An unwarranted attack on South Sudan

I would like to address The Sentry Report founders, George Clooney and John Prendergast, and their September 2016 report on South Sudan, “War Crimes Shouldn’t Pay^[1].”

The people of South Sudan have enjoyed the long relationship we have had with America. This cannot be spoiled by those who want to destroy our newborn, independent country. I trust and believe in America as a land of opportunities and justice. America has given hope and life to many innocent people in the world, thanks to its wise and strong leadership. South Sudan’s independence was achieved in part through the support of America, especially President George W. Bush and his administration. Condoleezza Rice was wonderful to us, and I will not forget the contribution of Ambassador Susan Page.

South Sudan is a young country trying to survive as other countries have when they received their independence. It sometimes feels like trying to swim in a pool of enemies who are trying to drown us. Nevertheless, I am convinced that it is not other countries who want to destroy us, but rather misguided, misinformed individuals, such as those behind this Sentry report.

We have not forgotten where we came from—the Arab North killed nearly all my early childhood friends. I have been surrounded by blood and death since my birth. The fifty-year struggle is ongoing; just when we think things are going to be good for us at long last, some individuals who have no idea what we have endured or who we are try to destroy us by writing “reports” such as the one in The Sentry. It was not through corruption that peace was achieved; it was through hard work, commitment, sacrifice, choosing life over death, and a willingness to achieve what we all believe in—independence and freedom for our people.

When I discovered that my name was in the Sentry’s report only because my father is General Paul Malong Awan, I wondered if this could happen in America. Would Chelsea Clinton be held responsible for her father’s misdeeds? Conversely, could she take credit for his being a good, wise leader in the world? My dad is a freedom fighter. He is not corrupt. He is honest, patriotic and compassionate. He cannot eat while others are suffering. Through his wise leadership, we have a nation today. The one mention of my name in the report is in a caption under a picture taken in 2005 and posted by a friend on Facebook. My dear Sentry team, Facebook is not the best place to do your research. Where are the facts? Your report is destroying the image the South Sudanese have had of the American people as good friends of South Sudan. And how does talking about the family concern politics? It is the culture and the norm for South Sudanese men to marry as many wives as they want and as they can afford—just as divorce seems to be the norm in America.

South Sudan is a fertile land of 80% aerobic soil, good for farming. Scientists once said, “If you plant a nail it will grow.” It is a land full of all kinds of resources, but they are not yet tapped. I love my country. I wrote three books that were published in Africa: The Theatre of Hope, Heirs of Fallen Heroes, and the pamphlet, Patriotism: South Sudan My Country. The American version of these books is an anthology titled Why South Sudan Matters. It was released this month.

As I write this article, I am a State Minister of Agriculture, Animal Resources, Fisheries and Forestry due to the trust put upon me by the people of the state.

I believe that the Sentry report was not written from a white man’s reasoning. I can see tribalism in it; a South Sudanese tribal man who is writing such a report with bitterness and a desire for revenge; someone who wants to see South Sudan become unstable and fall. It is based on opinion, not on facts.

John Prendergast, George Clooney, and the whole Sentry team, you owe us an apology.

Garang Malong  Awan is the author of the recently U.S. published book, Why South Sudan Matters. Raised in a country constantly at war where many childhood friends were killed before his eyes, he still  has hope for South Sudan.

The views expressed by authors are their own and not the views of The Hill.

References

1. ^{^} War Crimes Shouldn’t Pay (thesentry.org)