By Dr. Peter Adwok Nyaba
April 12, 2017(Nyamilepedia) ——- Thanks for this thought provoking posting. The situation in South Sudan is deteriorating beyond repairs. Having said that, I find this statement “If only we can be sure that the next President will not turn against the Dinka, we would back that person, no matter which ethnic community he or she comes from. As things are, it is difficult to let go of power” rather disturbing.
It smacks of machismo and generates the same and opposite reaction. This is a recipe for self-destruction. I was watching on SSTV yesterday a ceremony celebrating the appointment of the Governor of so-called Central Upper Nile State. The theme was about peace and unity and the issue of Malakal came up.
Most non-Dinka speakers talked of moderation and that Malakal as a town/city belongs to all peace. The so-called Governor in his closing remarks said “No talk about Malakal. It belongs to the Dinka because it was given by President Salva Kiir.” I believe the Dinka have a big problem in their hands.
The Dinka are fighting everywhere in South Sudan albeit out of ignorance to protect the regime. The current situation is not about “Can we consciously make it a commitment to reach across our ethnic divide? “. The damage done transcends reaching across our ethnic divide and therefore requires scientifically based solution.
People did not take me seriously in 2014 or rather squinted from the ideas of the National Democratic revolution. In 2017, South Sudan is in a revolutionary situation whereby the dominant political elite fail to govern and the masses refuse to be governed by an ethnically based kleptocratic totalitarian regime. South Sudan is burning everywhere not because of the power struggle between Salva Kiir and Riek Machar but because the people need better ways of addressing their problems.
No peace agreement based on power sharing and effecting superficial reforms in the system will resolve this deep seated social, economic and political crisis into which South Sudan plunged. We therefore should not continue to think in terms of ethnic solutions or solutions that preserve the hegemony and domination of the Dinka. Kind regards.
Source: Dr. Adwok’s social media
