Governor of Central Equatoria State Clement Wani Konga declared before a gathering of thousands of Equatorians yesterday strong support for a federal system in South Sudan, saying that this demand would not be changed.
He said the people of Central Equatoria state are for a federal system and that has been their call since the founding of the government.
Federalism is a system of government in which state or regional governments hold their own exclusive powers, which the national government cannot interfere with.
South Sudan’s national government currently has wide-ranging powers over state governments including the ability to appoint and remove officials, direct spending and revenue-collection, and set nationwide policies in fields such as education, healthcare and policing.
The call for a federal system that would devolve powers from the current national government comes ahead of the planned opening of fresh political talks in Addis Ababa that aim for a roadmap for peace-making and for formation of an interim government that would oversee a constitutional process and prepare for elections.
Governor Clement Wani on Wednesday addressed a gathering of over 3,000 civil servants of Central Equatoria State at the Nyakuron Cultural Center before, including ministers and other top-level officials. The aim was to brief them on the current stand of the state government towards peace and their involvement in the peace process in Addis Ababa.
He stressed that they would not back down in the demand for federalism, which he described as the will of the people: “We can talk and dialogue, but ours we stand for a federal system and our call will not change, because we have requested it by talking and not by the gun.”
But he also said some people have misinformed President Salva Kiir with reports about their call for a federal system in South Sudan, stressing that their position does not mean support to the armed opposition, which also has been demanding for a federal system.
He noted also that it does not mean that under a federal system other people from other states will not come to Central Equatorian land.
“If there is federalism it doesn’t mean people from Torit will not come to Juba, and from Western Equatoria and the same will Jonglei state – unless you are a troublemaker, [in that case] we will not allow him,” Konga said.
CES stand in peace talks in Addis Ababa
Governor Konga said they have formed committees, two from each of the three states of the Equatoria region, to help in the peace process in Addis Ababa. Konga said the committee has submitted their request to IGAD mediators among other international bodies to be involved.
Konga said if Equatorians are not involved in the peace process, there will be nothing called reconciliation or peace in South Sudan.
The governor further disclosed that a delegation of Equatorians will be sent to Upper Nile state to dialogue with people there. Though this was likely a reference to the opposition, he stressed that this does not indicate a shift in political allegiance.
“It should not look that if people dialogue with the people of Malakal that will means that I – Konga – am following Riek Machar. No, I am not going after Riek Machar.”
‘South Sudan is not for Salva Kiir, not for me, not for Riek’
The Governor of Central Equatoria State further elaborated on what he saw as the past failure of South Sudanese people to support South Sudan as a nation but rather to be loyal to particular politicians.
“South Sudanese do not know that they have a country, people only know a few individuals, like Salva Kiir, Riek Machar and James Wani Igga – that’s all. There is no love for our county that is why a lot of our people died and many left just because of South Sudan”, Konga said.
The governor pointed that some people are ‘selfish,’ saying that the war would not have happened if not for the selfishness of some people.
“No, South Sudan is not for Salva Kiir, not for me – Clement – not even for Riek Machar. South Sudan is for all South Sudanese people.”
Photo 1 (above): Ministers and state government employees of Central Equatoria assemble to hear the address by Gov. Clement Wani
Photo 2 (gallery, below): CES Governor Clement Wani Konga, 4 June 2014