A cross-section of residents in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State is demanding their voices be recognized in the upcoming elections to ensure the country runs according to the people’s will, not for the interest of the ruling elite.
According to several dwellers who talked to Radio Tamazuj over the weekend, inclusion of the people in decision-making and election processes is important to secure people’s authority in national affairs.
Santino Diing, a resident of Aweil Town, complained that the people of South Sudan have no power to question things that go wrong in the country and that this has led to crises in the country.
“If the people of South Sudan had sovereignty and had the right to decide on what is happening and who to lead them in through elections, the country would not have been in the current situation because the living conditions have become terrible,” stressed Diing.
He added that many people have lost their lives due to diseases and a lack of quick interventions by the government.
“Malaria claims huge numbers of people who are already facing many other challenges every day,” Diing stated.
A citizen who preferred to speak on condition of anonymity said the lack of elections since independence indicates that there is no democracy.
“The people of South Sudan may have the sovereignty to choose leaders should elections be conducted, but since independence, South Sudan has never had elections, so the citizens do not know if they have the right or not,” he said. “All the state governors and ministers are appointed by the president, whether the people like it or not.”
For her part, Angelina Ayak said that South Sudan is a new country that must embrace democracy.
“I consider our country as a new established family that lacks many things, but we, the citizens, have the voice to decide what we want and what we don’t want, and no one should deny us our rights,” she said.
Meanwhile, Donato Ring, a legal expert, said democracy is based on the people’s right to choose their leaders. He faulted the government for lacking democratic values and principles in terms of laws and governance.
“If the current system and existing laws continue to be in the control of the executive, then the upcoming elections will not be based on the people’s interest,” said Ring.
He called for the immediate promulgation of a permanent constitution of South Sudan, which will give authority to the people of South Sudan.