Collo’s dignity must be restored in South Sudan’s politics

By Jwothab Othow

November 6, 2025

The current generation of the Collo people must remember the sacrifices made by the founders of the Collo Kingdom in defending this land, who shed their blood to establish the nation we inherited. They wouldn’t have succeeded if they had been driven by selfish ambition, unlike many in today’s Collo generation, who prioritize personal desires over a shared vision and objectives for our society. I firmly believe the Collo people can regain their dignity amidst the current political crisis in South Sudan by defining a common purpose and share vision for the Collo nation. This is crucial for the Collo society to flourish, develop, and prosper. We must avoid identity politics and selfish ambitions that undermine the collective interest of the Collo people. Restoring our dignity requires an effective leaders and transparent leadership committed to the core objectives and common interest of the Collo society. We need effective, trustworthy leaders who prioritize the interests of the Collo people and provide real value to all citizens. Collo needs leaders who are transparent, accountable, and people-focused. It’s vital that the Collo people utilize their education not just for personal gain, but for the advancement of the Collo Kingdom. Education should be used to benefit our society’s welfare, such as improving healthcare, education, and economic productivity, and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone to thrive.

It’s crucial for current and future Collo political leaders to avoid destructive infighting driven by personal ambition. Such negative competition benefits no one. The marginalization of Collo leaders today in modern South Sudan’s politics since 2005, when the SPLM took power, can be attributed to this very issue: Collo politicians engaging in self-serving rivalries. This ultimately leads to losses for everyone. It’s time for the Collo community to reclaim its standing by abandoning this selfish pursuits–Collo versus Collo. I firmly believe that when Collo works together towards shared goals, they succeed. Conversely, when personal ambition dictates the actions of political leaders, the Collo people suffer. This unchecked, self-serving ambition, often detached from reality, must be addressed. For Collo to regain its honor and rightful standing in South Sudan’s political landscape, Collo needs to revamp its fundamental political approach. Collo must redefine their core political strategy to prioritize the common good and restore their dignity within South Sudan’s current political landscape.

There are reports and evidence suggest a discrepancy between the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, which aimed to revert the country to 10 states based on the January 1, 1956, boundaries, but the reality on the ground are totally different The evidence indicates that the boundaries are still based on the 32 states, not the 10 outlined in the agreement. It’s apparent that the South Sudanese government is hesitant to fully implement the 2018 agreement. For instance, in Upper Nile State, the government struggles to adhere to the January 1, 1956, boundaries, particularly concerning tribal disputes, such as the Collo’s boundary disagreements with neighboring communities, allegedly supported by both Juba and Upper Nile State governments. Within the Collo community, there’s a prevailing view that Collo members residing in neighboring areas must return to Piny Collo. They believe that if they don’t return within the next decade, the new settlers from neighboring communities occupying Collo land will become permanent inhabitants.

For the Collo to return to Piny Collo, a comprehensive security plan is essential to ensure the safe return of Collo civilians. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with the Collo community to determine how to secure and protect the return of their people to Piny Collo. President Kiir’s statement, “I will not send the army or police to intervene in inter-communal conflicts,” further emphasizes the importance of self-reliance in this situation. He stated he will only support the community that flees to Juba. Therefore, the security of Collo civilians and their return to Piny Collo necessitates the Collo community taking responsibility for their own security within the Collo Kingdom. Therefore, it is important for the Collo’s security, to ensure the protection of the Collo kingdom and people, to maintain our values and cultural heritage and provide prosperity for the Collo Kingdom and its people. Collo land’s plight should unite the Collo people and galvanize their fight against illegal occupation.

Today, some individuals within South Sudan’s current political landscape, who happen to be Collo, prioritize personal gain by acting against the interests of the Collo community. This unethical behavior, driven by selfish ambition, ultimately harms the Collo people, as it places individual desires above the collective good. Political aspirations fueled by personal interests and disregarding evidence often lead to failure. Since 2005, some Collo political figures have worked against the community’s interests, resulting in the current marginalization of Collo leaders in South Sudanese politics. A call for action to ended the political marginalization of the Collo in South Sudan and restores their dignity. Therefore, the Collo community must reassess and develop new strategies to regain its standing in the current crisis. Healthy political competition among Collo politicians shouldn’t undermine the community’s interests for selfish gain. The goal is to bring back the dignity of our people in South Sudan, who have been pushed aside politically. Therefore, it is my honest belief that Collo dignity must be restored in South Sudan’s politics. We must abandon self-serving political competition that is out of touch with reality and the needs of our people, and that lacks regard for the common good. Such politics is a destructive force that must cease.

May God bless the Collo Kingdom!