Ramadan Kareem: A message of Peace, Hope and Reconciliation

By Pal Chol Nyan*

Photo Credit: www.eurovisionfamily.tv 

As the Muslim world begins fasting for the Holy month of Ramadan, I hope this Holy month will bring in hope for a genuine and sustainable peace and stability in the whole world. It is my cherished hope as well that those who are butchering, in cold-blood, innocent children, elderly and women in the Middle East, the Gulf using Islam, and in some parts of Africa where the tenets of leadership have slipped out of the hands of the dictators or those, who are trying to be so by all means just because their eyes have been blindfolded by a blood quest for wealth and power, will call it quit.

I also call upon those who use the name of Islam to cause anarchy and lawlessness in Somalia, Libya and the so-called jihadists who terrorize and behead people to refrain from doing so. Islam is a religion to be revered and not to be used for unlawful killings and destruction of the world. I take this opportunity to thank my mentor and teacher Dr. Abubakr Bashir Mohammed and Dr. Emmanuel Jermano, both are Physicians, who taught and helped me know the ABC of medicine and molded my behavior and attitudes towards how I deal with and treat the patients. If there are things I know, these two men have a big hand as I am now guided by their lofty teachings and ethics.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention something about South Sudan as our Muslim brothers and sisters in all corners of the world start fasting, this country, Almighty God and through your Prophet Mohammed (PUH) along with Abubakr, Al sadiq (friend), has been plunged into senseless war by her own sons and daughter over power wrangle. Many lives have been claimed and many more either displaced internally or sought refuge in the neighboring countries under deplorable conditions. We ask for forgiveness and reconciliation among ourselves.

As a country endowed with abundant natural resources and arable land, the inhabitants, instead of engaging themselves in making it a good place to live in, they opted to subject it to instability, insecurity and economic hardships. We pray with all our conscience that God changes the hearts of those at the helm of power to put the country above their individual needs to end the suffering. We are undergoing this suffering under their noses while they show no sign of remorse readable on faces. They have their material wealth the mortal man needs on earth.

I will not shy away again from thanking the Collegial Presidency for the steps they are now taking to implement the deal they affixed their signatures on, albeit, some of us may be surprised to see that some of the things being done are not enshrined in the agreement. At least, there is a change of heart and the will to implement the agreement. It’s sad to realize and understand that the whole exercise is/was more about positions rather than reforms to say the least. We pray for transparency and accountability.

We are voiceless and helpless otherwise why should we allow our resources to be used by oligarchs and tribal elites who conduct themselves arrogantly?

My humble appeal to the Muslim brothers and sisters in South Sudan is to pray for our leaders and the country. La ikra fi diin goes the adage. Whatever religion we own and worship, we are at the end God's people and God's people are kind hearted, religious, god-fearing, hospitable and affable, the list is long.

 As I conclude, I congratulate Shiek Tahir Bior and the Muslim community in South Sudan on the Holy month of Ramadan and wish them good health. Ramadan Kareem to all of you. Thank you!

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Pal Chol Nyan is an opinion writer and columnist for Stance English Daily, an independent newspaper which advocates for peace and reconciliation.  For contact: palcholnyan@yahoo.com

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Citizen’s Power, National Security and the Intimidation of Civilians

Editorial* 

Citizens' Power
Photo: www.hec.edu

Citizens in any nation should, in principle, be the true owners of power. Undoubtedly, they are the ones to reward or punish subversive behaviors or deeds contrary to the health and well-being of state’s socio-political, socio-economic, socio-cultural and socio-intellectual development.  In Africa, however, power is concentrated in the hands of the callous few, who wield it in a subversive manner and call it patriotism. Turning against citizens is treason not patriotism. And this treasonous expropriation of power by the elite political class uses national resources and institutions to effect this seed of national decay.

Shouldn’t citizens speak up and regain their power from these callous traitors of national conscience? Shouldn’t citizens stop the madness that’s plundering national funds on expensive cars on impassable roads and mansions in foreign countries? Isn’t it shameful and unconscionable that some hardly have anything to eat as others drive in hundred thousand sport utility vehicles? Isn’t it shameful that some folks are sleeping in expensive hotels as mothers and children beg for food in the street or die of preventable diseases? Aren’t you ashamed of yourself when workers go for months without salaries as you sleep in a hotel paid for by the government?

I guess any reasonable answers can’t be obtained because national security agents are the protectors of these people; the people whose consciences are devilish but protected as patriots by national security apparatuses! So in a way, I’m wasting my time! But am I really wasting my time in writing this polemical article?

Not, really! If you read it and your conscience doesn’t get affected, then you belong in the zoo! If you read this piece and you get affected but feel powerless then you can be excused but still held complicit in the rape of functional structures of national prosperity! And if you read this and get affected but feel afraid for your life then, I hear you…but pass it along to sensitize the people! People should have the power not the callous tribal elites!

Save your nation from these treasonous elites or you’re part of this negative political orgy: the unconscionable destruction of the nation.

In South Sudan, the ruling political elites use national security to safeguard their treasonable, behind the doors tribal schemes. Instead of using resources and national institutions to protect the soul of the nation—citizens—these gluttonous traitors use national security, the police force and the national army to legitimize intimidation of civilians and disenfranchisement of the citizenry. The government has ceased to serve the people. It’s become their enemy with all the state security structures aimed at eliminating the voices of the people.