FORWARD OR BACKWARDS? SOUTH SUDAN ON BRINKS

"I have no doubt that his return to Juba today marks the end of the war and the return of peace and stability to South Sudan," Mr  Salva Kiir

South Sudan reactivated another course to peace with the inauguration of a new transition government highlighted by the oath-taking of Riek Machar, reinaugurated as vice president of the world’s youngest nation-state on 26th April 2016.

A bill board featuring President Salva Kiir and Dr Riek Machar in Juba
Source:bbcnews.com

This fete is expected to put an end to an imbecilic two-year civil war which was ignited by an alleged Coup d’état on 16th December 2013. Since that date, over two million South Sudanese have been displaced, exiled or killed as the bigwigs in the SPLM (South Sudan People’s Liberation Movement) fractured and frictioned along ethnic lines in an ultimate battle for political dominance. The ensuing belligerence pitted Vice President Riek Machar, an ethnic Nuer, against President Salva Kiir, an ethnic Dinka.

Consequentially, the civilian population bore the brunt of the power tussle as both belligerent parties sought to outwit and eliminate each other. This saw the obliteration of Malakal (South Sudan’s second-largest city), Bentiu, Bor and several other nascent infrastructures in the burgeoning state.

Born in 2011, after an overwhelming vote for secession from Sudan following years of conflict in what was termed Africa’s longest-running civil war, it was expected that the newly independent country would activate a rapid march to development and prosperity of her people after years of alleged repression and neglect by Sudan. It was, however, disheartening to the optimistic euphoria that enamoured international support for the South Sudanese cause when the country slid back to anarchy in December 2013, despite being a battleground during the long-running civil war that fetched her independence between 1956-2002.

Most hapless to note was the indiscretion on the part of the South Sudanese leadership in learning from the inadequacies of fellow African States (Most of which emerged from colonialism 50 years ago).

Independence Celebrations in Juba
Source:bbcnews.com

The issues that led to the recent conflict were deeply entrenched from the splinter within the SPLA/M (Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement) ranks during the second Sudanese civil war along ethnic lines in 1991 as the Nuers led by Riek Machar sought to usurp the leadership role of John Garang (A Dinka) at the helm of the SPLA. In the end, Riek Machar led a breakaway faction under the pseudonym SPLM-Nasir, even as the mainstream John Garang-led faction was informally christened SPLM-Torit.

Afterwards, the splinter factions turned the guns on each other even as the Riek Machar-led SPLA-Nasir perpetuated the Bor massacre against the Dinka in 1991. In the end, the SPLA-Nasir allied with the Sudanese government, thus sabotaging the South Sudanese's quest against the government. Both parties buried the hatchet and reunited in January 2002 to jointly push the South Sudanese cause.

The sudden death of John Garang in a helicopter crash in July 2005 exposed the old fractious lines within the ranks of the SPLA as Salva Kiir assumed the helm. Seen as academically inferior to the Bradford University doctorate holder Riek Machar, who has always set sights at the SPLA helm, the stage was set for a renewed Dinka-Nuer rivalry in a battle for political supremacy for the helm of South Sudanese polity.

This inordinate political power fracture ultimately simmered into a power tussle as Riek Machar (vice president at Independence) was sacked from his post in July 2013 in a massive cabinet and Military hierarchical shake-up by President Salva Kiir. The country ultimately descended into civil war in an ironic repeat of the SPLA factional war of the 1990s.

South Sudan's massive humanitarian crises caused by the civil war
Source:bbcnews.com

With peace on the horizon thanks to coercive efforts by regional powers in IGAD, AU and the UN, South Sudan has another chance to pursue the path of development.

For too long since 1956, after Sudanese independence from Anglo-Egyptian hegemony, the black Nilotic peoples, which comprise South Sudan, had decried repressive tendencies by the Northern-dominated government against their cultural and religious identities. Having now attained the long-sought independence, Africa’s youngest state must set aside the whims of ethnic-tribal schisms, which have always been a divisive factor against development and integration amongst the older African States and seek her strength in diversity.

Sociopolitical repression and colonialism have always been a unifying factor that synergizes the quest for liberty in emergent states. However, as it has always been with most African states, divergence in synergy fracturing along the lines of ethno-religious divisions shatters the strength of the purpose for independence. South Sudan must synergize to fix this rabid pandemic if she must aspire to march forward on the path of development after close to sixty years down the brink.

SOUTH SUDAN: The PANGS OF NATIONHOOD!

