The current Political situation in Upper Nile State

Please read the article below written by Dinka fellow named Deng Mangok on SPLM-Diaspora forum. Deng is spreading a falsehoods accusation against the entire Chollo community and their leaders.  Thanks...

The current Political situation in Upper Nile State

By:   Deng Mangok

In recent days some leaders of Upper Nile are pressuring for a shake up in the Government of the State. There are no convincing and obvious grounds to persuade the concerned authorities to concede to their demand. However, the incident of January 9, 2009 in Malakal stadium is construed as a pretext for heightening tribal feuds. The cynical objectives aimed at disrupting the Celebration of the 4^th Anniversary of the CPA were glaringly disappointing with multiform effects.

1. It was a pre-planned plot by "Chollo nation"-Shilluk tribe -to expose GoSS leadership for an utter failure in controlling law and order. To prove that South Sudan is simply a bunch of ethnic communities which are at all times at feud with one another. This was to expose the South as ungovernable even by Southerners themselves. The President of GoSS was accompanied by most of his cabinet ministers including the Minister of SPLA Affairs and the Chief of Staff with his top military Generals and all high ranking security Officers. Yet this malicious panorama was uncouthly staged by Chollo community by attacking with spears Nuers and Jieng who arrived first and lined up at the entrance of the stadium.

This was to show it evidently to the President of the Republic and the invited International Representatives to see for themselves and to draw the conclusion that South Sudan can not rule itself as an independent nation.

2. The incident was calculated to prove that "Chollo" owns Malakal and should lead the procession of tribal folklore and no other tribes or ethnic folklore can take the lead beside them. To the Chollo, Malakal is not a cosmopolitan city hosting the headquarters of the State for people all over the Sudan and beyond. They claim that Malakal, Panyikang (Tonga), Pashoda (Kodok) and Manyo (Wada-kono) are their counties.The geographical divisions of Upper Nile state as contained in the legal statutes are:1.Estern region comprises of Nasir and Maiwut 2.Gentral region consists of Baliet and Akoko (including Malakal under Sobat Rural council before it as was transferd to Baliet). 3. Northern region consists of Renk, Malut and Maban. 4. Western region comprising of Kodok and Tonga . When the security forces controlled the situation, the Chollo moved away and started to attack Jieng and any non -Chollo that crossed their way.

As a pre-arranged plot, they attacked Jieng at Anak-diar (Ngok), and Dongjol of Akoko. When those communities effectively defended themselves in those confined areas, the Chollo leaders went wild. Those who were in Malakal led by Dr. Lam Akol collected themselves protested to the Governor and wrote their   protest, which they distributed widely nationally and internationally. The members of Chollo in parliaments from Malakal, Juba, and Khartoum, irrespective of their different political parties united as Chollo across party lines. They met in Malakal and signed a petition accusing Jieng of attacking their people. The Chollo Communities in Diaspora particularly, in the United States of America and Europe led by James Ogilo, and from other continents posted their protests in the internet. Chollo Ministers in GONU and GoSS led by Peter Adwok Nyaba openly cried out in support for the Chollo community and condemned Jieng whom they target to dislodge from their land, east of the Nile , along the Sobat and khorfulus. The Chollo community as a whole continues to mastermind and engineer trouble in those areas.  However, land ownership among African tribes of South Sudan had never been an issue of dispute nor source of conflict.  Land, for the past centuries, was deemed as God's property and all people God put together freely accept one another to co-exist, live interdependently, marry from each other, adopt others' traditions and traits or cultures, participate in their respective religious ceremonies or practices.  Hence, following these principles, members of different ethnic communities live separately on identified parcel of land, known to belong to them.  But any individual(s) from other tribes are implicitly permitted, if they temporarily live on empty land without claiming ownership.  Those members may dwell there forever as long as relationships are cordial.

Now, that the educated Chollo deliberately intend to grab the land of Jieng Padang, along the eastern bank of River Nile; Sobat; and Khorfulus that belong to Abialang of Renk; Ageer and Nyiel of Melut; Dongol of Akoko, Ngok of Baliete; Luac, Thoi and Paweny of Khofulus.

