Opinion: How to achieve lasting peace and stability in South Sudan

June 29, 2020 Opinions

By Beek Mabior

President Salva Kiir and main armed opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar

June 29, 2020 (SSNN) – Our country has been notoriously exhibited again and again as one of the most successful war-like nations on earth. Our beloved South Sudan has regrettably and sadly earned a disgraceful and violent reputation for over half a century starting from 1956 when our former United Sudan gained her independence after a shameful and inhuman colonialism and indignity. Since then, our state has never taken a permanent break from senseless political and communal civil conflicts. The civil wars have persistently remained as part and parcel of our nationhood and this veracity is uncontested. So what can we do to alter this heartbreaking reality of our statehood? What can we do as South Sudanese people first before we ask what our government can do in the attainment of a durable peace and stability in our nation?

Should we continued to point an accusing finger against foreign influence in our state’s affairs or should we continued to blame Khartoum for our senseless civil wars and confusion even after succession? The question is not about what president Kiir, Riek Machar and other leaders have done or be doing? The question is about we collectively and not them selectively as it has always been the narrative with many speaking tongues across South Sudan. We as South Sudanese need to leave this outdated trickery of censuring others while we exclude ourselves out. Because Behind every rebellion, there’re masses supporting it. And behind every questionable regime, there’re people supporting it to continue with it contentious and unclear activities.

And behind every nation that is on the path toward a successful fail state, there’re architects of all walks of life who work tirelessly and silently in the darkness to make her achieve failure status. Moreover, It’d be a hypocrisy of the highest degree for me to blame other South Sudanese while I make myself holy. I’m one of the most successful failures who has done absolutely nothing to contribute toward a better South Sudan even if I’ve a strong desire to play my part. And I pity my incapability and emptiness to contribute toward our nation-building. I wish could have positively contribute toward South Sudan’s peace and stability. But unfortunately, I feel sad that I’m unable to do so. But mark my remarks dear reader, I’m tired and sick of the daily deaths toll and despicable misery of our citizenry in South Sudan. And I’m thinking of how to contribute toward our peace and stability.

And I swear if God was to ask me to be a permanent sacrifice for South Sudan’s everlasting peace, unity, love, stability and prosperity of all lovely sixty-four cultures. I’ll immediately accept the request without any hesitation, reservation, justification, questioning and doubt in my mind. What is nationalism and citizenship for if you cannot love betterment and transformation for your own motherland on this planet? What did our greatest heroes die for? What took the lives of our beloved respectable leaders like Dr. John Garang, William Deng Nhial, Agrey Jaden, William Nyuon, Nyacigak Nyashilluk, Martin Majier and etc. plus many martyrs of our motherland. What took the lives of millions of our gallant soldiers who perished in the liberation war? If I was to die because of patriotic assignment for my country, then let it be. Salva Kiir, Riek Machar, Taban Deng and Wani Igga all fought in the liberty war despite the dangers of death. They did it for our freedom and self-rule. So who am I not to play my role. I don’t need to be a leader but I must play my part with or without leadership. I need peace and stability for South Sudan.

South Sudan is a nation I dearly love to be in peace and stability even if I’ll die tomorrow. Why would a nation subject herself to decades of wars and suffering without giving peace a chance for the current and future generations to profit from it? What is that special benefit that we can accomplish in war and deaths of innocent precious souls? Is power, fame and riches more significant than human lives and humanity? Was God wrong to create humankind? Can power and government have meaning without people to rule over them? We South Sudanese need to know that signatures alone can’t deliver peace by themselves, but action does, transforming words and visions into progress. Our people need to settle down and move on with their lives. They need to build excellent futures for themselves and they generations that’ll come after them.

So what can we do to achieve lasting peace and stability in South Sudanese? Firstly, security sector reform: reforming the institutions of the security sector responsible for defense against external threats, the maintenance of law and order and overseeing the security forces is essential in the restoration of trust and credibility that local people need to have in governance institutions. Secondly, governance reform: civil wars signify unhappiness in the political systems that could not perform essential governance functions, thereby generating political insurgencies. The need, therefore, is not to go back to pre-crisis conditions but to move in a different direction. Also, civil wars signify power greed sometimes in the absence of elections.

Thirdly, human rights: in many war-torn nations, there’s a necessity for improving the human rights situation. In wars such as in Yemen, Syria, Somalia and South Sudan. Rebel as well as government forces and judicial systems have contributed to gross human rights violation, often directed at minorities or other vulnerable groups in society. Therefore, bringing to trial the perpetrators of such crimes and reforming the involved institutions is a prerequisite for any government trying to restore its legitimacy, credibility and impartiality. Fourthly, the role of civil society: They function as important catalysts for grass roots change towards democratization, represent local constituencies in decision-making processes and serves as watchdogs for government actions. Fifthly, Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR): disarming, demobilizing and reintegrating ex-combatants into civilian society can make an important contribution to conflict prevention as they’re in a powerful position to spoil the peace process in a later stage. The DDR process consists of four consecutive phases: assembly, discharge, short-term reinsertion and long-term reintegration. The ex-combatants are assembled in cantonment areas and provided with basic needs such as shelter, food, clothing, sanitation facilities and health care. Assembling the troops serves the motive of accounting for all combatants and their weapons and is meant as a confidence-building measure between the parties who committed themselves to the peace process. Sixthly, post-conflict election: elections can provide an opportunity to reform the political system in a war-torn country and to make it more responsive and politically legitimate to its constituencies.

Assistance in this field comprises supporting logistics and strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations for voters’ education and election monitoring, as well as the development of an electoral infrastructure including the creation of independent election commissions. Also, presidency need to be shared among the communities and a single tribe shouldn’t overrule because it’ll fuel more political conflict, ill will and disunity in a nation. What’s crucial is not the tribe where you come from but capability to rule a multi-ethnic nation peacefully and wisely. conclusively, we need serious reconciliation, healing and forgiveness among ourselves as South Sudanese in order for us to establish a lasting peace and stability in South Sudan. We need to build trust, love, unity and nationalism in our beloved country as sixty-four gorgeous cultures of South Sudan.

The author is a student and a concerned citizen of South Sudan. He can be reached via: betterarticle165@gmail.com

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