Joyous scenes in Juba heralding the Independence of South Sudan on 9th July 2011
Source:BBCNEWS

On the morn of 9^th July 2011, Mother Africa went through the throes of natality and South Sudan was born! Joyous crowds greeted that day in Juba, Bor, Rumbeck and Wau. Much joy was found from the Upper Nile, Jonglei; East, West and Central Equatorial States, all of which will now make up the world’s newest country.

It has been a long bloody journey to independence. From the initial independence of the Sudan in 1956, the peoples of the South of Sudan had fought a war against domination and Arabization. Dubbed Africa’s longest contiguous/running civil war, a truce/peace deal was signed in 1972 giving a break from the Anya Nya rebellion that had began about 1956.

Yet the underlying issues that led to rebellion not being addressed, the South (dark skinned, non-Arab and mostly Christian) culturally and ethnically different from the North; against a governing/dominating Pro-Arab Muslim North, the South in 1983 once again descended into a rebellious conflagration with the government sending John Garang (a Southern army officer) to quell the rebellion.

John Garang

Garang instead allied with the mutinous forces and forged the Sudan’s Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA), the armed wing of the Sudan’s Peoples Liberation movement (SPLM); thus launching a full scale second round of rebellion. Beginning in 1983, the war raged amid series of peace moves and finally a Comprehensive Peace Agreement deal was done in 2005, ending 22yrs of war. Under the deal, South Sudan was to be allowed self government for a six year period culminating with a referendum for self determination in the sixth year.

For all the troubles of John Garang, he didn’t live to enjoy the dividends of the peace deal as he died in a plane crash in July 2005; barely 3months after signing the deal. A crack seemed to simmer among the ranks of the SPLA/SPLM. Turning a rebel movement into an active political/governing force over a territory that has only known war, pillage, cattle rustling, marginalization and underdevelopment was no easy deal. The South made up of the Dinka-Ngok, Nuer, Shilluk amongst several other minorities began to simmer in ethnic tensions.

Though evident during the rebellion in the defection Peter Gadet and his militia from the SPLA to the side of the Sudanese government, a power struggle was waiting to happen after the death of charismatic Garang; with the highly educated Riek Machar and militarily vibrant Peter Gadet (both from the Nuer ethnic group) against a less educated military commander in Salva Kiir (from the Dinka ethnic group).

The lines of differences between the actors was bridged before the referendum which ensured independence. Plagued by ineptitude and corruption, the SPLA government made a poor start failing to learn lessons from older independent nations. Peter Gadet once more defected from the SPLM, kick starting a rebellion in the troubled Unity/Jonglei region which was flanked by General George Athor. These differences played into Sudan and barely months after independence, South Sudan and Sudan were at odds. Sudan occupying disputed Abiyei and South Sudan occupying the oil  fields of Heglig (Panthou). The world watched as both sides verbally sabre rattled at each other with President Omar Al-Bashir calling the South Sudanese government ‘Insects’ that must be flushed out.

With both sides struggling to contain internal rebellions, all out conflict was certainly not an option and overtime the conflict seemed to progress by proxy as both governments accused each other of supporting their respective rebel groups. Oil ceased to flow from South Sudan and both governments became cash strapped.

Tensions continued to smolder in South Sudan; defections, discontents culminating in the sack of the entire cabinet by President Salva Kiir. Then came heightened violence referred to as a coup attempt.

Once again, South Sudan is split along the lines of previous rival rebel movement- Peter Gadet and Reik Machar seeming to align against the main stream SPLM lead by Salva Kiir.

For years, these have fought side by side against the government of Khartoum and united by the cause of getting an improved status quo for the Southern Sudanese. Though there have been splinters in the past, upon getting their desired aim, it is up to the power players in South Sudan to make their nation great.

Like most African countries, independence leaders seem united at the onset fighting a common enemy in Colonialism. Upon independence, it has been the custom of most independence leaders to stifle opposition, promote nepotism, ethnic tensions and ultimately cement their places in power by declaring a one party state.

Such has been the pangs and throes of independence in Africa which has relegated most African Countries to third world statuship…. Miles behind the Asian Tigers who started the independence journey with most African Countries.

It is sad to note this trend in South Sudan. Barely 2yrs into independence, the country is embroiled in the same circle of violence familiar with SubSaharan Africa.

A Nation was born in South Sudan; young, ruddy and potent! She must learn from her elders else another failed state in the making! And who says secession is a solution to Africa’s ethnic/cultural mangle?..... see South Sudan!