Yanta Daniel Elisha
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The month of May marks significant events in global and local history, including, among others, International Labour Day on May 1st, the death of Osama bin Laden on May 2nd, 2011, World Press Freedom Day on May 3rd, 1993, Victory Day in Europe when Germany surrendered to mark the end of World War II on May 8th, 1945, Victory Day in Russia on May 9th—a national holiday commemorating the surrender of Nazi Germany during World War II—Alan Shepard becoming the first American in space on May 5th, 1961, piloting the spacecraft Freedom 7 during a 15-minute suborbital flight, and Dr. Edward Jenner’s development of the smallpox vaccine on May 14th, 1796, introducing the concept of vaccination. Locally, May 16th marks the initiation of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) in 1983. Who was the enemy of the SPLA/M?
May is a month of struggles, surrenders, defeats, and victories. What does South Sudan have in store? Who is the enemy of South Sudan?
South Sudan’s status quo provokes scholars who read An Enemy of the People, a play by Henrik Ibsen published in 1882, to reflect on the question, “Who is the enemy in An Enemy of the People?”
The story revolves around two brothers: Dr. Thomas Stockmann, a physician who discovers that the water supply system in a spa town is contaminated with typhoid bacteria, and Peter Stockmann, the municipality mayor in charge of governing affairs, who is overwhelmed with personal interest.
Dr. Stockmann’s findings are met with resistance from the town’s authorities and business leaders, who prioritize economic interests over public health. Despite the backlash, Dr. Stockmann remains committed to revealing the truth.
“The most dangerous enemy to truth and freedom among us is the compact majority” (Ibsen, Act 4).
Such a quote highlights the tension between individual conviction and collective interests.
“A man’s most important task in life is to give support to his own conscience and to be true to himself” (Ibsen, Act 5).
Dr. Stockmann’s commitment to his principles serves as a powerful example of his firm stance on his discovery and his personal conviction that it is his responsibility to fix the situation.
An Enemy of the People remains a powerful commentary on the human condition, highlighting the importance of individual conviction and the challenges of promoting truth and accountability in the face of entrenched power structures.
In Henrik Ibsen’s play an Enemy of the People, the media plays a significant role in shaping public opinion and influencing the narrative. The newspaper, People’s Messenger, is portrayed as being driven by self-interest and a desire to maintain its power and influence. The media in the play reflects the general state of affairs in the town, often prioritizing popular opinion over truth and accuracy.
The editors of the People’s Messenger, Hovstad and Billing, discuss manipulating the truth to serve their interests, highlighting the media’s potential for bias and propaganda. The media is shown to be more interested in serving the interests of the powerful and influential rather than holding them accountable.
“Every decision Hovstad and Billing make is prompted by appeasing someone who might hurt the newspaper,” highlighting the media’s self-interest and susceptibility to external pressures.
“I don’t want you to think I blame the Doctor for using your columns. After all, every performer goes for the audience that applauds him most” (Act 1, Scene 1).
Such a quote illustrates the media’s focus on appealing to its audience rather than presenting objective truth sometimes.
The media in the play is clearly shown to take sides, prioritizing the interests of the powerful and influential over the truth. The editors of the People’s Messenger are more interested in advancing their own agenda and maintaining their power than in presenting objective truth.
Dr. Stockmann’s attempts to expose the truth about the contaminated water supply system are met with resistance and manipulation by the media, highlighting its role in suppressing dissenting voices. The scenario here indicates the media is at times at a crossroads between being the enemy of the people and the friend of the people.
Bringing the play home, South Sudan’s political landscape is marked by challenges similar to those in the play. The current South Sudanese political leadership, for instance, prioritizes power over people, hence making its own power and interests more important than the welfare of the people.
Government officials and powerful individuals have resisted accountability for human rights abuses and corruption. Courageous individuals and organizations in South Sudan have spoken out against injustices and advocated for human rights and accountability. They are most times referred to as the ‘enemies of the people’.
The play’s themes resonate with South Sudan’s political landscape, where the political leadership’s priorities and accountability remain pressing concerns.
In An Enemy of the People, the characters’ actions and utterances convey powerful themes, which resonate with South Sudan’s political landscape. Dr. Stockmann’s character embodies the theme of truth versus power. His determination to expose the contaminated water, despite resistance, highlights the importance of individual conviction.
“The strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone” (Ibsen, Act 5).
Defection, like in South Sudan’s scenery, is unheard of in the world of principledness in the Norwegian theatre. Dr. Stockmann’s resolve to stand up for truth, even in isolation, is a powerful message.
Peter Stockmann, the mayor, represents the corrupting influence of power and the prioritization of economic interests over public welfare. His actions mirror South Sudanese leadership, which has prioritized personal gain over national interests.
“The minority is always right” (Ibsen, Act 4).
The mayor’s statement here highlights the dangers of authoritarianism and the suppression of dissenting voices.
