THE DANGER OF ETHNIC POLITICS IN SOUTH SUDAN

 

THE DANGER OF ETHNIC POLITICS IN SOUTH SUDAN

By: Philemon Daud Tom 

One can conclude the leaders of South Sudan are appointed to divide and loot national resources that should have been used for infrastructural development to elevate citizen life expectancy that largely depends on humanitarian compassion. The journey of former liberators from freedom fighters to the realities of corruption, resources mismanagement and tribalism governance that become a norm continues to test the nation’s character and ability to resolve conflict that divided the people of South Sudan in ethnic line. They deceived South Sudanese for beautiful slogan of freedom, justice and equality which their behaviours indicate how they lost direction from freedom fighters ideals to tyranny ethnic identity governance.

 For many decades of struggle and sacrifices that waged by the people of South Sudan, committed to the ideals of liberation, freedom, justice, equality and end to racial marginalization against South Sudanese by then Sudan government in which led to the separation of South Sudan; one envisioned should be an inclusive place for all its citizens, but Yet, the hope for independence soon became the nightmare for ethnic divisions, politics of exclusion, corruption, nepotism, tribalism and lack of strategic political objectives to transform South Sudan into place to call home. Millions of South Sudanese lives have been directly or indirectly destroyed by the government that they supported during the days of liberation struggle in which no one expected the freedom fighters turned guns on their own people.

As soon as the former South Sudan freedom fighters assumed positions of power in the newborn nation, the lines between national expectations and tribal allegiance began to be fogy. The revolutionary spirit of liberation that once united marginalized South Sudan communities under a common interest is overshadowed by the tribalists sectarian interest group. They divided South Sudanese in ethnic line, promoted police state and destroyed peaceful coexistence by abusing state power to humiliate their political opponents and target citizens based on ethnic classifications.

This shift from a liberation objective to tribalism governance has consequences that affect social fabric of South Sudanese society. Government institutions that supposed to serve the national interest have been controlled to serve only the interest of tribalists and selective ethnic group that weakening the foundation of nation building. Famous slogan of liberation struggle which chanting “New Sudan vision” that promised unity, justice, equality and prosperity has become a symbol of disgrace and nightmare for the people of South Sudan. It is a sad reality that the political appointments, resource allocation, and even the administration of justice and key government positions have currently not been dictated by merit or national interest but more by the dynamics of tribal affiliation. After independence, expectation was high to build South Sudan that reflects on democratic governance in which freedom, equality, justice, rule of law, respect of human right, social and economic development should be the core values that destroyed by the ethnic elites associated with the state.

The consequences of ethnic identity government established by the former freedom fighters in South Sudan, created huge mistrust, political instability, insecurity, internal displacement and unwanted civil war in a Country whereby tribal elites captured the state power and target some ethnic groups as revenge for their historical grievances. The action of cartels in Juba one betrays the sacrifices of South Sudanese that died for the ideals that united them to fight for the liberation of South Sudan from old Sudan political marginalization.   

To make South Sudan as an inclusive and better place, political leaders should reconsider the spirit of dialogue and reconciliation by placing the collective good above ethnic interests. Genuine dialogue, reconciliation, inclusive governance and the strengthening of national identity are not mere expectations, they are necessities for the Country survival and progress. Only by moving beyond the shadows of tribalism can South Sudan fulfill its original promises to be a nation where freedom is not a privilege of the few, but the right of all citizens. Former liberators betrayed expectations of South Sudanese by leading them from ideals of liberation struggle to politics of ethnic identity confusions which’s destroying social fabric of society.

The rise of ethnic governance in South Sudan, shaped by the very freedom fighters once celebrated for their resilience, is now utter persistent rhetoric of ethnic targeting. Aftermath of independence, the aspiration was to forge national unity, equality, and justice as guiding stars for national healing and reconciliation; yet liberation promise has been steadily collapsed by a descent into politics of ethnic identity where governance is wielded as an instrument to divide rather than unite.

The transition from revolutionary ideals of liberation struggle to sovereign nationhood was meant to create a new era. However, as former freedom fighters absorbed power, the boundaries between national interest and tribal allegiance faded. The government institutions that supposed to become the backbone of an inclusive democracy, became battlegrounds for ethnic dominance and corruptions. Political appointments, resource allocations, and the government key positions have increasingly distributed to ethnic affiliation in which eroding the very ideals and principles for which so many South Sudanese sacrificed and died.

The government is now associated with political elites of tribal interest groups which they have been accused of abusing state power not only to maintain law and order but to police state and punish political opponents along ethnic lines.

This political leadership dynamic in Juba encourages the targeting of some ethnic groups deemed to be an enemy of the state and execute retribution for perceived historical grievances that become a tool to reinforce their political ethnic control. The abuse of power to humiliate political opponents and identification of citizens through the narrow lens of ethnic classification is a betrayal of the liberation ideals that South Sudanese sacrificed and voted for separation.

Such policy of ethnic profile targeting is not merely a political misstep, but it creates wounds that continues to destroy social fabric of South Sudanese society that undermines peaceful coexistence, sows’ seeds of mistrust and divisions.

As tribal elites captured the state power, they perpetuate cycles of violence, insecurity and instability and implemented ethnic policy to divide communities that were once stood together in pursuit of total reforms find themselves targeted, isolated, suspicious, and sometimes openly victimized by the government system that supposed to protect them.

Danger of ethicized governance institutions has a huge consequence of creating communities’ violence, instability and insecurity that become threat to state-building, risk national fragmentation and fear disintegration of the nation. These ethnic elites captured the state palace and made slogan of “one people and one nation”, unity and equality as an emblem of disappointment and disgrace.

For South Sudan to eradicate ethnic politics that captured the state, it must consider radical reform of the government institutions, detach security sectors from politics, enact permanent constitution, enforce law and order for justice and accountability. Genuine reconciliation can only be achieved by dismantling tribal loyalties and embracing an inclusive national identity.

The distributions of power, resources management, allocation of positions and governance institutions must be guided by merit that promote common good for national interests. Until the government of South Sudan recommits itself to protecting all citizens, regardless of their tribe’s background, the path to lasting peace and prosperity will remain the struggle.  Only by dismantling the structures of ethnic politics and fostering genuine politics of inclusion which make every South Sudanese have the right to pursue opportunities without privilege of uncles’ recommendations.

                                                                                        

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