Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Almost 11 years after South Sudan got its independence, the bordering communities are still living in fear.
The borders with Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Congo were neither delimited nor demarcated.
As per this piece, I will squarely focus on the border between South Sudan and Sudan because it remains a hotspot for volatility in the region.
2022 kicked off with hostilities in those regions, whereby our heartless neighbours of Misseriya and Rezeigat of Sudan started aggression. We beg for immediate national and state government interventions.
The political crisis in Sudan, which left criminals on the loose ready to be instigated by forces of darkness, now calls for a joint effort from both Sudan and South Sudan leaders to provide the solution.
A series of agreements that were signed in Addis Ababa on September 27, 2012, need to be revisited through the Technical Border Committee (TBC). They were set up by South Sudan and Sudan through the efforts of the African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development.
The status of the contested areas of the border between South Sudan and Sudan, especially on the question of Abyei, remains a begging vacuum for its settlement.
However, the recent attacks carried out by the armed militia groups of Misseriya on residents at Rumaker, Yinh Pabol and some parts of high lands of Aweil East County, need proactive intervention from the national government.
Therefore, to be articulate, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State indeed needs strong leadership that can understand the complicated issues of borders and act decisively.
It calls for a strong leader who can stay in office for eight hours a day and spend most of the months in the state rather than spending two months in Juba and two weeks in Aweil, to and fro with huge entourages.
As the community of Aweil, we are known for being humble, government loyalists, and down-to-earth, peace-loving people. But the lack of strong political leadership is the genesis of the crisis in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State in different fronts of our society setup.
Nevertheless, to capitalise on this, what happens to a community without a strong leader? Answer: it will be disorganised and will have no law to bind its citizens.
To elucidate this problem, common sense will be applied. Let me use an analogy. What will happen to a body without a mind to command? It will be useless and worthless, the true purpose will not be served.
Just like a community without a leader, each subordinate will run in chaos, and death will be unavoidable. Crime and violence will be on the rise. We are at a crossroads for sure.
A certain interview was conducted by the State Security Adviser at Radio Akol Yam FM, in the aftermath of the incident of Yinh Pabol, and it depicted that the state leadership lacks team integrity.
Since integrity is such a critical element of strong political leadership, it is evidence that the state may have eroded its values and integrity since its commencement.
The government and people of NBGS were given a leader who cannot learn and seek advice from Aweil’s previous leaders and elders apart from exchanging informed ideas with the youth, women, and colleagues.
Our community members run around like headless chickens whose heads have been chopped off. For instance, the incident happened at Yinh Pabol, while the head of security was here in Juba where he celebrated both Christmas and New Year. On a fateful night, the Deputy Governor, who was tasked with remaining as acting state boss, accompanied the Vice President on the Service’s Cluster to Warrap on a fateful night.
Painstakingly, I have nothing to hide. People behind the ears of area leadership do not want their illusions destroyed. But maturity is telling the truth, and making someone cry is better than telling a lie to make someone smile.
In nutshell, NBGS is not a bakery and I do not sugar coat anything. If you ask for my opinion, then that is what you will get.
Thereafter, especially to beneficiaries and benefactors at equal footing, don’t be mad when it is not what you want to hear; be cool.
My last message goes to our communities at the border to remain vigilant and maintain a peaceful coexistence. Do not terrorise traders from the other side that are living in our territories.
There are no sweet fruits of war, and nature will soon prove those disgruntled Misseriya armed militia groups wrong.
My heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, in-laws, and the entire nation for the victims of the Misseriya attacks in various areas; may their souls rest in external peace.
For More News And Analysis About South-Sudan Follow Africa-Press