South Sudan’s political landscape is marked by similar dynamics. The leadership has often prioritized its own power and interests over the welfare of the people. The government has been accused of suppressing dissenting voices and limiting freedom of expression.
The enemy of the people in South Sudan can be seen as he who prioritizes his or her own power and interests over the welfare of the people. Such include the corrupt, who engages in corruption and embezzlement to deprive the country of much-needed resources for public service delivery and development.
He who suppresses dissenting voices, like the security operative who limits freedom of expression and suppresses opposition voices, is in the category of the enemy of South Sudan.
The greatest enemy of South Sudan is its own internal dynamic actor, who often fuels ethnic and personal interests. The 2013 conflict between President Salva Kiir and his former Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, was a prime example of how the internal divider escalates a party-political tension into full-blown violence.
The human, with the aspects of the mind, the body, and the soul, is an enemy to itself. In the body, for example, the hand, the penis, the vagina, or the tongue can be the worst enemy of the whole human system by acting wrongly to damage one’s good reputation and health. So, within oneself, there is an enemy to watch for a better world.
The corrupt with oppressive governance systems and strategies plaguing South Sudan is the enemy. The country’s vast oil wealth fails to translate into tangible benefits for its citizenry because of the corrupt. The corrupt is the enemy of South Sudan.
As former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted,
“Corruption is a curse for any country, but it is particularly devastating for a country like South Sudan, where the need for development is so great.”
The ethnic and identity political player is the enemy of South Sudan, for he has further exacerbated the country’s instability. The manipulator of ethnic differences for political gain has led to violence and displacement, with many civilians caught in the crossfire. He is the enemy of South Sudan.
As Jok Madut Jok, a South Sudanese scholar, observes:
“The politicization of ethnicity has been a major factor in the country’s instability.”
The dictator is an enemy of South Sudan because he suppresses democratic institutions, freedoms, and human rights to the extent of undermining the country’s development and stability. Authoritarian rule or dictatorial rule leads to human rights abuses, corruption, and economic stagnation.
An oppressor is an enemy of South Sudan. An oppressor violates human rights, including freedom, dignity, and equality. Oppression causes suffering, trauma, and long-term psychological impacts on individuals and communities. Oppression creates divisions and conflict, thus undermining social cohesion and stability. An oppressor marginalizes certain groups, limiting their access to resources, opportunities, and power. Oppression stifles progress as marginalized groups are unable to contribute fully to society. Oppression leads to instability, as marginalized groups resist or rebel against the oppressor. Oppression violates fundamental human rights, including dignity, equality, and freedom. Oppression undermines social justice as it perpetuates inequality and marginalization.
A killer is an enemy of South Sudan. A killer causes loss of life, leading to trauma and suffering for families and communities. The killer creates an atmosphere of fear and insecurity, undermining public safety and stability. The killer disregards human life, undermining the rule of law and respect for human rights. The killer often acts with impunity, highlighting a lack of accountability and ineffective justice systems. Killing traumatizes communities, leading to long-term psychological and social impacts. Killing contributes to social and economic instability, particularly in already fragile contexts. Killing violates fundamental human rights, including the right to life. The killer undermines public safety, creating an environment of fear and insecurity.
The cattle raider is an enemy of South Sudan as he leads the country to violence, displacement, and instability, particularly in rural areas. The cattle raider has caused significant economic impacts to the extent of affecting livestock and agricultural production in the country.
A robber is an enemy of South Sudan. A robber causes financial loss to individuals and businesses, contributing to economic instability. Robbery undermines trust in communities and institutions, making it challenging to build stable economic relationships. Robbery creates an atmosphere of fear and insecurity, impacting public safety and well-being. In some cases, robbery leads to displacement and trauma, particularly if it involves violence. Resources, which could be used for development, are often diverted to address the consequences of robbery. High rates of robbery undermine investment and economic growth, as investors may view the environment as unstable. Robbery violates human rights, including the right to security and property. Robbery undermines public safety, thus creating an environment of fear and insecurity.
The warmonger or aggressor is an enemy of South Sudan as he promotes conflict and violence, often for personal or political gain. Warmongering leads to humanitarian crises, displacement, and human suffering.
The propagandist is an enemy of South Sudan as he manipulates information to shape public opinion, often to the extent of promoting divisive or false narratives. The propagandist undermines trust in institutions, media, and information, thus contributing to social divisions.
An egoist is an enemy of South Sudan as he engages in corruption and exploitation, often for personal gain. Greed or egoism leads to economic instability, inequality, and poverty.
The tribalist is an enemy of South Sudan as he promotes division and exclusivity, often prioritizing tribal interests over national unity. Tribalism leads to conflict and instability, particularly in diverse societies like South Sudan.
The traitor is an enemy of South Sudan as he betrays national interests, often collaborating with external forces or engaging in activities which harm the country. A traitor compromises national security to the extent of putting the country and its citizens at risk.
