SSPDF 7th Infantry Division Commander Major General Makuol Ajang, over the weekend, strongly appealed to political leaders, warring parties, and citizens to reject tribalism, embrace national unity, and follow the vision of the founding fathers of South Sudan’s liberation struggles.
He made the remarks in Torit during celebrations to mark the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) Day, which is commemorated every 16 May as the day South Sudan’s second liberation struggle started in 1983.
“During the Anya-Nya 1 and SPLM/A liberation struggles, there was no tribalism, but after secession in 2011, some people became happy, started enjoying, and are satisfied. When one is satisfied, they become mad, and that is our current problem,” he said. “We fought and brought freedom in a plate for South Sudanese to enjoy, and the system of governance should have been that people go for election, yes, elections are key. However, people do not want elections because they know they will lose, and so they prefer to cause chaos forever.”
“Until when shall we continue like this? South Sudanese, we should rest from all this mess because we soldiers are for peace,” Gen. Ajang added.
For his part, Governor Louis Lobong lauded the contributions of South Sudanese freedom fighters, saying it resulted in independence. He urged the people to embrace peace and urged the security forces to continue protecting civilians.
“We all should stand for peace, and this peace is a collective responsibility which starts from each of our minds. I want to appreciate all the organized forces for protecting this nation, and we should do more than this,” he stated. “You have chosen to serve the nation and its citizens in your different uniforms, so do your best.”
Meanwhile, Alex Locor Nartisio, an Anya-Nya 1 and SPLA veteran, said that despite attaining independence, citizens are not enjoying their fundamental freedoms and rights. He stressed that South Sudanese citizens continue to wallow in extreme poverty and live in conditions worse than those before secession.
“What led South Sudanese to rebel against Arab rule in Sudan by going to the bush was because they wanted their rights. The Government of Sudan in Khartoum was not giving us our rights, and we were regarded as second-class citizens,” he stated. “We wanted full rights and freedoms, and that is why we fought until we got independence, but we have not got total freedom. We are still living in conditions similar to those or even worse than when we were with the Arabs.”
“I appeal to all the politicians in South Sudan to sit together and agree on how to govern the country, how to bring peace to South Sudan,” Locor added.