its
leadership and manifesto. Until the day it accepts that free market
fundamentalism is a disservice to our nation.

Finally, what will be the solution in this situation? The solution
without delay is revolution. By revolution I mean a radical
transformation of the SPLM based on new vision and ideas all aimed at
serving the people and the citizens of our country. The SPLM must
guide the strategic direction of South Sudan in a way that will
achieve sustainable economic, human and environmental development. And
to rapidly attain national ownership of our resources and economy from
the hands of others. We must discard the notion of I deserve to loot
this country because I went to the bush. I do not say the same but I
was too in the bush. It is now time to promote commitment, competence,
merit and truthfulness to the country.

The author can be reached at [email protected].

To be continued in the next issue on Economics Development and Foreign Policy