Looking at communal conflicts and wars in South Sudan, one would find that tribalism plays a key role in their causation.
As an end is being put to wars through the Revitalised Peace Agreement, what does the agreement say about tribalism? If the agreement goes silent about tribalism, it would be like healing a wound with a foreign body in it. Such a wound would not heal until the foreign body is removed.
There is no position that tribalism has never held! The most experienced and long-serving leader in South Sudan is tribalism. People say Salva Kiir Mayardit is 19 years old in power, did they calculate how many years tribalism has spent in power? People say Louis Lobong Lojore has been the Governor of Eastern Equatoria State since 2010, did they ask for how many years tribalism has spent as a governor itself? People say hunger has claimed many lives, did they sum up the lives claimed by tribalism?
During the liberation struggles, Mr. Tribalism was a very innocent young man. The 64 tribes could say let’s go left and they all go left. They could say we are going right and they all go right. They could station in any tribal territory and no information about their whereabouts could be leaked out. This was the logic behind their success.
In the late 1980s, Tribalism became a prominent leader. As a prominent leader during the liberation struggle, Tribalism almost failed the struggle had it not been because of a few people. Recruitment was one-sided. One time, Tribalism ordered for the killing of over 30 officers belonging to another section. In 1991, Tribalism became more apparent and active in dragging South Sudan backwards. The whole movement was divided into two parts and the drum of Tribalism was louder and louder. It was that year Tribalism rose to the rank of Major.
When mediators intervened and held talks with the veteran Tribalism, peace prevailed, but it was totally hollow. The whole movement was divided into camps. All people were hearing was that, so and so belong to the camp of Commander Y while so and so belong to the camp of Commander X. This camping is the reason why some veterans are not in the government now! Let it go that way.
When the CPA was signed in 2005, it was as if God declared Tribalism as the President of South Sudan for life. The demarcations among the tribes became very clear, each veteran began introducing him/herself to the level of clan. Everything was seen with the eyes of Tribalism. When one veteran who was opposing Tribalism tragically died, Tribalism was seen on the following day in military uniform and his shoulders were beautifully red. He had promoted himself to the rank of Major General.
People began differentiating the tribal marks on the foreheads. People began checking whether your lower teeth are removed or not. People began identifying other people by their names. When South Sudan became independent, Oh My God, Tribalism plotted a coup d’état and became the Head of the State. He then rose to the rank of Lieutenant General. He’s the one ruling South Sudan now with an iron fist.
One time, he ordered churches to name themselves tribalistically and the order was implemented immediately by naming one of the churches as ‘Emmanuel Jieng’. A year later, the council of elders was formed and named ‘Jieng Council of Elders’; a name which does not at all fit in a country with 64 tribes. The name and role of the council are in contrariety!
When shortlisting applicants, Tribalism never opens the envelopes to check the documents as it consumes much of his tribalistic time. He sees the names on the envelopes, if Wani and Marial are the applicants, the job is for Marial, period! Any political disagreement is not seen at the angle of politics but at the angle of Tribalism.
Any appointment must pass through tribe-tribal-tribalist-tribalism before the announcement. Everything dances according to the tune of the tyrant Tribalism. One time, a crazy journalist asked him, Gen. Tribalism, when are you retiring? He said, when Jesus comes! Since Tribalism is the cause of all the messes in South Sudan, why can’t it be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal and retired tomorrow?
Thanks for reading “Sowing The Seed Of Truth”.