The dispute over land rights is a new phenomenon being generated by economic greed among some of the educated people who have known the value of land when exploited or developed.  The new description of land as "belonging to the community" in the CPA is deliberately misinterpreted by political Leaders and intellectuals who are practicing corruption and nepotism at the leadership level.  The resources that are accrued from underground of the land like oil or other minerals, from the surface like agricultural produces and forestry drive the Leaders to selfish political ambition.  The Leaders acquire most of the profits and benefits.

It is advisable that before hostilities become deeply ingrained and seeds of vengeance degenerate, GoSS should intervene to:-

(i)         Demarcate lands for the State Headquarters all over South Sudan .

(ii)      Chollo to move back to their Nyikang land, west of the Nile-from Tonga in the south to Wada-Kona in the north. All ethnic communities should adhere to good neighborhood and co-existence; good peace and tranquility are the edificates of learning and civilization.

3. The incident was to depict the Governor and his government of Upper Nile State as a failure in maintaining peace and stability or law and order in the presence of the President of the Republic who is also the Chairman of National Congress Party to which the Governor belongs. The President of the Republic and Chairman of NCP was being induced to remove Governor Galuak Deng. Behind the calculated maneuvers is that the tribe "Chollo", that claims to control Malakal, should bring a person to govern the State. To them, no Nuer or Jieng should be appointed a governor of Upper Nile state, no matter to which Party he/she comes from. This is the reason Chollo came into the Stadium as a tribe while others matched as Counties.

4. The idea of reshuffle is a narrowly based concern among few leaders. It is apparent that any change of government at this time is not widely discussed or popularly advocated by majority of the people of the state for the following reasons:

a. The government was recently constituted and is working fairly well. All the ethnic communities in the state are well represented. The infrastructural activities that made the celebration feasible reflect the hard work exerted by the Government of the day. These are evidences of success.

b. The success of the Governor and the Minister of Finance is unprecedented. This is due to the fact that the Minister of Finance is implementing the declared policy of the President of GoSS against corruption and he is applying zero tolerance on those who are practicing the vice.

The fact that the Minister has removed those who were found pursuing corruption in the State institutions is the essence of the success of the Government. If this is the reason he should be dismissed or be reshuffled out of that ministry so that the status quo of corruptive practices is installed, then the matter is left to the authorities of GoSS and the ruling Parties (SPLM and NCP).

c. Till now, there is no consultation among the leaders of the two parties. Moreover, those leaders like Dr. Riek Macar, Governor Galuak Deng and Pagan Amum; each has his agenda for the coming elections. Hence, each is interested in placing his supporters in strategic positions in the State and in the Counties. The peace dividends which the current Administration is delivering to the people for the first time, for over twenty years; are to be rendered worthless for the sake of electing your "Governor" in the upcoming elections of 2009. For instance, Dr.Riek Macar is trying very hard to implement his agenda of SSIM by bringing back the people he appointed before and after the CPA. e.g. Elijah Awan Bol, Kur Akol and Chol Chuli; who were there in Melut and Renk Counties but did not deliver any effective services to their people. Nevertheless, he would like them just to work for him during elections. He is using his position in the SPLM as a spring board to perpetuate SSIM agenda.

d. Commander Pagan Amum and Dr. Lam Akol are fighting for and over the support of the Chollo. Dr. Lam like Dr. Riek created unnecessary Counties in Western and Eastern regions which are not economically viable except for political purposes like the present Counties of the Chollo, including Malakal, are very poor while Jieng Counties are the ones financially supporting the State. Dr. Riek and Dr. Lam are largely responsible for the present confusion; though both of them are using SPLM cards, for different programs hidden under their sleeves. However, both are united in isolating and marginalizing Jieng leaders.

These leaders: Dr. Riek and Dr. Lam, have short and long term agenda. They do not have Southern national agendas as this is clear from 1991 split, each targeted the other tribes as Dr. Riek directed the Nuers to fight Jieng. They also formed two separate splinter groups which signed Pashoda and Khartoum peace agreements with Khartoum Government. Both returned to the SPLM/A individually leading distinct two groups. Till now they are conducting themselves as tribal warlords. What agenda do they have for the South or for Sudan?

Deng Mangok