Africa-Press – South-Sudan. South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s liberation Movement (SPLM) was a movement that fought successive regimes based in Khartoum, the capital of what was a united Sudan, for around 21 years with fundamental human rights for the people of Southern Sudan being instrumental and in the epicenter of the reasons behind the Sudanese civil wars.
On 9th January 2005, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (also short-named as CPA) was signed by the Sudanese government and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/SPLA) under late Dr. John Garang De Mabior who, based on the terms of the CPA, became the first vice president in Khartoum and the president of the semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS).
The Transitional Government of National Unity provided for in the CPA was formed, marking the end of a deadly decade not only for the Southern Sudanese, but for also other citizens from Darfur and Eastern Sudan.
Five years after the signing of the CPA, elections were eventually conducted in 2005 and ended with the election of President Salva Kiir Mayardit as the president of the government of southern Sudan. President Omar al Bashir was also elected in a contentious elections disputed by opposition groups including the SPLM.
Less than a year on, the referendum provided in the Comprehensive Agreement was conducted with southern Sudanese opting – by a landslide – to choose a country of their own instead of remaining as part of Sudan. The results of the referendum were publicized on February 7, 2011 – just exactly five months before the south became an independent state – with 98.8% opting for separation.
Just before South Sudan could become the world’s youngest country on July 9, 2011, the country’s leaders never had the prior preparations for important symbols of what would be the Republic of South Sudan following the referendum.
One of the first failures of the SPLM party, the new ruling group in South Sudan, was to look down to designing of a new country flag instead of the party flag. The SPLM flag’s endorsement as the country’s flag is a testament that the ruling party stills sees itself as the liberator that should never be replaced by any other South Sudanese political organization.
After independence, SPLM party exist only like any other national political organization that could compete in elections and the mischievous mentality by its leaders to take the whole country as a property of the party has culminated in the ongoing suffering of our citizens, as well as our army which has deceived or compelled to be an army of the party.
If SPLM believe that it is the hero of the liberation, then they are wrong, It is the innocent South Sudanese who has contributed for the most part. Citizens have given their kids to fight, they have offered their food, their properties and their comfort to make sure that they have a country in which they would be the first-class citizen.
While it is true that the SPLM has led the war, it is not an excuse for them to continue to hold the country hostage to tight their grip on power and perpetuate corruption, killing and other gross human rights abuses. The SPLM take it flag and led South Sudanese unveil a flag for their own country.
In conclusion, I call upon the youth of South Sudan not to be used as sycophants by one of the ruthless ruling parties of the 21st century. They must live a life of liberation so we are freed from the SPLM and have a free and democratic society. The SPLM in all its forms (SPLM-IG, SPLM-IO, Real SPLM, and SPLM-FDs) must go for South Sudan to get freedom.
Instead of praising failed, corrupt and murderous leaders, we should instead teach our people how meaningful is it that people solve their problems in a peaceful manner in spite of using state power to kill, and silent dissent.
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