South Sudan - The Lost Identities

               

The process of nation building whose origin is encapsulated in long term peace, positive mental development and high consideration of the human values is embedded in the common identities built by the common man with consideration directed towards the well-being of the people. The two identities are normally visible in the time when human beings are under persecution and are in demand of justice and freedom. The two common identities were and are always the most efficient weapons in bringing tribes and people of different tongues together.

Which are the lost two identities and how significant are these identities?

The two identities are “the national identity” and the “human identity”. The human identity is the bond that always keeps us together because we face many challenges which we need to combat together as human beings like poverty, injustice, diseases, floods, famine etc. and therefore when the human identity is lost, the societies or tribes battle themselves even if they share common tongue just like how it happened in Rwanda during the period of genocide where people speaking the same language or tongue slaughtered themselves as human identity was lost which made hate and vengeance rampant like the water in hot springs.

The loss of human identity brings about selfishness and hatred among human beings and therefore no room for sharing and assistance to one another. Even the families become divided and hateful of themselves. Humanity has no space anymore and human beings become like animals with no sense and wisdom.

The loss of human identity therefore is risky to our lives since there is no sense of peace, justice, mercy or passion for freedom as the societies become wild and hatred reaches its peak. Wars or conflicts become rampant and only God’s intervention is possible to instill calmness and peace among the societies or communities.

The national identity is the uniqueness that keeps people from the same country together for a common objective. The national identity existed among South Sudanese before the independence and during the independence time. Before the independence, South Sudanese seemed to have had common ideas and love among themselves with eagerness on how to build a country that can accommodate the South Sudanese with concentration directed towards justice, liberty and prosperity. The evidence of national identity among the South Sudanese can be realized from the writings of the elites, the songs of the liberation, the 21 years of conflict and the demand for independence.

The national identity that existed or that appeared among the South Sudanese on the independence day July, 9th 2011, couldn’t and can’t be described because people of different tongues like South Sudanese have never gathered together joyous, united and optimistic. On the freedom arena tears, love and sweat for South Sudan appeared to be eternal as the flag was ascending, many felt relieved and hopeful for coming under the governance of their own people who are well aware of their long suffering and pain.

However, the national identity in our country today seems to be fading, simply because the communities have built up various tribal associations in order to solve their problems, tribalism can be witnessed as tribes keep attacking one another and some areas in the country have become known for conflicts. Some elites seem to be attached to their tribes more than the country and the masses seem to be belonging to the traditional communities/villages rather than South Sudan which is the country that accommodates all the South Sudanese. Human identity is also under a big threat as a result of killings and fear the masses face today in various parts of the country.

The two significant identities must therefore be revived in order to have South Sudan directed towards the right path and make unity a reality not an imagination/fiction. By reviving the national identity, all the communities become united and the tribal identity becomes less important than the national identity which directs the country towards peace and stability. Through the revival of the human identity, justice and liberty become vital in our country and the issues of land grabbing, killing and injustices are addressed and eradicated. Therefore the common man becomes hopeful/optimistic and South Sudan becomes our gorgeous home.