Nations are built on shared history, cultural and social cohesion, and strong political and social institutions that allow for effective governance. Although the process of nation-building may require various mechanisms, the foundation of a formidable nation depends on its people — their commitment and willingness to create a viable and respected state.
South Sudan is no exception. Its emergence as a sovereign nation on July 9, 2011, was the result of a long struggle and was celebrated globally by South Sudanese, their international partners, and friends who stood by them. The responsibility of shaping the country’s institutions and culture rested with the South Sudanese themselves. Yet, what followed was not the hopeful future that many envisioned. Instead, the direction the country took shocked both citizens and its supporters. Those who fought for independence did not expect to live as though they were still in the Stone Age — where savagery, rather than laws and institutions, became the norm in managing public affairs.
The term savage often captures attention. However, several scholars and concepts help us understand that what South Sudan is experiencing today is not savagery, but rather Sava-greed — a hybrid form of greed and primitive thinking that dominates the mindset of those in power who seek to get rich quickly.
According to the Collins Dictionary, savagery is defined as “extremely cruel and violent behavior,” or “an act of being brutal, ruthless, or ferocious.” Looking at South Sudan’s current reality, it takes little observation to notice the savage-like manner in which the country’s affairs are run. Despite being blessed with immense natural resources, South Sudan is plagued by a culture of exploitation and destruction, as though its leaders and elites have another country to move to when this one collapses.
The philosopher John Dewey described the “savage mind” using Herbert Spencer’s characterization of primitive man as “explosive and chaotic in feeling, improvident, childishly mirthful, intolerant of restraint, and with but small flow of altruistic feeling.” Who among us would want to be described in such terms? Dewey continued that such a mind is “attentive to meaningless detail and incapable of selecting the facts from which conclusions may be drawn.”
What Dewey referred to — the culture of abuse, institutional corruption, discrimination, and the elimination of dissent — mirrors what is happening in South Sudan today. When leaders lack rational curiosity, ingenuity, or constructive imagination, the result is the kind of political stagnation and moral decay the country now faces. The obsession with power for its own sake is not a mark of leadership but of delusion — a modern manifestation of primitive savagery.
However, the situation in South Sudan goes beyond savagery. It has evolved into what I call Sava-greed — a blend of primitive thinking and greed. This term, though absent from dictionaries, defines the destructive combination of selfishness and moral emptiness exhibited by South Sudan’s ruling elite.
A famous Aesop’s fable illustrates this point well:
“One day, a countryman found a golden egg in his goose’s nest. At first, he thought it was a trick, but soon he discovered it was pure gold. Each morning he found another golden egg and became rich. But as his greed grew, he decided to kill the goose to get all the gold at once — only to find nothing inside.”
Killing the goose that lays the golden eggs is precisely what is happening in South Sudan. Eliminating the very people and systems that sustain the country’s prosperity is an act of greed — and greed, by its nature, is irrational. President Salva Kiir and his circle have unleashed a culture of destruction, believing that consolidating power and silencing opposition will make them wealthier. What they fail to see is that their actions are making South Sudan barren — a land that will yield no future rewards.
Those who feed this greed, whispering false assurances and chasing personal gain, are equally culpable. Their tantrum-like behavior — demanding “I want this” or “I deserve more because I contributed most” — reflects the same self-centeredness that has crippled South Sudan’s governance. President Kiir himself seems to have lost sight of what it truly means to be a leader.
The leadership’s delusion extends beyond greed. They believe they are providing for South Sudanese and see no reason for public dissatisfaction. Yet, any trained trauma specialist would immediately identify the signs of a society under psychological distress:
- Fear. Ordinary citizens live in constant fear of being arrested or harassed for speaking their minds. People go to bed fearing a midnight knock from security agents because of a conversation they had earlier in the day.
- Corruption. Rampant looting of public resources has left millions impoverished and hungry. The UN reports that 2.5 million South Sudanese face hunger this year — a shocking statistic for a resource-rich country.
- Distrust. Uniformed forces and politicians themselves have become sources of fear rather than protection. People now trust only close relatives — and even that trust is fragile.
- Nightmares. Fear manifests psychologically. President Kiir himself once admitted to dreaming that he was being haunted by the late Dr. John Garang — a telling reflection of guilt and paranoia.
- Withdrawal. Many citizens now avoid politics altogether, distancing themselves from public discourse to stay safe. Institutions — the judiciary, parliament, and executive — are dormant. The healthcare system is collapsing, and those with access to state funds use them for luxurious medical trips abroad while ordinary people suffer.
This dysfunction is the result of Sava-greed. The government’s insistence that it is “doing the right thing” is a tragic irony visible in the weary eyes of South Sudan’s citizens — and even in those of barefoot, disillusioned politicians walking the streets of Juba.
Looking at the country from a bird’s-eye view, it is clear that South Sudan’s salvation will not come through fear-mongering, show trials of opposition figures like Riek Machar and his colleagues, or the silencing of critics. Nor will it come from the rampant corruption and nepotism that have hollowed out the state.
What South Sudan needs is an honest national dialogue — a collective effort to eradicate Sava-greed, starting from the top. President Kiir must lower his inflated expectations and recognize that he cannot lead with his eyes and ears closed. If he continues to do so, the very system he rides will eventually throw him under the bus.
If the goal is wealth, enough has already been taken. The killing of the “golden geese” — the people and institutions that sustain the nation — must stop. There is no “INU” in this situation for Uncle President.
The writer,Dr. Nhial Korow Wicleek, is a licensed South Sudanese therapist based in Alberta, Canada. He is a Certified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) instructor and has practiced counselling for over 14 years. The views expressed in this article are solely his own as a social justice advocate and do not reflect his clinical practice.
References
- Dewey, John. Interpretation of the Savage Mind. Psychological Review, 9(3), 217 (1902).
- Seuntjens, T. G. (2016). The Psychology of Greed.
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.