The author argues that South Sudan's ongoing civil war is shameful compared to wars fought in the past against colonialists and oppressors. He says that South Sudanese people need to do more than talk about peace but act and sacrifice to achieve it.

Pain is inevitable, but misery is optional. We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey. The people in the black soil, the Sudd people, the giant of Africa, have never grabbed a breath and inhaled the fresh and harmonious blessings of peace and relief from bloodshed. One wonders what the book of Isaiah in the Bible says about the Sudanese people. The revelation in Isaiah 18, is becoming too difficult to understand because all what was said about the Sudan is not ending any time soon. Has God forgotten or really tired of us? Or is it that South Sudan is becoming a gas station? The war is consuming generations after generations.

It’s too sad to register that our grandfathers, fathers, ourselves, and indeed our own children have lived and continue to live in the shadow and shed of wars and sorrows. As you go down through this note, you will realize that children of children have been in wars even till today. There is another intensifying war ongoing in the Greater Upper Nile. Children and women are largely the victims of this “blood leadership and senseless war.”

Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, a comedy for the rich, and tragedy for the poor.

Why? Why are people subjecting themselves to generation of wars? They say it’s a senseless war but do too little to save lives and achieve peace. Has God forgotten or really tired of us? This reminds me to learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow, but the important thing is not to stop questioning.

Over years and years, it’s like war has stuck into our bloodstreams, war after war. While I understand that wars, revolutions, and battles are undertaken to restore peace and order and for the acquisition of wealth/power and to never accept suppression and marginalization, it is not enough to say we must not wage war. It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it.

Rain beats a leopard’s skin, but it does not wash out the spots. We have a very long rich history in wars, many embraced by the generations. Not this current war of December 15th that will go down in history as the most senseless and embarrassing war imposed by greedy individuals against the poor. Our people have fought many wars and deserve history written off to books and shelves in the archives. It’s with great pride and honor to eulogize the great efforts by our brave men and women in South Sudan since the invasion of the outside powers to the Kushland and after, not in the tribal wars but meaningful ones.

The people of South Sudan fought with colors of human race, even before the invention of the Kalashnikov. They fought with nothing other than spears, and they faced many super powers like the British and the Turkish, among many others. I stand tall and applaud their great sacrifices.

I admire great chiefs like Chief Kon Anok Nyingier of the Aliab people who fought valiantly against the British Anglo-Egyptian colonialism. He only surrendered when the enemy started to target women and children in the famous war of the Ayilla in 1919 in the present Watt river in Awerial county. Although he died in prison, he is an example of a true leader who was able to apply very smart tactics and battle strategies despite the balance of power being in favor of the British.

Another great hero is the son of the prophet Mundan who mobilized the Nuer people and fought British colonialism towards the end of the 1929-30s. He did not succumb very easily despite the use of excessive power by the British, until he fell in battle.

Furthermore, another great hero is Bior Aguer of the Dinka Twic people who rose against the mighty British. Even though he was blind he was able not to shy away his anger towards the British. One time Chief Lual Deng warned him and said, “Bior, why so furious like this yet you are not looking at Turuk [the Turkish], leave it to us”.

And finally to the first and the second liberation from the Arabization of the Sudan.

With due respect, we salute these great men and women who fought wars for liberty, freedom, and prosperity. Your sacrifices shall glitter throughout the history, celebrating the 4th independence anniversary tiptoeing on your honor.

It is shame upon the current leaders to answer the aim and objective of this war they are fighting. It’s due to their bullies and interests. Enough is enough. Some of us have been used as stooges for so long. It is high time to refrain from nationalism and patriotism defined by being loyal to so-and-so rather than being loyal to the nation.

Fellow citizens, no one is rich enough to buy the past but everyone is rich enough to rewrite the future. We have the tribes we have, we have the history we have, and shall have the future we make. And the future we make will only be toxic if we allow our own hearts to be toxic and the hearts and minds of those around us. We need peace in South Sudan.

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.