Riek and Kiir are two sides of the same coin: failure, incompetence and tribonationalism

Let’s not kid ourselves! South Sudan is a completely tribalized country. We can pretend that only a given section of the society is the problem but history will soon show that the sooner we acknowledge it and find a way to get rid of it or reduce it the better things will be for all of us.

President Kiir Mayardit has ushered in a culture of dirty nepotism and Jieeng-centeredness in his administration, an unfortunate tribonationalism. Regrettably, the leadership will pretend that the administration is not Jieeng-dominated. Even when this kind of behavior and attitude is leading the country nowhere, senior officials still believe nothing is wrong with both the administration and the country as a whole.

If one section of the country isn’t safe in the same city the president lives in then you got to ask yourself: What’s wrong with these leaders?

Instead of devising ways aimed at bridging the tribal divide and possibly use it to bring long-term inter-tribal understanding, the senior officials either further inflame tribal tensions through their careless rhetorics or through lies that easily flash on their faces.

Not only have the officials succeeded in making South Sudan gain number one as the most fragile state, they’ve also brought the country to a new low.

The only head of state who was able to attend South Sudan’s third anniversary ‘celebrations’ was President Museveni of Uganda for obvious reasons. The president of Kenya, Prime Minister of Ethiopia and the president of Sudan didn’t show up.  This is a clear indication of how bad the leadership has failed. But they still think everything is okay. Beats me!

And even worse, they still think there was a coup attempt when the world (even our neighbors) sees no evidence.

Non-Jieeng officials in Kiir’s government are either puppets or self-interest driven folks. If the likes of Dr. Riek Gai and Dr. Lomoro have any true sense of self and care for South Sudan, how come they allow South Sudan Television to be used for divisive politics by the President and people like Malaak Ayuen of SPLA? Such educated people should advise the president regarding the value of different opinions. Instead of using his TV show to instill discipline in SPLA soldiers and to show Nuer people that SPLA has a national face adn intent, Malaak has politicized the show and uses a language that discourages Nuer from the government. How good is that to the president and the country?

Rebellion as I've always maintained, is bad for South Sudan and I’ll never endorse it come what may! However, Dr. Gai and Dr. Lomoro, being the bootlickers they have become without any personal integrity left, should nonetheless let the president know that being criticized or being told that such and such a thing is wrong is not only good for the president, but also, for the nation; because it gives the president an avenue to evaluate his performance.

Riek Machar on the other hand is not doing any better. How can a leader rely exclusively on a unitribal fighting force? Riek’s failures, leadership fantasies and dictatorial tendencies in 1991 are well-documented by Deborah Scroggins, Dr. Lam Akol, Dr. Adwok Nyaba…among others. This means that Riek needs to do more to be seen as a national leader. His administration is overwhelmingly Nuer and his fighting army is made up of the same. Yet Riek is accusing President Kiir of being a tribal leader. Duh!

While Riek Machar didn’t start the current crisis, he’s not done any better than President Kiir. Like President Kiir, he relies on his tribesmen and civilians have been killed in thousands under his leadership. I’ve not seen the national character of Riek Machar! He needs to translate his ‘democratic’ ideas into actions.

While Riek boasts of having supporters from other tribes in South Sudan, one has to realize that all these non-Nuer men are categorically ‘jobbists’, to use Dr. John’s term.  You’ll agree with me that all the men with Riek Machar are men who either lost their jobs or didn’t find any avenue to land well-paying jobs in Kiir’s government. Not a single one can boast of having quit Kiir’s government while still a minister or a senior official. This still brings their national character to question.

President Kiir is both a failure and a tribonationlist but citing that as a reason for joining an armed resistance when one’s primary reason for leaving is the the loss of jobs, isn’t honorable!

Besides, Riek knows that South Sudan is tribally divided; however, he’s not put down any clear modalities that would help bring about inter-tribal understanding. We don’t even know the official policy or political position of Riek Machar and his group. There’s no document except constant and vacuous call for ‘democracy’ and ‘freedom.’  The same Riek now calling for democracy was the one who wanted to ban SPLM-DC of Lam Akol when he (Riek) was Vice President. You can also check the list of his employees when Riek Machar was VP and you’ll be convinced that Riek is as tribonatonalist as Kiir

Both Riek and Kiir are killers, incompetent leaders, care only about remaining or ascending to power at the expense of South Sudanese civilians and they surround themselves with mostly their tribesmen.

