Opinion: My Position on the Ongoing Conflict Between Dr. Riek Machar and Gen. Gatwech Dual

By Zechariah James Machar (Zee MACHAR),

Aug 11, 2021 — On December 15, 2013, the regime in Juba decided to massacre the Nuer, with the help of some prominent Nuer Community members. Among those who survived the Nuer annihilation attempt were those who rushed to UN protection sites, as well as those who took up arms and fled fighting for survival.

Among those fighting for survival were those working to bring the perpetrators of the December 15th Genocide to justice and to ensure South Sudan’s democratic reform. Some saw this as an opportunity to advance to higher political and military positions; the majority of these people were successful.

On April 17, 2014, the SPLM/A-IO was declared a People’s Movement at the Nassir Consultative Conference, and Dr. Riek Machar was named Chairman and Commander in Chief. We’ve seen political and military members of the movement leave since 2014, as if they tried every possible avenue to address their concerns and were ignored.

Personally, I’ve never heard of another Consultative Conference like Nassir’s to evaluate our progress and the performance of individuals, including the Chairman and Commander in Chief of the SPLM/A-IO. This makes me wonder about the intentions of those leaving the movement prior to hosting such a meeting to appropriately weigh supporters of the cause and supporters of personalities.

I support the cause and the legitimate leader who has been nominated to lead the movement since 2014. This is not to say that I am not concerned about how our Movement is being handled or how the Peace Treaty is being selectively implemented with the full knowledge of the Chairman and the Commander in Chief.

One of my primary concerns is how critical issues threatening the Party’s survival are being dealt with. Almost every ex-member of the movement was influenced by one or more of these issues. I strongly advise the leadership to take notes and figure out a better way to resolve these internal issues if we truly want to shorten our journey to the destined quest, which we all hope to reach together in unity under the leadership of Dr. Riek Machar.

It’s not in our best interests to split up into small groups and then return to Juba where we were pursued in 2013. As a result, I urge all South Sudanese, particularly the Nuer, to reconcile, unite, and implement the peace agreement signed on September 12, 2018.

YOUTH OF SOUTH SUDAN 

My message to you is to recognize who is dying on both sides of the warring party; aren’t these the same youth who are being slaughtered by the regime and his foreign alliance? Why do our leaders always choose to flaunt their biceps at the expense of innocent youth who should be busy building a Country for themselves and their children?

To the young South Sudanese intellectuals, I say you and I will be held accountable one day for underestimating our ability to put an end to this madness. Remember, we’re the ones who’ve been given orders to fight this pointless war.

The good news is that we will no longer have an excuse to deny our role in our Community’s destruction because some of us have obtained the education required to read about how other nations in the world managed to control wars and prioritize peace and dialogue.

Some of you may argue that only a minority of people had access to education; the judge will ask why you didn’t listen to the few who were wise at the time.

Those of you who are celebrating this madness should be aware that there is no winner in this war. We must all collaborate to bring the leaders together if we are to achieve our ultimate goal of long-term peace and stability in South Sudan.

Every living being prioritizes peace; anyone who thinks otherwise is delusory. All we ask is a GUARANTEED PRACTICAL PATH to long-term PEACE and UNITY. There is no need to rush. 

This is my position.

Zechariah James Machar (Zee MACHAR), is a political activist residing in Egypt you can reach him through zee4yo@yahoo.co.uk

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