“Daring to stand against liberators invites an unknowing doomsday.” While we may disagree with the liberators at close range, it is crucial to approach our critique of their inherited policies with the utmost respect. Our hard-won country, South Sudan, gained independence in 2011 after 56 bitter years of liberation struggles from 1955 to 2011.

South Sudanese citizens should relish the fruits of independence, but this enjoyment comes with the responsibility of being good citizens. This entails adhering to discipline, following rules, and actively defending the country’s sovereignty and democracy.

The leadership of the country’s founding political party, SPLM, especially its senior members, should have set role models for holding constitutional and political conferences to govern our newly independent state. However, it seems we were all swept away by the naivety of happiness.

The macroeconomic challenges haunting the country through stagflation need addressing at both institutional and political levels. We’ve encountered a complicated reality of governance and a series of major challenges on the road to our political self-actualization as a country. We must emphasize the importance of adhering to and improving the fundamental systems that underpin the democratic systems with South Sudanese characteristics.

SPLM is a rallying point: Personally, the unity of SPLM as the historical founding political party of this unique and beautiful country should serve as a reference point for all South Sudanese patriotic citizens.

The unity of SPLM leadership should be the organization’s character, and the country must derive its political philosophy from the founding leaders. Political leaders become decisive factors once party lines and the country's governance system are determined.

As patriotic and committed cadres, we must engage the SPLM leadership in peaceful dialogue to consolidate the common ideological foundation. This foundation unites all people to work together for the welfare of the country and its poverty-stricken citizens.

We must advocate for the modernization of South Sudan’s governance system through peaceful dialogue, addressing critical issues concerning the party and the country’s prosperity, ensuring peace, and the well-being of the people. Building a stable and effective institutional system for the party and the country should be our political maxim.

The party places great importance on institutional construction to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. To achieve this, we must deepen reform in key sectors and discard notions and systems that hinder scientific development.

In the intricate international situation, we face unprecedented risks and challenges in stabilizing, reforming, and developing domestic and foreign affairs, national defense, and improving the governance of the party, the state, and the army.

Political new arrangements for future work: The establishment of fundamental institutional systems in key areas should be a solid foundation for modernizing the country’s governance capacity. However, some reform measures are yet to be fully implemented, and others may take a long time.

Efforts should be made to solidify the foundation, leverage strengths, and address weaknesses to develop well-conceived, fully built, procedure-based, and efficiently functioning institutions.

We must maintain the party’s class foundation and mass base, ensuring a close tie with the South Sudanese people. It takes a great party to liberate and guide a great nation. The happiness of our people is our fundamental political slogan for yesterday, today, tomorrow, and the future. If our founding leaders sacrificed their blood and lives to liberate this country, we must be the spokespersons for the great majority of our people.

We must uphold the right political direction of integrity for the leadership of the SPLM. The status of the South Sudanese people as the masters and creators of the country, along with the importance of the rule of law, must be properly acknowledged. The party’s leadership serves as the fundamental guarantee to ensure that people act as the masters of the country and to promote the rule of law.

Principally, the essence and core of real democracy lie in the role the people play as the masters of the country. This democratic exercise is what South Sudanese, both born and unborn, yearn for to choose their leaders.

Our political leadership must be reminded that “all state power belongs to the people,” and prioritizing the people and their interests is the primary requirement for the party to lead effectively.

As young patriotic leaders, we must never forget why we fought for independence. Moving forward with resilience and determination is our daily commitment to remember the journey we have travelled and the purpose for which we started. Staying committed to the SPLM’s founding aspirations and mission is crucial on this irreversible journey.

The SPLM’s fundamental purpose is to serve the people wholeheartedly. Studying history makes one wise, and newcomers should be directed to study the party’s basic documents before challenging or criticizing our experienced liberators. All SPLM party members should know the history, stay loyal to the party and the country, shoulder their responsibilities, and endeavour with great resolve to strengthen the party.

In conclusion, we must listen to the people’s voices, respond to their opinions, and meet their needs in a timely manner. This effort is essential to staying true to the SPLM’s original aspiration and founding mission.

Fostering stronger public support for the party’s governance is fundamental. Maintaining a close bond with the people is the party’s greatest political strength, while disengagement is the gravest danger. Losing public support is extremely perilous, as it will undermine the party’s authority as a governing party. Adopting a people-centered development philosophy and improving governance institutions for and with the support of the people will secure the party’s status as a governing force. It is a valuable tool to leverage the party’s leading force and the people’s principal force.

In conclusion, the South Sudanese people are the creators of the country’s history and the fundamental force that always determines the future of the SPLM and the country.

Ater Garang Ariath Ariath, is a South Sudanese journalist and former Secretary-General of Defunct Aweil East State, living in Juba, Republic of South Sudan. He can be reached at atergarang452@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.