My answer is no, let me remind you of earlier defections from the start of the conflict in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. A good number of disgruntled Generals have switched sides from SPLA-IO to the government, but their main goal in doing so is merely getting lumpsum bites of Brazilian chicken meals and sleeping in comfortable hotels in Juba—with their pockets full, they forget the suffering of the South Sudanese people.
First and foremost, if you look backs to sort of historical or revolution struggle something messes up in the minds of South Sudanese of what they may either or neither call patriotism in the current context of the country political disintegration, basically on personal based political interest rather than national ideology.
Seizing into the future of this country, it is something that can’t be measured out, because of certain genetic DNA incapacity mindset within our century’s generations. I believed this country has a potentially civilized community but manipulation of the population by its leadership has harmed the progress of this nation.
We have passed through many wars and yet we still can’t seem to learn about the effects of these conflicts. Do we have a spirit of humanity, or is something lacking from our blood? A reality check indicated South Sudanese benefited from all sorts of blood split rebellion, but that isn’t enough to stop the manslaughter of ourselves and our identity as South Sudanese.
Narrowed it down to Gen. Gatwech Dual self-imposed leadership to whom are you fighting for in South Sudan, is it Dr. Riek Machar or South Sudanese? Are you agitated by gun silence in the Greater Upper Nile region for the past two years, I think something you should know and learned in your minds, a non-violent peace fighter is what most called for in this 21centrury rather than guns fighters’ class.
In the practical political sense, how many individuals have chosen your recent style and where are they by now, perhaps something most of you leaders have failed to be analyzed. One of the greatest sicknesses killing our leaders mostly is egoism that diminished into our cultural sense of ideological perspective rooted in backwardness.
The plotters of 2016, who have calculated the same algebraical political scenario to walk into the power feet of Dr. Riek Machar are now gaining unpopularity recognition in all streets of South Sudan, perhaps turning their dreams a “political sleeping sickness”.
You have grown up in the war, still, your children and grandchildren are on run in the bushes of South Sudan of which you had an experience, something you can’t learn out of it. Of course, everyone is now fighting for wealth enrichment rather than the rights of South Sudan that is now the root cause of the conflict period.
In conclusion, I have no doubts that the SPLM-IO had run out of strategies as an armed rebellion to be transforming as a political movement and presently at the ICU room in Juba because it lacks a certain ideological focus of which most of you must share the blame of lion share not categorically Dr. Riek Machar alone.
The Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan is the bidding bridge and has recognized both president Salva Kiir Mayardit and Dr. Riek Machar as the main principals to the agreement with other opposition parties within South Sudan and became the legitimate law of the land in this country.
Choosing dialogue of peace is much more important in the eye of God and particularly with the South Sudanese people rather than a war of self-centered interest. Many people have died over many conflicts, and this couldn’t be enough for the sake of peace to return to this fractured Land of abandonment.
Bonifacio Taban Kuich is a South Sudanese journalist. He can be reached via email: tabanbonifacio@gmail.com
The views expressed in ‘opinion’ articles published by Radio Tamazuj are solely those of the writer. The veracity of any claims made are the responsibility of the author, not Radio Tamazuj.