The sycophant is the enemy of South Sudan as he prioritizes flattering those in power over providing honest feedback, hence obstructing good governance and decision-making. A sycophant enables leaders to act with impunity to the extent of undermining accountability and transparency.
The liar is an enemy of South Sudan since he spreads misinformation, deceiving and manipulating the public to the extent of undermining trust in institutions and information. Misinformation contributes to polarization and conflict, particularly in fragile contexts like South Sudan’s. The liar erodes trust in institutions, including government, media, and civil society. The spread of misinformation and lack of accountability undermines social cohesion, leading to divisions and conflict. Sycophancy and dishonesty lead to poor decision-making since it encourages the prioritization of loyalty over merit and accuracy. The spread of misinformation and lack of accountability undermines human rights and freedoms.
A defector is an enemy of South Sudan since he engages in divisive actions, prioritizing personal or group interests over national unity. A defector contributes to instability and conflict, particularly if his action is perceived as a betrayal. The defector compromises national security by revealing sensitive information or collaborating with external forces. The defector weakens institutions, including the military and government, by undermining their integrity and effectiveness. The defector complicates peace negotiations, particularly if his actions undermine the negotiating process. The defector undermines trust between parties, making it challenging to achieve a lasting peace agreement. The defector undermines stability and unity, hence contributing to conflict and division.
The land grabber is an enemy of South Sudan as he causes displacement and human rights abuses. A land grabber often forcibly displaces communities, leading to human rights abuses and loss of livelihoods. A land grabber uses violence and intimidation to acquire land, putting communities at risk. Land grabbing leads to loss of livelihoods for communities, which depend on land for agriculture, livestock, or other economic activities. Land grabbing contributes to economic instability as it leads to disputes and conflict. Land grabbing leads to the destruction of cultural heritage sites and loss of cultural identity for communities. Land grabbing erodes traditional practices and ways of life. Land grabbing often violates human rights, including the right to housing, livelihood, and cultural identity. Land grabbing perpetuates social injustice, particularly for marginalized communities. Organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented cases of land grabbing and its impact on communities in South Sudan. Research papers and articles have explored the impact of land grabbing on communities and the economy. Hence, the land grabber is an absolute enemy of South Sudan.
The collaborator is an enemy of South Sudan as he works with external forces to undermine national interests, often for personal gain. A collaborator can compromise national sovereignty to the extent of undermining the country’s ability to govern itself.
The external actor is yet another enemy of South Sudan. The external actor has played a detrimental role. For instance, some regional and international powers have often pursued their vested interests to exacerbate existing tensions. Such individuals and groups undermine national development, stability, and security. Their actions lead to human rights abuses, displacement, and suffering.
Whoever falls in the category of the enemy, knowingly or unknowingly, is challenged to change immediately to save the country.
The genuine friend of South Sudan is the person or entity with a deep understanding of the country’s struggles and triumphs. He who has demonstrated actions which prioritize the well-being and safety of the people. He who respects and trusts the people and the territory of South Sudan. He who has built consistent and reliable interactions with the South Sudanese. He who has cultural understanding of South Sudan with appreciation and respect for the local customs and values in diversity.
It is essential to recognize that the primary responsibility for the country’s stability lies within its leadership and citizenry.
Having identified the enemy of South Sudan, the next question is, how should we treat the enemy?
The parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15:7 highlights God’s desire for redemption, peace, and reconciliation, which is relevant to the efforts to promote peace and stability in South Sudan.
The treatment of an enemy is a complex issue, which has been debated across various cultures, religions, and moral frameworks.
Jesus teaches, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
The Bible emphasizes forgiveness, as seen in Jesus’ words on the cross:
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
The Quran teaches us to stand for justice and be compassionate, even towards enemies:
“Let not the hatred of a people incite you to act unjustly” (Quran 5:8).
The Quran also emphasizes forgiveness:
“Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that God should forgive you?” (Quran 24:22).
In many African cultures, the philosophy of Ubuntu emphasizes the interconnectedness of humanity. This philosophy encourages treating others, including enemies, with dignity and respect.
African traditions often prioritize reconciliation and forgiveness over revenge. For example, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa aimed to heal the wounds of apartheid through forgiveness and reconciliation.
Contemporary morality emphasizes the importance of human rights and dignity, regardless of whether someone is considered an enemy. Many contemporary moral frameworks prioritize non-violent conflict resolution and encourage empathy, understanding, and forgiveness.
While different traditions and moral frameworks may approach the treatment of enemies in varying ways, many emphasize the importance of love, forgiveness, justice, and compassion.
South Sudanese should embrace and practise love, forgiveness, justice, and compassion for one another, even with the full knowledge of the enemy.
“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).
Let everyone examine self whether one is an enemy of South Sudan in one way or another before stoning anyone to death. “… Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7).
Source: Radio Tamazuj
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