The Sudd Institute and Anger Paroxysm

Let’s use education to inform our people not to belittle them. Let’s use education for the benefit of our people not for our personal gratification. While it’s natural for a human being to take pride in a given achievement, and to emotionally take issue with some unbecoming behaviors, it’s necessary for us to remember the purpose of education in a larger context.

The few highly educated South Sudanese should be role models, who should go above and beyond the simple fancies of “I am better than you!” It’s very easy for one’s good work to be overshadowed by anger paroxysm.

For many of us, The Sudd Institute and other scholarly institutions like Ebony Centre, are doing a valuable job even if no visible results come from their efforts. I have been a keen reader of some of their works. While some of their writings are clinically enterprised to avoid antagonizing the leadership in Juba, and to hide their individual tribo-political biases, most of their writings are scholarly and helpful. My exchange with Nhial Tiitmamer in relation to ‘International Trusteeship Agreement’, is an example of how important The Sudd Institute can be in terms of encouraging healthy debates.

However, what saddens me when it comes to some of The Sudd Institute’s scholars like Dr. Jok Madut Jok is how acrimonious and abusive they can become when criticized. Jok, for example, could go as far as calling his interlocutors ‘stupid’ and ‘clowns.’ A scholar of Jok’s caliber, should know that he’s a public figure and many young people look up to him. This requires that his emotional state should be carried in a manner that’s above and beyond that of the average person.

Note that I am not saying that Dr. Jok needs to be saintly when interacting with South Sudanese; however, it’s advisable that Dr. Jok, being the face of The Sudd Institute, one of the leading research institutions in South Sudan, should faithfully control his temper. What’s the point of losing one’s mind if one has all the facts to refute the claims of one’s accusers? Being a public figure demands extreme self-control, even self-denial.

Admittedly, Dr. Jok has done more than any South Sudanese politician in terms of development, supporting literacy and governance in South Sudan. He helped build a school  and found a research institution beside his other renowned scholarly works.

What bothers me is why Dr. Jok can’t simply disagree with his debaters without calling some of them names. If The Sudd Institute is being baselessly accused by some people as being complicit in Jiëëng dominance of the government, then Jok, as a renowned scholarly, can easily use his resources to prove these people wrong.

South Sudanese, essentially, aren’t used to debating political ideas without resorting to name calling and intimidation so I was hopeful that The Sudd Institute could contribute toward the mitigation of this attitude like Nhial and I did. But if the leading scholar of the institute, who’s supposed to help in alleviating this malady, falls prey to this problem then someone like me is left hopeless.

Dr. Jok has proven himself beyond any reason doubt that he’s not only a formidable scholar, but also a practically helpful man. This is why I’m calling on him and all The Sudd’s scholar to set an example of patience and perseverance.

We can debate without calling people names. We can debate without flaunting our education on people’s faces. Some of the people opposing your writings or views might have misunderstood some things about you. Correct them instead of insulting them.

You set up a research institution to help correct or inform some of our sociopolitical ills. Don’t lose sight of that. Rise above vindictive paroxysms! I know this is hard given the nature of our tribo-political realities; but this is what’s required of you when you become a public figure.

When one of The Sudd’s scholar speaks at an international conference, it’s South Sudan that’s represented. When one of The Sudd’s scholar presents a paper in an academic conference, a young person would look at such a scholar and aspire to be just like that. Don’t short-change yourself emotionally. Scholars need to have their ideas and works trashed. They then defense their works as civilly as possible.

~ Kuir ë Garang

Why Can’t South Sudanese Take their Country Back from Politicians?

Picture: New York Times

Late Dr. John Garang de Mabior once said that if we promise civilians things we can’t deliver than the civilians would drive us [leaders] into the sea (1.38). Perhaps it’s time for South Sudanese to drive these useless politicians into the metaphorical political sea. What are these politicians for if they can’t provide?

The civil population doesn’t always know what it wants if it’s mentally buried in ideological infatuation. This happens everywhere in the world. Poor conservative Americans voted for Donald Trump even when they knew his policies benefit the rich and the powerful. The mere feeling of belonging, of standing up for something, make people embrace self-destructive, mischievous causes. This might be an unfortunate case of Stockholm syndrome.  President Trump lies but his supporters don’t care.

However, in richer countries, the effect of such blind support of causes that are destructive to oneself isn’t as bad as in poorer countries. While advanced democracies have checks and balances that make sure that dictatorial leaders don’t bask in or benefit from the epistemic challenges of the masses, in struggling democracies, leaders take advantage of citizens’ lack of information.

Without check and balances, callous leaders use such ignorance or nativity to take the citizens for granted. Internal divisions are politicized and politics ethnicized in order to prevent citizens-citizen unity against the corrupt establishment.

In countries like South Sudan, this support for killers has dire consequences. It makes sure that citizens identify with leaders from their tribes even when leaders' actions kill them instead of identifying with other civilians from other tribes who suffer like them. Without any unified, multi-tribal voice crying against corrupt, tribalized governance, destitution will continue to grow.  And the sufferer isn’t the politicians but civilians, no matter the tribe. 

Famine, insecurity and diseases will not affect South Sudanese based on tribe. It’ll affect the country based on power and socio-economic status. A civilian in Aweil will suffer as much as a civilian in Akobo. A farmer in Torit will suffer in the same way as a farmer in Malakal. However, a politician in Torit will not suffer in the same way as a civilian in Torit. Politicians are a TRIBE of their own. They are a tribal species that should only be valued based on their deeds on behalf of the people not on their mere existence.

Given the way the Ruweng people stood up against the removal of their governor, Thomas Deng, and the way they stood up to the leadership in Juba, perhaps it’s time the people of South Sudan realize that they have more power than the politicians.

Politicians in Juba have always seen themselves as more powerful than the citizens. That’s the reality that needs to change. What if South Sudanese all over the country flooded the streets of their villages, towns and cities and demanded an end to war and imposition of leaders on them? Would President Kiir order his forces to shoot at them like they did in Wau in 2012? Juba can only intimidate a small group of people. However, if the whole country shouts ‘ENOUGH IS ENOUGH’ then the leadership would listen.

The arrogance and the sense of entitlement of South Sudanese politicians is a result of civilians abdicating their power to the corrupt politicians. It’s time for South Sudanese to stand up to the leaders. Take back your country! Hold the leaders accountable. Have you ever seen the politicians suffer the way you suffer? Have you ever seen their children go to school in South Sudan? Have you ever seen politicians going to the same clinics or hospital you go to? So what makes you stand up to people who don’t care about you?

Tribal pride can’t feed your children, build schools, or provide security! Wake up!

It’s time South Sudanese civilians realize that their problems are politicians not ‘other’ tribes. Nuer civilians are suffering in the same way Jieeng civilians are suffering. Moru civilians are suffering in the same way Lotuko civilians are sufferings. Nuer civilians have more in common with Jieeng civilians than they have with Nuer politicians. Nyakong in Akobo has more in common with Deng in Rumbek than she has with Riek Machar.

Wake up South Sudanese! Take back your country from politicians who are ruling you like an occupation force. They don't care!