S. Sudan rebel official says Kiir lacks vision

March 23, 2015 (JUBA) – The rebel-appointed governor for South Sudan‘s Northern Bahr el Ghazal on Monday called for popular uprising against president Salva Kiir, alleging the latter lacks the necessary vision to steer the young nation out of its economic woes.

“The Bible says very clearly that where there is no vision, people perish. This is what is happening in South Sudan. Salva Kiir has indicated that he had no vision and that the vision he had was that of the late John Garang [RIP],” Akol told Sudan Tribune.

“Our people should rise up and remove that man (Kiir) otherwise there is nothing [that will] continue to stop our people from dying if he remains in office,” he added.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and nearly two million displaced since South Sudan witnessed an outbreak of violence in 2013. Over 2.5 million people risk facing famine, aid agencies say.

According to Akol, president Kiir showed failure in leadership when he wrote to 75 officials in 2012 demanding they return stolen funds.

“There is also need for introspection. So as far as the management of the national affairs and economic management of this country are concerned, things are in downward spiral,” said the rebel governor.

Akol claimed the current economic woes proved doubt of the credentials of those tasked to manage the country’s financial sector.

“Worse still, we know that in the past one year of this conflict they have borrowed heavily. But despite each one of us saying this type of borrowing is bad, they have not stopped and you know very well that the cabinet approved last month the memo presented by the minister of fiancé to borrow more money,” he told Sudan Tribune.

“Why should the country be perpetually borrowing? Borrowing even at a micro level leads to no peace,” said Akol, adding the future generation of this country was being confined to perpetual poverty.

(ST)