Public opinions are being ignored in South Sudan; I don’t know why?

By Peter Gai Manyuon

December 21, 2012 — South Sudan that has got her recognition from the entire world and within the African Continent at large is not making a good awareness basing on the crucial issue like joining of East Africa Community by South Sudan, the issue of ignoring the publics is becoming the way of under mining the rule of Law, good governance and democracy in the Republic of South Sudan. Is that one how citizen should move ahead to another level?

Does it mean that citizen should not be consulted in any issues that need public contribution? Or it is because people have no good channels of making Communications? Or it is because most of the parliamentarians have no agenda in the parliament? Or the time for making consultation is still on going in the Republic of South Sudan.

People are having different thoughts and perspectives regarding joining the Community of East Africa by South Sudan that mean, there is need for our government to make good approach; consultations to the people of South Sudan where ever they are regardless of what might be the case. There are a lot of benefits in this process of South Sudan joining the group of five countries in Africa in my own perspectives and realization due to many reasons that, I might not mentioned but I will give some few observations and analysis about this crucial issue that is on table right now within us.

When you look at Southern Africa, they have what is known to us as Common Market of Eastern and Western Africa (COMESA) that is giving help to the entire Southern part of Africa Continent. Republic of South Sudan joining East African Community is realistic enough since we are land lock Country but different civil society’s organizations and the entire citizen of the Republic of South Sudan should be consulted first before the issue brings a lot of confrontations from different people in this Country since our motto is “Justice, Liberty and prosperity for all”.

The issue of joining the East African Community is good, if all people views, ideas are incorporated together but the issue of South Sudan is that, government does not inform the citizen on the issues that are crucial to the entire Republic of South Sudan. To me, it is good idea but people should go to the grassroots first to get the view of the people then reaching without making consultations with the public’s so that, we can be seen by International Community has people who have understood democracy and respect of rule of law in the Republic of South Sudan then doing things in the way that cannot take this Nation to another level.

When you look in to the background of the people of South Sudan beginning from 1945 up to now, you will realized that, God have given us what we were fighting for with Bashir Regime in the North Sudan that is Khartuom. This is the right time that, people of the Republic of South Sudan should move together with one voice, objective then doing things in the wrong directions that might not make this good nation to progress well. What makes the Country to be called a Democratic State is the issue of respecting public opinions worldwide because, every nation comprises of different elements that are very crucial in decision making process which I might not mentioned at this time.

The EAC is the best community that should be joins by the Country like south Sudan due to many reasons that, I have seen in common with these countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.

Since the signed of the Comprehensive Agreement that was signed between the Sudan People Liberation Movement and the government of the north Sudan in 2005 in Navasha Kenya, these Countries played a very big role in helping this nation since the inception from the bush war.

There is no need for us to be alone from the rests of other because, there is no country which can collaborate with us in term of politics, common market and many more but these following issues should be addressed first before reaching to join the East Africa Community.

Recommendations;

• The negations of the remaining annexes of the East African Community common market should be concluded first before any thing
• National Laws should be aligned with the East African Community common market protocol in South Sudan
• All East African Partner states should avail the simplified certificates of the origin at their border posts.
• OSBP should be established at all border posts
• There is need to undertake a regional wide sensitization campaign to increase awareness of East African Community citizens on integration process and involved extensively the private sector and civil society.
• Political parties should be involve in this current process of south Sudan joining East African Community (EAC) so that everybody will know exactly what is good and bad in regard for Republic of South Sudan joining East African Community.
• There is need to educate and create awareness about joining of East African Community (EAC) even the church should be involve in this process, so that citizen should get the best information
• There is need for the committees to be form to look in to this issue of joining East African Community ,it is the role of that committees to work hand in hand with civil society organizations for the well sensitization
• There is need for parliamentarians to advocates for the right issues in regards to joining of East African community.
• South Sudan should put up the independent Ministry that can deal with the issue of joining the East African Community, so that it will be very that Ministry or Minister to run all affairs of South Sudan to all those five bodies
• South Sudan should send someone who can represent the Country in East Africa Parliament, to oversee what is taking place within the EAC parliament.

Peter Gai Manyuon is a civil society activist in South Sudan who writes for the Citizen Newspaper and works for Reporters Without Borders.