BY MALITH KUR KUR
Social media has always played a significant role in amplifying political confusion in South Sudan. This entails that South Sudanese of different political views must avoid spreading false information on social media to give peace a chance. This confusion is an essential part of why it has been challenging to minimize violence in our society. The recent war of words between Radio Tamazuj and the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Martin Lomuro, reinforces the negative role of social media in the current unsettling political difficulties in South Sudan.
A few days ago, after the Tumaini peace negotiations began in Nairobi, unsubstantiated allegations appeared on social media. Those allegations claimed the leading mediator expelled the cabinet affairs minister from the talks due to his negative views about the peace process with the groups that did not sign the 2018 accord. Although the mediators did not have the power to remove any member of the government negotiating team, these rumors were sensitive enough to compel the minister to react.
In a press conference in Nairobi, Martin Lomuro accused Radio Tamazuj and opposition groups of circulating untrue reports about his expulsion from the peace talks in Kenya. However, the minister did not say whether he heard Radio Tamazuj broadcasting such allegations.
So far, Radio Tamazuj has denied the accusations. To clarify the situation, it posted the exact allegations on its website and stated where they were initially posted on social media. It appeared that a devious group called “Watchdog Press” published the news reporting the alleged removal of the minister from the negotiations. Read more here
This incident shows three things. First, it shows that the relationship between independent media and government officials is not good. Second, it indicates that individuals with bad intentions often misuse social media to derail peace. Third, it aims to damage the relationship between media and political leaders in South Sudan.
Some South Sudanese may consider this incident a simple matter, but given the volatile political situation in our country, I believe it is serious. Elements who do not want the current peace process to succeed have a hand in this hiccup. We must confront those individuals and discredit the things they allege on social media for the sake of causing more problems in the country.
The history of social media creating problems in South Sudan is well known. Misinformation on social media has led to the death of many South Sudanese in the current conflict. The collapse of the initial peace accord in July 2016 is a good example of how dangerous misinformation could be in our country. When violence erupted in Juba, it destroyed the implementation of the peace agreement. It sent all parties back to the drawing board to renegotiate the accord, which is why we are stuck with today’s so-called revitalized peace agreement.
The trigger for the new wave of fighting in July 2016 remains disputed. Conflicting accounts blur the lines between truth and misinformation on social media. Two narratives emerged about what ignited the July 2016 clashes. South Sudan’s ambassador to Kenya at the time blamed a false Facebook post. He alleged Machar’s spokesman shared it. The post falsely claimed Machar’s detention by government forces at the State House in Juba. This claim, he argued, inflamed tensions and sparked the violence. For more info, read here. Machar’s spokesman vehemently denied sharing any such post, but his denial did not convince most South Sudanese and the Kenyan government. As a result, Kenya deported him to Juba, where he was placed in detention.
However, a different account of this incident pointed to a checkpoint clash as the catalyst. According to this version, fighting erupted when soldiers loyal to President Kiir were killed at a security checkpoint in Juba.
Whether ignited by a false social media post or a checkpoint clash, the violence was generated by malicious individuals who did not want to see lasting peace in South Sudan. Caught in the crossfire were innocent civilians whose lives were turned upside down by the sudden return to violence. The same thing could happen again if this misuse of social media continues.
Observers and scholars like Jok Madut and Anke Fiedler have blamed social media’s increasingly hostile role in South Sudan’s political discourse. They say it fuels mistrust between opposing sides by “exaggerating” things to create unnecessary tensions. This means that those of us who long for peace in South Sudan must take a stand against those who continue to spread damaging misinformation online to prolong the suffering of all South Sudanese. (Read more here; also read Anke’s work here).
As a reminder, the clash between Radio Tamazuj and the Minister of Cabinet Affairs could create an unfavorable environment at the current talks in Nairobi. Regardless of what happened, we are responsible for encouraging the negotiating teams to focus on settling their differences peacefully and delivering peace to our people instead of paying attention to lies on social media.
The writer is a community organizer and Ph.D. candidate at McGill School of Religious Studies in Montreal. His research focuses on peacebuilding and social reconstruction in South Sudanese society. He can be reached at mkurawet@gmail.com.
The views expressed in ‘opinion’ articles published by Radio Tamazuj are solely those of the writer. The veracity of any claims made is the responsibility of the author, not Radio Tamazuj.