I wrote a
post four years ago on the independence of South Sudan. It was really
interesting going back and reading it today. As you can see below there are was
a lot of hope in my writing. I argued why being free and failing was still
better than having been oppressed for 50 years and failed. Sadly, it turns out
I was wrong. Sadly, it turns out all the naysayers were right. South Sudan is arguably
in a bigger mess than it was under Sudan. As I had written four years ago that
before getting independence everyone in South Sudan was united in fighting a
common enemy, but once that wasn't the case would deep rooted differences
within South Sudanese re-surface? Would the corrupt elite keep getting more
powerful and exploit the masses? Well they did, and in a way that has left
thousands and thousands dead, about 2 million internally displaced, an economy
that is near collapse with no end in sight, all because of the ego of two men
right at the top (Kiir and Machar) whose fight has taken down the hopes and
dreams of millions with it.
Will it
change? Will South Sudan ever become the nation it had the potential of
becoming with it's fertiles lands and natural resources? I don't know anymore.
I'm tired of arguing both sides. What I do know is that I still have the resolve
to keep trying in my own little, insignificant way to do something about it.
Maybe I'm just a glutton for misery, maybe I'm just delusional.
Happy
Birthday South Sudan!
"Yeah,
I've probably seen more horrible things than good ones but there was no better
feeling than the euphoria of witnessing the birth of the world's 193rd state -
The Republic of South Sudan.
I was lucky enough to be right under the flag of north Sudan when it was lowered down by the state officials and the new flag of South Sudanwas being raised. I was right there when everyone stormed towards their new flag. It was as if one's favorite team had won the world championship and everyone stormed the pitch. There were thousands of people bouncing up and down to the beat of their new national anthem under their new flag. I had chills for 10 minutes. It was a feeling I will never forget for the rest of my life. I saw tears in the eyes of men from the SPLA (sudan people's liberation army) who had probably seen more horrific things as child soldiers than we can imagine. I could do nothing to stop the tears that trickled down my own face even though I had only been part of this land for two years.
This land that is the size of France with a population of 8 million has tremendous potential. It is blessed with tremendously fertile soil, it is rich with minerals and a proven 5 - 10 billion barrels (could be a lot more) of oil, making it the third largest oil producer in Africa after Nigeria and Angola.
That being
said, there is virtually no infrastructure in the country. Up until last year
there were 30 km of paved roads in ALL of South Sudan. There is a great
shortage of clean water in almost the entire country, vast majority of people
are illiterate and their life style resembles pastorals from 500 years ago.
There is a shortage of health care facilities, electricity, and other social
services. There are no markets, nor any industries that could promote trade and
commerce. Over the last few years money has been pouring in from other countries
in the form of NGO run aid programs which has kept the ship afloat. The money
that has been coming in for development is widely being accused by locals of
being warming the pockets of those at the very top. You see massive mansions
and brand new Toyota Land Cruisers springing up everywhere amidst shanty huts
in Juba. Corruption is rampant at all levels. No money that is coming to Juba
trickles down to the other 10 states. Basically, it doesn't look good at all.
In
addition, the South has always been very divided amongst various tribes that
haven't coexisted harmoniously since like for ever. Over the last 50 years or
so they had a common enemy in the North which they don't any more. There are
already signs of discontent amongst the various militia leaders who had allied
together to be part of the SPLA but now want a bigger piece of the pie. All of
them want those Hummers and mansions. Yeah, I know I did say Hummers, there are
plenty here.
Then there
are unresolved border issues with the north in the oil rich area of Abyei
(north west) and Nuba mountains (north east).
What a
cluster **** right?
You hear
all of what I've just said above dissected in 400 ways every day in the news.
"Experts", mostly Arab mind you, use these "problems" to
support their argument that "the south should not have seceded", or
that they should have "waited for another few years till they could stand
up on their own feet". Till they had an "infrastructure in
place".
I abhor
and detest these type of comments so much I can't every express it in words.
"Wait" they say? Wait for what? being treated like shit for another
50 years. The reason why there is NO infrastructure, NO electricity, NO water,
NO roads, NOTHING in the south is because they were under the North for the last
50 years. The North gave them nothing, except for war and misery, so how will
being under them make things any WORSE off than they already are.
Whats the
worst that can happen, they'll be a failed state? There won't be any
development? WAKE up people they have been failed for 5 decades, at least now
they will be failed but FREE and I'll take failed but free, over failed and
oppressed any day, and so will all of you.
The hope
of this country lies in its youth. In the hundreds of thousands who fled during
the war into neighboring countries, mostly Kenya, who are dying to come back
home and make something of themselves and their new nation. These are people
who never were really Kenyan or Ethiopian or Ugandan even if they spent decades
there. They were always Sudanese and now they are coming back. On my recent
trip back from the US, I met two British Sudanese bankers who were coming back
to Sudan. I asked them if this was just a visit or more than that. They looked
at me as if I had cursed them out "We're coming back home, brother, home
for good". It is this educated youth that gives me hope for South Sudan.
Will South
Sudan be a bust or a major success? Only time will tell. But for me, I will
never forget being part of history being made. It has left a mark that will
never be washed away. I wish this beautiful nation the very best and I will do
everything I can till I'm here to do my part in helping it."
entire
post
on http://gandairi.blogspot.nl/search?updated-max=2012-04-26T12:23:00-07:00&max-results=7
When the flag of Sudan lowered and South Sudan was first raised in Kapoeta July 9, 2011
