At the onset, I want to begin by reemphasizing and reminding us that the Office of the President was created by law and the Constitution. In fact, articles 97 and 98 of the South Sudan Transitional Constitution, 2011, “as amended” are crystal clear on this subject matter.
This highest office in the land is an important place due to the reasons highlighted hereunder. The occupant of this office is the executive head of government as well as the head of the republic and commander-in-chief of the defense forces.
Above all, the occupant of this office is expected to be a symbol of National Unity. Nonetheless, this office can only be a symbol of national unity when the president subscribes to the principles and ideals of inclusivity, equity, equality, et cetera.
The person occupying this well-designed and decorated institution must be guarded very jealously with the state resources and instruments of government all the time.
Those of us who aspire to assume and occupy this office must strive to meet the constitutional requirements so that we can attract and earn the loyalty and respect of the people. This apex office cannot function effectively without people’s respect and loyalty. The role of the people cannot be underestimated because it is the people that gives it legitimacy. Hence, one of the roles and responsibilities of the president is to build and maintain a great rapport with people from all tribes of South Sudan, for whom the government belongs.
In view of the foregoing, the office of the president is not a preserve of a few in the country. By law, it is a national office with special duties to serve the nation as a whole.
In any event, when the president travels and visits a certain region in South Sudan, the message he communicates to those people should be accommodating and acceptable to everyone in the country. In other words, the speech made by the president in one region should be for the whole nation.
At times, the region and the venue where the president speaks should not be important, provided that his messages go to other parts of the country.
For instance, if the president happens to address students of Bentiu Secondary School and wishes them good luck in exams, the media should not make a report saying the president wished students of Bentiu Secondary School good luck in their exams. Instead, the media should make a news report saying the president wishes all students success in their exams. Whatever the president intended to say in one region should be reinterpreted to sound like he was addressing everyone in the country because he is a symbol of national unity.
This story brings me to the recently concluded tour of President Gen. Salva Kiir to his home region of Bahr El Ghazal. I must say his rare visit reminded me of his first visit to the same region in 2012, where he made the famous statement dubbed ‘‘Dut ku beny’’ which loosely means to protect the president.
Conflict erupted in Juba on 15 December 2013. At times, the challenge is that one person can instigate and ignite war solely and singlehandedly. However, to stop the same war is difficult. He will need the efforts and contributions of other people to end violent conflict.
The residents of Bahr El Ghazal and other regions expected the president to address them on the myriad challenges facing the nation, but unfortunately, he did not manage to do so.
When His Excellency made a stopover in Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, he told the crowd that his visit to the region was private. The critical question is: if the visit was private, then why did they announce and publicize his going to the region? He could have gone there and come back quietly without conducting a public rally. The president returned to Juba without any strong message. They say better late than never. Despite his hasty return, the president should not squander this opportunity without making the following declarations to the nation.
Declare the release of all political prisoners
The people of South Sudan and the international community have spoken time and again that political prisoners should be released so that the AU-led mediation could begin without further delay. As an occupant of this apex office, he should respond and act in a manner that advances public interest.
Declare a general amnesty
As the president announces the unconditional release of all political prisoners, he should declare general amnesty to all diaspora South Sudanese to return to the country while the regional mediation commences. The idea of declaring a general amnesty is one of the existing political precedents that we have on the table.
In May 2013, the president declared a general amnesty, which persuaded the South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA), led by Gen. Babiny Monytuil Wijang, to lay down their arms before returning to South Sudan. At the time, I wrote a missive which was published by Sudan Tribune titled ‘Unity State students in East Africa salute rebels for accepting amnesty.’ I believe many of us would remember this.
Declare a general ceasefire
The declaration to join peace mediation must be accompanied by the declaration of a general ceasefire in the country, and especially in northern Jonglei state. The ceasefire means stopping the war. Practically, the president should order his troops to withdraw and return to their respective barracks without further delay.
Declare commitment to peace mediation
The declaration of a general ceasefire should be done concurrently with the declaration of commitment and readiness to peace mediation led by former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete. Those of us who are urging the president to accept peace talks are helping him to find a sustainable solution to the problems bedeviling South Sudan. We are telling him that war is not a solution. It is an opportune time for South Sudanese to lay down their arms by saying, “Enough is enough.” Since it is the president’s primary duty to initiate and promote peace, he should also declare his readiness for the AU-led peace mediation forthwith.
Declare total peace and forgiveness
As the president comes out to declare his readiness to join AU-led peace mediation under the guidance of Kikwete, he should seek forgiveness and urge both the hungry and angry public to forgive one another. In doing so, the president should lead by example. This means that he should admit failure on his part as an individual before he can seek forgiveness.
Finally, the president’s appeal for forgiveness should not just be heard but seen. Those who made their names from using war language and rhetoric should be warned and or told to pack and go. The cabinet should be rebranded with new crops of leaders with integrity. I am quite sure that if the president made these types of declarations, South Sudan would experience an extraordinary calm and celebration like never seen before. In conclusion, when the message is good, it remains good no matter who the messenger is.
The writer is a lawyer and a criminologist by profession. He was a former delegate to the High-Level Mediation for South Sudan as a National Chairperson for Legal and Constitutional affairs of SSPM. He can be reached for comments via eligodakb@yahoo.com.
The views expressed in ‘opinion’ articles published by Radio Tamazuj are solely those of the writer. The veracity of any claims made is the responsibility of the author, not Radio Tamazuj.
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