It's said that a "scapegoat" is a person who is being "blamed and punished" for the sins and crimes of others as a way of distracting attention from the real causes. Whenever something happens in the south GoSS always blames SPLM-DC, NCP and other militias.
As a matter of fact, the new elites of ruling SPLA\M are mismanaging the resources and playing dirty politics among themselves.
For instance, when the some officials and generals looted the Nile Commercial Bank (NCB), it collapsed. Why does a public servant or an army general consider the national funds his daily pocket money? If some public servants and army generals have decided to eat the widow' food, drink the orphan's milk and starve the martyr's family to death, where is the responsible leadership for enforcing the rule of law? Who should be blamed for the embezzlement?
Lt. General Athor's rebellion
The background of Gen Athor's rebellion is the power struggle between Khorfulus and Atar communities from Genglei State over the headquarters of the county. To exacerbate the matter, Lt .General George Athor contested for governorship post in the last election, but he didn't concede the result of the election. On the contrary, Gier Chang Alwong, who merged as winner in the newly established county known as Canal asserted his power and leadership by trying to eliminate Lt. General Athor. Who should be blamed in this situation of power struggle?
Politics of Ethnicity
During the war against Khartoum's regimes 1983-2005, the southerners were united regardless of their ethnic diversity. But as SPLA/M started ruling the south the divisive slogans e.g. ‘We are the liberators' and ‘we brought the peace' are becoming rational justifications for the unprecedented political domination. The supposed national government is formed according to tribal seize not the leadership abilities. As a result of such a highly tribalized environment, corruption, nepotism and conflict of interest have flourished within the government institutions.
More importantly, our political situation nowadays could be summed up in the Arabic saying "I and my brother against my cousin and I and my cousin against the stranger." An example of that toxic-ethnicity a SPLA general has made a public statement that Lt. General Athor, is "a brother and a colleague" who shouldn't be fought. Only SPLM-DC is implicated in the events to cover up the politics of ethnicity which has plagued the south.
Tribalized SPLA Forces
In light of the recent fighting in Malakal town, SPLA has shown itself beyond any doubts that it is not a "national army of the south." Indeed, it is becoming a tribal tool for implementing of ethnic cleansing policies. The atrocities that were committed against the local population of Panyikang County were shocking, horrible and inhumane. In other words, the systematic killings of young people and boys are horrific crimes against humanity that amount to a genocide.
A German poet and pastor who was a victim of Nazis wrote about Holocaust against Jews that "First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out -because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out -because I was not a socialist. Then they came for me -and there was no one left to speak out for me." (Martin Niemoeller).
Unfortunately, last year 2010, during the so-called "arm disarmament" innocent young people were fire squadded in Kodok County simply because of their tribal backgrounds. No one has spoken out about that "hideous massacre of the young people." Now the same scenario of targeting the young people is taking place in Panyikang County. Consequently, there is a growing belief among the people in Panyikang County that a paramilitary within SPLA is deliberately torturing and killing the Chollo villagers in the County. If there are paramilitary units within the SPLA divisions whose tasks are the physical extermination and grabbing the community lands of other tribes in the south. Then it is a matter of time before SPLA disintegrates into tribal armies. President Thomas Sankara once warned that "a military without political training is a potential criminal." It is no coincidence that, SPLA inflected abuses on the innocent civilians, because the tribal indoctrination among the rank-and-file is a predominant deviance.
Insecurity in Malakal
Typically, the prevailing insecurity in Malakal town and around it needs to be addressed by GoSS. Many serious fightings took place in the town without Juba's elites taking any action. They only reacted by deploying ill-disciplined SPLA forces and other tribal paramilitary units to terrorise the civilians and grab their land. Whilst, official spokesmen are busy blaming Khartoum's regime? Who raped the girl in Owach village?
Hence; the deployment of SPLA forces among the civilians across the Chollo-land is a myopic conspiracy by the enemy of the free south of prosperity and equality. Although the local community elders and leaders reported the abuses and atrocities to the governor, Juba's authorities keep deploying the oppressive army to extent the SPLA forces have outnumbered the local populations.
In conclusion, if the land grabbing is not addressed in Upper Nile State as well as in other states in southern Sudan. Soon or later the insecurity and moral-panic will engulf the entire south. Furthermore, SPLAM as a political organisation must stop practising leadership as an art of blaming and dehumanising others.
If the current oligarchy leaders in Juba will not look at themselves critically, the anarchy will prevail then "Hyenas and Foxes" will take the South into Somaliaization instead of the "Promised Land of prosperity and equality". The End.
Daniel Ater Deng is a concerned southerner who can be contacted at
Newer articles:
- Support for that idea of Uncle Ustaz/Hon. James Ogilo Agor, but..!!! - 11/04/2011 01:00
- Chollo, cut a long story short - 10/04/2011 01:00
- Unpredictable future of Republic of South Sudan - 09/04/2011 09:14
- Constitution under review is SPLM owned project - 06/04/2011 01:00
- Politics and Transition in the New South Sudan - 05/04/2011 01:00
Older news items
- The People of South Sudan Reject Dr. Adwok Nyaba's False Allegations Against Dr. Riek Machar - 03/04/2011 01:00
- SMOKING GUNS IN MALAKAL - 02/04/2011 01:00
- A comment on DR. Nyaba's comment on Mr. Paulino - 01/04/2011 01:00
- BARI COMMUNITY PETITION FOR THE RELOCATION OF THE NEW CAPITAL OF SOUTHERN SUDAN AWAY - 31/03/2011 01:00
- Collo members in SPLM and GOSS wage a traitorously media war against their own Kingdom. - 31/03/2011 01:00
Latest news items (all categories):
- Corruption Perceptions Index 2024, South Sudan slides to bottom overtaking Somalia - 11/02/2025 11:17
- Vacancy Announcements - UNICEF South Sudan (11/02/2025) - 11/02/2025 10:49
- President Salva Kiir sacks two vice presidents and others in a decree today (10/02/2025) - 10/02/2025 19:36
- South Sudan parties adjourn talks in Kenya - 10/02/2025 16:24
- South Sudan becomes 22nd African country to be affected by mpox - 10/02/2025 16:21
Random articles (all categories):
- Investment Conference Sparks Interest in South Sudan - 10/12/2013 12:25
- Women Build Pathways to Peace in South Sudan - 12/01/2016 17:25
- POLITICAL TORPEDO HITS SPLM HULK. - 19/04/2010 16:44
- In South Sudan, Massacre of 3,000 Is Reported - 05/01/2012 05:48
- Analysis: Year post-coup, cracks in Sudan's military junta - 24/10/2022 01:42
Popular articles:
- The Final Communique of SPLM-DC Third Session of the National Council - 29/03/2011 01:00 - Read 76170 times
- Roles and Definition of Political Parties - 29/04/2011 01:00 - Read 61211 times
- Agriculture in Southern Sudan: Challenges and Investment Opportunities - 06/10/2010 01:45 - Read 42344 times
- Fashoda Youth Forum Rehabilitation of Drainage Culverts in Malakal town Report - 07/08/2008 16:22 - Read 33641 times
- Dozens of gunmen on horseback ambush peacekeepers - 24/05/2008 13:47 - Read 26823 times