South Sudan is Determined to Shape its Future

The editor of Al Ahram Strategic and Chairman of Sudan and Nile Basin Studies Program, Dr. Hani Raslan has revealed what we all along have been expecting from the Egyptians and the Americans.  His assertion in an interview with Sudan Vision a couple of days ago that the South won’t secede because of a number of reasons; the United States of America’s consent on the step, countering of the South-South conflict and the transformation of the SPLM into a political party that can achieve aspiration of South Sudanese citizens doesn’t come as a surprise.

The US consent for example cannot determine South Sudan’s future; South Sudanese themselves have the key to everything.  If they decide to go alone, what would the US do to prevent it from happening?  We have that power to stop the US from stopping us and Dr. Hani must not play around with this fact.  We are marching there Dr. Hani!

On South-South internal issues, the good strategist must not live in the illusion that South Sudanese are immune to violence and therefore easy to see them killing each other perennially.  We are together than any other time before and we hope to remain so until we vote for either unity or separation in three years’ time.  Wishing South-South conflict or polarisation and anarchy is in vain. We have graduated from there and our leaders are preparing for elections next year and thereafter for the referendum campaign.

Moreover, on the SPLM not doing enough or not having been transformed cannot be a hindrance to South Sudanese’s quest for a future.  They have lived with the SPLM and they know its weaknesses and are able to move on with them. This party is highly respected and people are fully behind it in the South.

South Sudanese however must read from this chauvinist and make sense out of his cynicism.  The first area of concern is the US known position about South Sudan’s future.  It has been observed that the US interest is the change of power in Khartoum and not the Southern problem.  They have been very open about this interest to keep Sudan united at whatever cost- at least that is what key members of the US government have been saying (the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice in particular).  They have worked for it and are not joking.

The question we South Sudanese must ask ourselves is; how do we tame the super power’s interest in the Sudan?  Well, there is nothing we could do about their interest in the Sudan but there is something we could do about our own intention; we must re-examine our foreign and diplomatic approaches as to South Sudan’s need to exercise its rights through self determination. Whatever that comes out from South Sudan must be binding to outsiders whether they like it or not.

Secondly, we must not rely on the US for everything; we could go to the East and seek alliances that are political as well as economic.  The US is increasingly getting unreliable; their changing position every now and then is scaring.

Internally, we must strengthen our internal political fronts and learn to work as South Sudanese other than this party or that party.  Our survival depends on our unity.  If we are united together, the external factors and forces won’t change anything internally.  This is the time to put aside our internal differences or tribal inclinations and biases and learn to look for the future with one and undivided purpose and focus.  Calling others by tribes must stop and let us call criminals among us by their own names.

Tribes and communities are general and this is us; it’s enough to say this man or woman has done this or that and not a Bari, a Toposa, a Murle, an Azande or a Moru has done that or this.  Our motto and name is South Sudan Freedom and South Sudanese respectively.  Anything outside the two is a sinister.  Those who are used to lump things together because of any score or political or personal interest to achieve are spoilers and enemies of South Sudan.  If our leader, President Salva Kiir made a mistake, we have every right to challenge him as an individual and not as Gagrialian or Twic for that matter. The same must be true to all other public servants.  Segregation and tribalism are primitive; they don’t bring us together as one people.  A Southerner is a Southerner irrespective of his or her tribe.  Curse on him who bends to divide South Sudanese again or calling South Sudanese by their tribes.

Three years is a long time and in between, we might get ourselves in to crisis from within.  Crises are natural.  They are bound to be there so long as things are done by humans.  Let’s be conscious to gloat over them and move quickly to have a strong internal force.  That then means that we have to rally after our leader, General Kiir and the Vice President, Dr. Riak Machar and give them the necessary support they need for the good of South Sudan.  Next year is different; we shall examine what they have done to our people before we mandate them for a further five years term.  We know what they have done and doesn’t require someone to lecture us their positive achievements for the past three years.  How about their negative achievements? Do we need to lecture someone about them?  On their part, they must do everything possible to bridge our differences as communities through fair representation and appointments.

On matters of governance, let’s not forget to make use of our skills and experiences of others for purposes of development and progress.  The South Africa training among other avenues will really make a big difference among our governance.  Good governance must be enshrined in our culture; clear cut policies to this end are needed to allow our people benefit and not just few individuals benefiting on behalf of everyone.  This is a people’s government and they have to be rewarded for their struggle.  The laws of our land must guide our consciences and this where everything lies.  Let’s shame outsiders and mockers that we can manage our affairs accountably and transparently.  Each of us must strive to make a difference wherever we might be and not just the government. The late Deng Ajak had tried to do the same had it not been the cruel hands of death; may his soul rest in eternal peace.

Others don’t believe that we are serious to go our own way.  We will go!

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