South Sudan @10: It is not yet uhuru

By Harold Acemah

On Friday, July 9, the government and people of the Republic of South Sudan marked the 10th anniversary of independence. There was frankly nothing to celebrate. It is not yet uhuru.

Ten years ago on Saturday, July 9, 2011, a ceremony was held at Juba’s mausoleum for John Garang, a pan-Africanist and great leader of the people of South Sudan, at which the speaker of the South Sudan Legislative Assembly, James Wani Igga, read out the Proclamation of Independence.Thousands of jubilant people, including foreign heads of state and other dignitaries, witnessed as Sudan’s national flag was lowered and the new flag of the Republic of South Sudan was raised while a military band played the national anthem of South Sudan. 

The atmosphere was electric as wananchi cheered the birth of Africa’s youngest nation led by Gen Salva Kiir who took oath of office as the first president.Unlike Uganda which achieved independence more or less on a silver platter, the independence of South Sudan was achieved after decades of bitter, bloody and protracted war of liberation which cost an estimated 1.5 million lives.

The struggle of the gallant sons and daughters of South Sudan for human dignity, self-determination and independence reminds of many friends who never gave up or gave in to the oppressor. I would like to pay tribute to them and dedicate this opinion to their memory. Among them, Rev Clement Janda (RIP), who died on March 8; Dr Dunstan Wai (RIP), a graduate of Harvard University, who like me, was a political scientist; Mr William Deng Deng, who is a fellow alumnus of the University of Toronto and Major Kenyi who left a comfortable life in Canada in the 1990s to join the liberation struggle. I am not sure whether Kenyi is alive or not. They are heroes of the struggle.

Before he passed on at Arua City, Rev Janda shared with me his concerns about the future of South Sudan, a country whose future is bleak and uncertain. The high hopes and great expectations which many Ugandans had in South Sudan have regrettably been dashed.Internal conflicts and tribulations of South Sudan are a matter of deep concern not only to the South Sudanese, but also to millions of Ugandans.

Way forwardThe predicament of South Sudan is not a military problem. It’s fundamentally a political problem. Hence a credible, durable, just, lasting and viable solution must be political in nature. Just like Uganda, the problems of South Sudan cannot and will not be solved by the barrel of the gun.

I believe that one of the challenges facing South Sudan is the absence of good governance and lack of good and effective political leadership at the national level. The incumbent may be a good soldier, but with all due respect Gen Salva Kiir is, in my opinion, not the right political leader South Sudan needs and deserves. I say this frankly as a genuine friend of the people of South Sudan who have suffered enough and deserve a lot better.

South Sudan is a country blessed by God with abundant and numerous natural resources which cannot be fully harnessed and tapped unless there is peace, good governance and political stability. In this regard, IGAD, AU, UN and development partners should urgently assist in efforts to identify and groom good political leaders of integrity for South Sudan who can guide the country and steer the ship of state in the right direction.Mr Acemah is a political scientist and retired career This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.