These two leaders are a disgrace to South Sudan. I wish their consciences get awakened to give South Sudanese a chance for peace.

While Riek has a better case diplomatically speaking, he risks, again, becoming a greater failure if he doesn't put tribal issues between Jieeng and Nuer into serious consideration. Imagining military victory is mere delusion.  

‘Greater Twic East’: An Unnecessary and Needless Belligerence

You don’t have to respond to every nonsense written about you. And whether or not people respect you will depend on the services you offer to your people not that you respond to every filth written about Twi. Stop responding to every divine ignorance of a few.  

So stop it!

This is in reference to your ‘Press Release’ (SSNA) dated July 5, 2014: “Greater Twic East Youth in USA response to recently released article by Jangdit Dengajok )

‘Greater Twic East’ and ‘Greater Bor Community’ are all nonsense. You can’t replace one nonsense with another! The future of your people is in working together, exchanging ideas and expertise to develop your counties: Bor, Duk and Twi. Twi County might benefit from experts from Bor and Duk Counties and vice versa.

What you are actually doing is an embarrassment to Twi people. It’s exactly the opposite of what your intentions are.

It’s obvious that to distinguish between things is very much different from separation of things. That means you can distinguish things but still keep them together.  You can say Bor starts from Jueet to Abiy and Twi is from Chir to Adhiook. That’s neither separation nor is it division. It’s purely distinction.

While the Jieeng of the present Twi County of Jonglei state has every right to reassert and correct the reality and identity that’s been distorted by politicians for their political gains, I don’t think it’s necessary to antagonize people of Bor Country. It’s an uncalled for and unnecessary creation of enmity.

They are not your problem! Blame Twi leaders and elders if you are to blame anyone!

The people of Bor County have not done anything bad to the people of Twi County. All the bad things uttered against Twi people were uttered by individuals not Bor County as a whole.

Besides, you have to note that it was the British colonial administration that placed the Twi people under an administrative district named after Bor people. So it wasn’t the Bor people’s fault that you were placed under a district that didn’t carry your name and it wasn’t Bor people’s fault that your ancestors didn’t raise that objection then. Twi is its own problem. No excuse!

I understand that you have the right to tell everyone that Twi and Bor are two distinct dialectal or ethno-linguistic groups, however, it’s unnecessary and pointless to try to create a conflict no one needs. I’ve always reiterated that I’m not Bor and have never been Bor; however, I’ve always maintained that Bor and Twi share a common history and good neighborliness that we should always foster. They’ve always done things together and they’ll continue to do things together.

Any attempt that assumes that each of them will go its separate way is being delusional. Being called collectively as ‘Dinka Bor’ is not the prerequisite for togetherness. That being called Dinka Bor or GBC is a prerequisite for coexistence is another delusion! However, coexistence is an absolute necessity in spite of any differences: accentual or dialectal. Saying that Twi is not Bor is not being divisive; it’s what truth-seeking requires; however, you shouldn’t use that to create needless conflicts.

You can emphasize to South Sudanese and the world that Twi is not Dinka Bor; however, it would be unfair to Bor people for you to pretend they are your problem when your problems are your leaders. Focus on your leaders on the national and local levels.

I write about these stuff because I have to write something that’s not only sensible but also supportably true. This is also about the truth of the people I belong to and no sane writer can ignore such a thing. I can’t correct national issues when I can’t start by correcting things at my locality!

And I say I’m not ‘Dinka Bor’ because that’s the truth I knew and I can now authenticate historically and convincingly, but I cannot, and will never say, that Bor and Twi go their separate ways. Every sane Bor and Twi person knows this.

They are brothers and sisters and will remain so in spite of their ethno-linguistic realities. There has to be respect between the two communities.

Calling Twi people Dinka Bor is disrespectful, I know, but it’s not a ground for antagonizing Bor people. Just let them know who you are. If they continue to call you what you are not then just know that falsity never endure.