In South Sudanese politics, expectations often exceed reality. Whenever a new governor is appointed, communities hope that security and stability will return immediately. Yet many overlook a simple truth: governors are administrators, not miracle workers. They do not possess Moses’ staff to instantly resolve long-standing crises.
This is the reality facing Jacob Dollar Rout, the current governor of Upper Nile State.
For years, Upper Nile has been one of the country’s most volatile regions. Tribal conflicts, cattle raiding, revenge killings, political rivalries, and widespread availability of weapons have combined to create a complex and persistent security challenge. Any notion of a quick fix is far from realistic.
Since taking office, Governor Rout has worked tirelessly to restore stability in the most affected counties. He has promoted community reconciliation, improved the delivery of essential services, and opened channels of dialogue among local groups. Yet his efforts are undermined by forces opposed to peace—those who publicly pose as doves in Juba but secretly work to disrupt initiatives, spread misinformation, and stoke tensions, hoping to create frustration that could lead to calls for his removal.
These attempts target not the governor personally, but any genuine effort toward stability in Upper Nile. The continuation of chaos serves narrow interests at the expense of citizens’ security and the state’s future.
Governor Rout inherited a state burdened by decades of divisions, mistrust between communities, a proliferation of small arms, weak security institutions, and weakened local administration. These challenges did not originate with him and cannot be resolved simply by replacing the governor.
Calls for his dismissal will not solve the persistent insecurity in Upper Nile. Changing leadership without addressing the root causes will only perpetuate the cycle of conflict.
The unstable counties are concentrated in the southern part of the state, including Ulang, Nasir, Baliet, Akoka, Fashoda, and Panyikango. In contrast, other counties enjoy relative calm, such as Renk, Malut, Maban, Manyo, Maywut, and Langishowk.
This demonstrates that insecurity is localized, not universal, and the governor alone cannot be held accountable. True responsibility rests with all constitutional officeholders at the national and state levels, as well as intellectuals, academics, journalists, civil society leaders, traditional authorities, and local administrators. They are closest to the communities and best positioned to influence youth, calm tensions, and build bridges of trust. Blaming the governor alone oversimplifies a complex problem and deflects collective accountability.
The governor does not control the national army, cannot dictate troop deployments, and cannot single-handedly disarm communities or resolve historical grievances. His role is to provide leadership, coordination, and launch peace initiatives—which he is actively doing.
National authorities must reconsider their approach to the Upper Nile. Instead of merely criticizing the governor, constitutional officeholders from the national and state levels should be deployed to their home counties to contribute directly to building peace on the ground.
Peace cannot be manufactured in air-conditioned offices in Juba. It must be cultivated in villages and localities through direct dialogue, addressing the root causes of conflict, and repairing the social fabric torn apart by years of violence.
Journalists and social media activists also have a responsibility to promote awareness and peace, rather than fuel tribal divisions or incite hostility against governors and officials. Responsible media builds rather than destroys, unites rather than divides, and helps calm society instead of inflaming tensions.
It is therefore incumbent upon the national government to provide Governor Jacob Dollar Rout with the political and security support necessary to implement the revitalized peace agreement and his strategic plan for restoring stability to Upper Nile, particularly its unstable counties. Success cannot be measured by frequent dismissals but by creating the environment, institutions, and empowerment needed for effective governance.
The truth is stark: no governor—past, present, or future—possesses Moses’ staff to instantly end insecurity in Upper Nile.
Peace will only be achieved when all stakeholders assume their responsibilities: national leadership, state authorities, constitutional officeholders, intellectuals, journalists, local administrators, and citizens alike.
Until that happens, Governor Jacob Dollar Rout, like those before him, will continue to navigate a storm he did not create—awaiting the collective efforts necessary to make Upper Nile safe and stable.
May God Almighty bless our beloved country
William Sunday D. Tor is a South Sudanese political and media analyst and author of the book ‘South Sudan and challenges of achieving the independence objectives’. He can be reached at: williamtor2011@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.