Africa-Press – South-Sudan. It has been reported by various Media bodies in Juba that Dr Riek Machar, First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan, President of SPLM – IN – Opposition (SPLM – IO) is calling for change of name of the Republic of SS to the People’s Republic of the Sudan or any other name. The name “The People’s Republic of the Sudan” should not be accepted, to prevent conflicts of perceptions in Juba and Khartoum that may lead to military confrontation. Because the question will arise as to who absorb the other!
He was also reported as suggesting to his colleagues in SPLM – IO the change of that name, but did not indicate what name he preferred. These remarks or press statements are important. The present writer has on many occasions call for the change of the name “South Sudan”. He has advanced a number of reasons for the call for change of the name of the Republic. He also urged the rewriting of the National Anthem and the designing of a new Flag for the new Republic. Various justifications have been put forward as defences for the calls for changes.
In respect of reforms this writer has made several suggestions for political reforms and electoral system reforms with stress on proportional representation rather than Winner – take all, or the plurality system.
This article will focus on Dr Machar call for change of the name of his current political organization. The article will extend the call to cover all political organizations in SS, including SPLM assili, whose Chairman is now the President of the Republic of South Sudan – Comrade General Salva Kiir Mayardit.
As all political organizations in SS, including those Armed groups, under different appellations and objectives, prepare for elections that will take place after the restoration of peace and after the Transitional Period, all of them must undergo comprehensive reforms. The reforms will enable them to adjust to the changing situations and to be able to cope up with the dynamics of politics and economics. The reforms should be complete and cover all aspects of efficiency for all political organizations that are preparing to work under the environments of democratic movements and changes.
What does reform mean and entail for SS? An effective reform means change for the better as conceived by the propagandists of Reformation. It means improvement, betterment or rehabilitation or amendment. All aspects of an organization has to undergo improvement to make the organization efficient and responsive to public demands for the delivery of services without discrimination. Reform should touch on all organs of an organization, be it political, social, military or civic. It should also affect the Constitution, regulations or other legal instruments of that organization. Reform is a drastic process of change, it’s done deliberately for the common good.
For political parties and organizations in SS reform entails the following:
To attain revolutionary Reformation a number of factors should be taken into account:
SS can progress in peace if leaders agree on certain minimum requirements of democratic governance: an agreed constitution, an independent and impartial judiciary, a representative national defence forces, a responsive executives, an independent Elections body responsible to the legislatures, a true federal governance that fosters socio – economic transformation and political stability, and alert civic organizations and media as watch – mechanisms in matters of governance and the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. It’s tough but must be undertaken.
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