Machar calls on Diasporas to organize themselves as one South Sudanese community

August 4, 2012 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s vice president, Riek Machar, has called on South Sudanese in the Diaspora to organize themselves as one community instead of fragmenting into groups based on political affiliations.

There are hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese residing in various countries in America, Europe, Australia and Africa but they are organised more according to their political allegiance or ethnic communities than to the nation or citizenry.

Machar on Saturday during a meeting in his office with a South Sudanese delegation from Canada and the United States of America called on them to put being South Sudanese first and other affiliations come after. He said this will keep the community united and strong and avoid divisions in the diaspora.

The Vice President’s Press Secretary, James Gatdet Dak, told Sudan Tribune that the meeting which was also attended by the deputy minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Elias Nyamlell Wakoson, further discussed the need to revive the Diaspora Desk in Juba that will help reorganize the members of the Diaspora and address their needs and interests.

The Diaspora Desk compiles the list of the returning Diasporas, organizes them and tries to find jobs for them in South Sudan.

The government through the ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation will help address the concerns of the Diasporas only if they are organized in form of a South Sudanese community wherever they are, Machar added.

He also encouraged the Diasporas to further their education, engage in businesses abroad if possible and try to partner with international business people that want to invest in South Sudan.

(ST)