No to Ethnic Federalism in South Sudan
Federalism is not a bad governance
system as long as those leading it have the interest of the country at heart;
and as long as the mindset leading it is selflessly conducive for development
programs.
While many Ethiopians were happy with Meles Zenawi’s idea of Ethnic Federalism in order to get rid of the Amharic face of the country in what some call the ‘De-Amharization of Ethiopia’, one can clearly see that the example of Ethiopia is a stone-age example South Sudan shouldn’t copy!
My only concern, and the word that
I’ve always passed to fanatical proponents of federalism, is that ‘Federal
System’ in itself wouldn’t change things unless our inter-tribal relations,
inter-personal relations and our understanding of leadership and government
change.
People’s attitude inform the system
not the other way round.
While I’d welcome the Federal
System of governance in South Sudan as long as it’s conscientiously structured,
I’m gravely opposed to any form of ‘Ethnic Federalism’ … like the ones in
Ethiopia or Nigeria.
Many misguided South Sudanese
believe that South Sudan Federal system can be modelled after the ones in Nigeria
and Ethiopia. While there are presumptions and face-value indications that some
people love the system in Ethiopia, one can’t be certain that it’s an advisable,
exemplary system of governance.
In a world that’s increasingly
moving towards acceptance of diversity, it’d be a bad precedent to move South
Sudan toward statehood that exist as pockets tribal homogeneity. We can’t unite
a country by compartmentalizing it into pockets of tribal exclusivity. While
it’s a feel-good proposal for some people, it’s a destruction of the country
based on parochial presumption of ‘We-ness.’ We, the Nuer! We, the Jieeng! We,
the Bari! We, the Kachipo! We….We…We….
While many Ethiopians were happy with Meles Zenawi’s idea of Ethnic Federalism in order to get rid of the Amharic face of the country in what some call the ‘De-Amharization of Ethiopia’, one can clearly see that the example of Ethiopia is a stone-age example South Sudan shouldn’t copy!
The Nigerian example is badly
self-explanatory that one can’t even think of it. It’s a disaster!
While it might sound very
ambitious, it’s in the best interest of South Sudanese to work toward the
creation of a ministry (Tribal Affairs) that should work out long-term models
of inter-tribal understand in South Sudan. Making Tribal leaders, Elders and grassroots
part of the governance system in which each and every tribe feels included and
heard is better than ethnic fragmentation of the country.
This would help the people in
understanding the role of government in their lives. In the long run, it’d
bring the government closer to the people with deeper appreciation of their
local leaders; thereby making it hard for greedy politicians to mislead them.
Tribes don’t fight because they
want to. They fight because they feel marginalization and insignificant.
Besides, some fight on behalf of leaders from their own tribe because they
don’t understand what government actually means. In South Sudan, we don’t just
have ‘individuals’ but ‘individuals from a given tribe.’
Practical Federalism, not Paper
Visual Federalism, can bring people closer to those who govern them; however,
we have to resist attempts to ethnicize South Sudan any further. To further
tribalize a new nation with no sense of unique, clear and understandable sense
of ‘NATIONHOOD’ is to be hellishly irresponsible.
We have to first create an
understandable national Identity before we gladly or mischievously disperse
into our tribal enclaves in the name of ‘Ethnic Federalism’ or more
appropriately, ‘National Destruction!’
We’ve been divided fatally enough!
Let’s unite while accepting our differences!
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RECOMMENDED READINGS:
FEDERALISM IN AFRICA: THE CASE OF ETHNIC-BASED FEDERALISM IN ETHIOPIA
FEDERALISM, FEDERATIONS AND ETHNIC CONFLICTS: CONCEPTS AND THEORIES
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RECOMMENDED READINGS:
FEDERALISM IN AFRICA: THE CASE OF ETHNIC-BASED FEDERALISM IN ETHIOPIA
FEDERALISM, FEDERATIONS AND ETHNIC CONFLICTS: CONCEPTS AND THEORIES