By Nhial Gatkuoth Chung,
July 9th, 2019(Nyamilepedia) — Millions of South Sudanese people made priceless contributions and sacrifices during the protracted civil war for independence; notwithstanding those who took up arms to face a more superior enemy heads-on, the civil population in the rural areas in the then Southern Sudan, who were largely farmers and cattle keepers, fed our gallant forces from the Anyanyas to the SPLAs from their subsistence produces, especially their cattle and their little agricultural products. Those who lived in towns, rooked up deadly jobs by clandestinely providing intelligence about the activities and the moves of the enemy; they voluntarily sacrificed and persuaded their beloved children to join war of liberation for total independence of South Sudan hoping that such sacrifices will one day pay off; however, as the current elites-turned-aliens seem to have forgotten what befell the black Sudanese-Africans to have a country called South Sudan today, the hopes to establish the promised land, full of milk and honey in what is now South Sudan, are dwindling.
Having exhausted the enemy both through military means and diplomatic relations, South Sudanese collectively turned out in overwhelming numbers to decide their fates through an internationally monitored referendum in January 2011 and as a result the young nation hoisted a new flag on July 9th 2011. With the exception of less than one percent that voted in favor of Unity, South Sudanese wholeheartedly voted for separation little did they know that a few greedy politicians would scramble over the resources and power and turned what was expected to be a blessing into a nightmare. Four years later the young nation could not afford to commemorate her independence while Sudan and other countries that attained their independence over 50 years earlier continued to cherish and celebrate their independence.
Retrospectively, our people were united against Arab of Northern Sudan for the common goal of having a sovereign state where every citizen would have their socio-economics and political freedom, equality, justice and access to basic amenities and fundamental rights and freedoms.
In 2013, our hopes and expectations for prosperous independence state were undermined by the same leaders who waged the liberation war to free us from bondage of slavery under Sudan repressive regime. As we are observing our Eighth independence anniversary, many South Sudanese are still losing their lives innocently, thousands more are crossing borders for the search of protection and security and thousands more are sheltering in precarious situation in UN various camps inside the country. War, displacement, hunger and death are the order of the day in the republic of South Sudan. Are Those the peace dividends we expected from our Independence?????
At the back of our minds, if the current situation we are facing was foreseen a few years ahead, the majority of South Sudanese would have voted for unity or opted to delay the referendum in order to mitigate or revert the current civil war.
Yesterday, the 8th of July, was the day when the 2015 peace agreement (ARCISS) was abrogated and thrown into a dustbin as the elites opted to litter our hard earned independence with more blood. May the souls of those who died during and after the J1 dogfight rest in peace.
With that being said, we appeal to our leaders to relinquish their self importance to have a political will and compromise for the sake of this great nation.
Peace, unity and reconciliation for the people of South Sudan..
Happy independence day 9July
The author, Nhial Gatkuoth Chung, is a concerned South Sudanese citizen. He can be reached through his email at nhialnyarok@gmail.com
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