BY: MAHMOUD AKOT
In a shocking and tone-deaf statement, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Party Secretary General Peter Lam Both praised South Sudanese civil servants for enduring an entire year without salaries, calling them “true heroes.” Such remarks are not just an insult to the people but an attempt to legitimize governmental failure by turning human suffering into a virtue that the citizens are expected to celebrate rather than remedy.
How can silence in the face of denied rights be considered heroism? Are these words a reflection of a government that underestimates its people’s dignity, or are they simply a blatant admission of systemic incompetence?
A grim reality exposing leadership failure
The fact that civil servants have gone an entire year without pay speaks volumes about the abject failure of South Sudan’s political system. This crisis is not just a delay in wages; it is a symptom of a government incapable of managing state affairs or ensuring the bare minimum of public services.
What have Lam and the SPLM leadership achieved since independence? How can a party that has monopolized power since 2011 justify ongoing poverty, rampant corruption, and economic collapse?
Between failure and deception
What makes Lam’s statements even more infuriating is the government’s attempt to frame its failures as a “test of patience” for the people, as though enduring hardship and injustice is a virtue that deserves applause. If the citizens are silent, it is not out of satisfaction but due to oppressive policies that stifle dissent and suppress demands for justice.
This mentality, which glorifies silence, reveals that the system is in a state of complete denial. Rather than working to resolve crises, its leaders resort to hollow rhetoric that insults the intelligence and dignity of the people.
Where is democracy?
Since gaining independence in 2011, the SPLM Party has maintained a stranglehold on power but has failed to hold credible democratic elections. The postponement of elections to December 2026 is yet another indication of the regime’s fear of facing public accountability. Democracy does not mean clinging to power through endless delays and weak excuses; it means respecting the will and rights of the people.
What the people truly deserve
What South Sudanese citizens need today is not empty praise for their “patience” or being labeled as “heroes,” but concrete actions:
- Immediate payment of overdue salaries and compensation for affected workers.
- Robust action against the corruption that is crippling state institutions.
- A firm commitment to holding free and fair elections without further delays.
- An end to political rhetoric that glorifies silence instead of addressing the root causes of public frustration.
Conclusion: Dignity above all
South Sudan does not need leaders who glorify their people’s suffering as heroism. It requires leadership that understands that human dignity is non-negotiable.
The citizens of South Sudan must reject such demeaning statements and demand their rights through every peaceful means available. The silence celebrated today will become a curse for the nation tomorrow.
Suffering is not heroism; silence in the face of injustice is not wisdom. Dignity is not begged for—it is claimed.
The writer is a pro-democracy activist and former spokesperson for the National Democratic Movement (NDM). Currently Based in Paris, France, he is a dedicated advocate for justice, human rights, and the vision of building a free and equitable society.
The views expressed in ‘opinion’ articles published by Radio Tamazuj are solely those of the writer. The veracity of any claims made is the author’s responsibility, not Radio Tamazuj’s.