A vocal South Sudanese politician and ally of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has called for cohesion among the country’s communities and denounced tribal clashes, revenge killings, and cattle raiding, among others.
Dut Majokdit is the former chairperson of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State. His statement in Juba on Wednesday came days after President Salva Kiir signed several bills into law including the Commission for Truth, Healing and Reconciliation (CTRH) Act 2024, Compensation and Reparations Authority Act 2024, and Civil Aviation Authority Act 2012 (Amendment Act 2024) among others.
Majokdit said the people of South Sudan were united during the liberation struggle since 1956 until the country gained independence on 9 July 2011. The politician also blamed the civil wars of 2013 and 2016 between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Party led by President Salva Kiir and the main armed opposition group, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) under the First Vice President Riek Machar for worsening the situation.
“South Sudan struggled for many years to gain independence, from 1956 until 2011 when it achieved its target. The people of South Sudan were united during the fight against the Sudanese government for self-determination, but the wars of 2013 and 2016 have created a big problem among the South Sudanese communities,” he stated. “There is a big gap among the ethnic communities and indeed the wars have created a big problem between Nuer and Dinka and it is very important for the social fabric to be built by implementing one of the very important Chapters in the Peace Agreement, the formation of Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH).”
“This commission will be funded by the Government of National Unity to make sure that it reconciles all people of South Sudan, not only Dinka and Nuer,” Majokdit added.
He said the top priorities for citizens are peaceful coexistence, stability, and political settlement to allow them to live prosperous lives, increase food production, and the creation of more job opportunities.
Majokdit said he was dismayed by the inter-communal conflicts, revenge killings, cattle-related confrontations, and general insecurity in Jonglei and Warrap states, and the conflict between the Ngok-Dinka in Abyei Administrative Area and the Twic community in Warrap Sate’s Twic County. He called for the implementation of the security arrangements to pave the way for massive disarmament so that peace prevails.
“It is very important for the Government of South Sudan to implement one of the most important chapters of the peace agreement, the security arrangements which deals with unification of the armed forces and then disarm those who raid cattle and those involved in revenge killings, because the perpetrators have light and heavy weapons and disturb the communities,” he said.