Self-determination
was first proposed by South Sudanese participants of Juba conference in 1947.
Anyone who pretends to be the one, who initiated it, if he or she wasn’t present
during that conference, is just abusing history.
Besides,
Federal System for South Sudan was first proposed by leaders ofthe Liberal
Party in 1953/54 and emphasized by leaders of Southern Federal Party in 1957, a
year before the first general election in 1958. In that case, anyone claiming
credit now is abusing History!
Dr.
Riek Machar has to be very careful or else he’d be seen as taking South
Sudanese for fools. We are informed and we know who did what and when!
We
have to know that neither Dr. John Garang nor Dr. Riek Machar initiated the
idea of Self-determination. It was first initiated when they were either little
boys or not born.
Since
SPLA doctrinal core was for the total liberation of South Sudan, any talk of
Self-determination between 1983 and 1991 landed one in hot water. Those who
wanted independence of South Sudan, such as Akuot Atem de Mayen, Abdalla Chuol
and Gai Tut, were vilified by Garang and his core supporters. These three men
were seen as anti-revolutionary and were vilified in ‘revolutionary songs’ even
if they took up arms before John Garang: twice! Independence of the South was
their core objective; something John Garang didn’t see as the primary goal of the
Southern cause.
Remember,
Garang wasn’t actually against South’s independence. He just didn’t think it
was the right way to go about things. So self-determination wasn’t first among
Garang’s ideological fronts. However, it would become one of the alternative
solutions to the Sudanese problem in his famous Vend-Diagrams.
However,
it has to be remembered too that Riek’s and Lam’s rebellion brought
Self-Determination back into the spotlight and the mainstream political
discussion all over Sudan. The duo first proposed it to Khartoumers in
Frankfurt, Germany, in 1992 and later forced it through the throats of
SPLA-Torit (Mainstream) in Abuja I in 1992.
Dr.
John had to instruct his delegation in Abuja to accept Self-Determination to
the surprise of not only the Nasir Duo but also, Garang’s allies in the
National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
While
Riek can be credited as having participated in bringing back Self-Determination
into the Southern mainstream politics, it wasn’t Riek Machar who made it
possible. Riek’s attempts failed with the failure of Nasir programs and his
subsequent return to Khartoum where his only success was shameful exit and
eventual return to SPLM/A under Dr. John.
Riek
signed Khartoum Peace Agreement in 1997 with Beshir but that agreement was
dishonored and there was no Self-Determination given to South Sudanese. Dr.
Riek could have been right had Khartoum Peace Agreement brought about
Self-Determination and Independence of South Sudan.
While
Garang didn’t bring back the idea of Self-Determination, he was the one who
made Self-Determination possible. Riek initiated the idea however; he had neither
means nor political strength to bring it about. We all know Self-Determination
came under the leadership of Dr. John Garang not Dr. Riek.
No
one, at least conscientious ones, would deny Riek’s contribution to bringing
back the idea of Self-Determination; however, it’s completely erroneous and
deceptive of Dr. Riek Machar to say that he’s the one who brought
Self-Determination and Independence of South Sudan. Riek is wise enough to know
where credit is due. He contributed, yes, but he failed in the path he’d chosen
to bring Independence of South Sudan.
While
many SPLM leaders contributed to the attainment of independence of South Sudan,
it was Dr. John Garang who championed Self-Determination in the CPA and
ultimately opened way for South Sudan Independence.
While
President Kiir has now failed, he, together with Dr. Riek, was the one who saw
that South Sudan became independent.
Riek
and Lam reintroduced Self-Determination into the SPLM; Garang embraced it and
championed it in the CPA; and then President Kiir made sure what Garang
prepared was supervised to its logical end.
Let’s
give credit where it’s due!
