By Diing Atem Akoi Diing
Jonglei State is one of the states affected before and during the transitional government political system.
Repeatedly, citizens of Jonglei State do ask themselves this question: What’s that that divides us? Dear citizens, I would like to share with you the unsaid issues that divide and permanently take back the state. I want to give you a green-light glimpse of what divides the people in Jonglei. Some may think it could be a political system or economic crisis. Yes! I agree with him. What divides the people of Jonglei State is actually a poor political system and socioeconomically related issues. Look, the political system in Jonglei is being run along a tribal line.
Although the revitalized peace agreement allots Jonglei State to the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) party. Still, the Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM), which is the ruling party, is indirectly in control of the gubernatorial seat. If things are not done according to their interests, the pressure will mount, and the governor will be removed, and they will lobby on behalf of another party whom they should bring in as new governor. The Dinka and Nuer of Jonglei State, who are members of the SPLM party, feel superior to other people from other parties.
What do you think could be the problem? Obviously, the problem is that the governor is not free to execute his duties, and he must work hard to serve and implement the interests of the political party he or she comes from.
However, if you visit Jonglei State today, you would hear people at tea parliaments discussing politics based on tribal lines in favour of their relatives: no one could judge his uncle or a brother wrong. The Nuer people support their fellows working in the state offices, and the same applies to Dinka tribesmen. If I may ask, who can bring these tribes together? How would someone fix this state for sure? The communities are even divided into “Greaters,” for instance, the Greater Akobo, the Greater Fangak, and the Greater Bor.
Dear readers, let’s critically look into these structures. When you look at Greater Akobo, its composition is purely Lou Nuer of three counties (Nyirol, Uror, and Akobo). They have come together under one umbrella so that they become stronger. The greater Fangak is made up of the Gawar of Ayod and Fangak County. The greater Bor (formerly) is purely for Dinka of the three counties of Duk, Twic East, and Bor County. The Pigi County Dinka is being neglected and cannot be found in the above associations. As a result of this, communities attack each other now and then, year in, and year out.
These associations have no objectives but are set to disunite people and to favor other leaders in order to rule forever. All these are the root causes of insecurity and chaos that destabilise the state. It’s dangerous to have these community structures never go along with government structures. Surely, who formed such associations? These associations were formed by the politicians and intellectuals based in Juba. What are the impacts of the “Greaters”? Nothing other than fighting one another to protect the politicians because they have taken power from other communities’s stakeholders, like chiefs, etc.
Imagine they are the ones to choose or appoint themselves to political seats. People back home have no right to decide and nominate leaders anymore. The national politics does affect Jonglei because of this grouping.
In Jonglei State, Dinka looks at Nuer as great enemies, and on the other hand, the same applies to Nuer. The immediate enemy of Nuer is a Dinka. And it was so when the Greater Pibor Administrative Area was not formed yet.
My people, you are one people of Jonglei State and of one nation, South Sudan. Remove an enmity created by politicians and accept one another as brothers and sisters. I am appealing to politicians and other peace stakeholders to preach peace and unity and set goals and objectives that can bring tribes together in the state.
I wonder! Even some members of parliament nationally have formed their groups based on these communities’ structures; that’s why you hear something called Duk, Twic East, and Bor parliamentary caucus; why not Jonglei parliamentary caucus?.
Does this bear fruits of durable peace and unity in Jonglei State? How important is it if Dinka united without other communities of Jonglei State? This kind of unity will never help, either politically, economically, or socially. Politicians in this state have to know that diversity itself is power! Yes, it’s and shouldn’t be joked with. Why don’t you form the Jonglei Parliamentary caucus to discuss current issues affecting the lives of your people in the state and avoid being under tribal associations?
Up to this far end, it’s the responsibility of the governor and his deputy to bring peace or lock horns. If leaders unite and work towards the set goal, then people will be peaceful and united. They will direct their focus on development and work hard in order to sustain their families and pay taxes to the government.
The governor and his deputy must remove the spirit of political parties nominated them and run Jonglei State as one family and make it attractive politically. The issues between the parties destroyed and destabilized this beautiful state beyond repair. I know your leadership skills, academic qualifications, and political experiences can fix the state and make you number one.
To overcome all these challenges, know the importance of multipartism in the state and don’t take it as an obstacle to progress and development. The time for dependence on others for political prosperity is gone; show the people your leadership skills.
There shall come a time when the citizens will be given an opportunity to vote for leaders instead of decree out and decree in.
Moreover, serve according to the will and interest of the people. Watch out and just know the political opportunists who always play cards smartly so that their political interests can be implemented in the state. Struggles for your own credit and legacy. For whatever you will sow, you shall reap its fruits. The ball is now in your hands. It’s now for you and the governor to choose either to serve citizens or the interests of your political parties in Juba.
Furthermore, communities have to do away with such “greaters.” Everyone wants to see Jonglei State as a state with no tribalism and division. The Nuer and Dinka must accept one another because being Dinka will not help you, and the same for the Nuer. I haven’t seen an incident where Nuer attacked the Dinka and other Dinka from Malakal and the Bahr-El-Ghazal region crossing the river to rescue their tribemate from Jonglei, and the same thing happened to Nuer; none came from Unity State to help them.
To conclude, people should accept one another and know the fundamentals of unity. The governor has to ban community’s associations that don’t go along with the government structure and maintain Boma, Payam, and County associations if community associations are crucial. For so, also create political, academic, and sports forums that can bring people together. These forums will take Jonglei State nearer to God and, in fact, can bring durable peace and unity. It will be good to brainstorm together to discuss current flooding, infrastructure, agriculture, and insecurity. The power struggle between parties to a peace agreement must be stopped!
The author is a student at Maseno University, Kenya.