The Summary Analysis of Kennana South Sudanese Political Leaders’ Dialogue

 By Beny Gideon Mabor

    The South Sudanese political leaders, elders and intellectuals met in Kennana Sugar Industrial Complex, White Nile State between the 1^st and 3^rd of April 2009 whose agendas were namely the objection of the ICC indictment of the Sudan Head of State Omer Hassan Hamed El Bashir, the continuously deteriorating administrative, security and political situation in South Sudan since the South gained its overwhelming self-government under the CPA/2005, the remaining items in the implementation of the CPA/2005 and lastly the future of referendum on self determination for the people of Southern Sudan.

   However, as the final statement and responses from the Kennana sitting whether acceptable or not are sole and secondary responsibility of the policy makers all level of government pertaining to the said conscious focus on the four year failure of leadership in South Sudan as findings in the Kennana meeting therein; hence I would herewith primarily embark to shorten the long journey and bring forward the underlying idea of the South Sudanese leaders  from different political forces in South Sudan. The argument, of course is clear as the author sometimes share opinions with these leaders about the future of the Interim young nation of South Sudan.

   Indeed the South Sudanese political leaders acknowledges that the SPLM/A is the movement of memorable period and unchallenged patriotic will before and after birthright of the CPA/2005 as the only political force to liberate the marginalized people all over the country until the world heard   voice of the voiceless . There is no doubt about it. And that is why SPLM/A was the only peace negotiator on behalf of the people of South Sudan and too, given option for the right of the self determination in an exercise referendum in 2011 AD.

After the peace agreement was signed the SPLM/A former leader Dr. John Garang made it clear from day one that he brought the CPA/2005 in a golden plate. It is neither to him, or Omer Bashir and the National Congress Party or the SPLM but it is for all the Sudanese people meaning regardless to whether you took part in the war of liberation struggle or not and that all are to be involve in the nation building and democratic transformation from guerrilla government of the jungle to a proper system of governance where there is accountability, transparence, respect for the rule of law, human rights and physical security.

   To the contrary, the SPLM and GoSS as the main stream of the peace accord in the South neglect the other Southern political forces with limited representation in the power sharing deal as stipulated in the CPA/2005, INC/2005 and the ICSS/2005 respectively and read the same in Northern political forces versus NCP and the GoNU as these two parties are the principal designers of the power sharing protocol. Suppose right after signing of the CPA/2005, there are internal arrangements though not included in the provisions of these legal instrument but matter of common knowledge, to have taken place surrounding the civil conflict in the Sudan, millions lives lost in the war of liberation struggle and finally what next after CPA/2005. The South Sudanese political leaders suggest that there was suppose to have a comprehensive reconciliation from within, educate the public about their rights and obligations as beneficiary of peace dividend, eradicate the deadly culture of impunity, corruption, nepotism and replaced by culture of solidarity and distribution of power through people representative democracy.

I always says “the will of the people is the best lawâ€‌. Is it a true representative democracy when some few individuals enrich themselves with public funds that are suppose to be spend on health, education, water, electricity accessible road and its affordability and reconstruction of post-war Sudan? Nevertheless, people were thirsty of power and wealth then to answer the said internal grudges not to mention the unguided South-South dialogue as still violated by the enemies of peace in the Sudan. It is still due to absence of a comprehensive internal dialogue that at a silent face other army groups (OAGs) like those operating in Upper Nile State at a flash point disturb public peace and tranquility when hundreds of people are so far killed in Malakal since 2006 to dates by the best know perpetrators but not brought before justice. Can we talk of a legal vacuum again when the South Sudan Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development and the Judiciary of Southern Sudan have already setup a legal system, gazetted and published the Laws of Southern Sudan and well vested with criminal jurisdiction to prosecute any act of criminal nature? This is construed as another failure of the institutions entrusted with execution of the law an order.

In conclusion, I am writing to inform the public that let us accept our omissions and commissions and seek for forgiveness and solution for it. And let’s speak the truth for the truth shall set us free meaning by clearly stating what is rightly or wrongly happening in the country and this does not mean one is betraying the government. I remember a quote from late leader John Garang that to find the solutions for the problem first knows the definition of the problem itself. I brought this statement because one may mistaken the author as betrayer of the South Sudan to have stand with the intention of the Kennaa resolutions but I am forced by the fragile performances of the Government. Hence,   the South Sudanese leaders urge the Government of South Sudan to take up lead and meet the challenges for the remaining two year to expedite the institutional structure into place and that the Kennana meeting importantly called to address the political and administrative situation in South Sudan only and not the situation in the entire country.

              Beny Gideon is an opinion writer and can be reach at [email protected]