When it comes to sharing my unsolicited opinions on South Sudan, I find myself getting involved uninvited. This is my home; it is my country, and I cannot remain passive while its affairs are discussed, especially when I believe I can help address the challenges we face.
The Nuer community has coined the term “Nuer-Weu,” which has become a potent weapon. This term targets national leaders of Nuer descent who have chosen to serve in the government of the Republic of South Sudan rather than participate in the widespread and destructive rebellion. It is used to shame leaders such as H.E. Taban Deng Gai, Ambassador Lol Gatkuoth, Gen. Hoth Mai, Hon. Tut Gatluak Manime, H.E. Nguen Monytuil, Gen. Makal Kuol, Gen. Bouy Rolnyang, Gen. Matthew Puljang, and many others. These people face this unrealistic labeling for rejecting chaos and ethnic conflict.
These people are not traitors; they are principled citizens exercising their constitutional right to participate in the government. They have prioritized the nation over chaos. Therefore, the mockery directed at them must cease. Those who mock them need to reconsider their stance, as no tribe can convincingly install a president. No amount of weaponry can surpass the power of the ballot.
H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit holds his office today because he was elected, not due to Dinka military dominance. He is supported by all citizens of South Sudan, as a constitutional order cannot be overthrown through unconstitutional means. Likewise, Dr. Riek Machar Teny will attain the presidency of South Sudan only through democratic processes and sound policy, it will not happen through Nuer bloodshed. This is the reality, not merely my opinion.
The dangerous illusion of establishing a separate tribal government for the Nuer or Dinka is poisoning the future of our country. There is no Nuer government, nor will there ever be one. Equally, there is no Dinka government, and there will not be one either. What exists is solely the Government of the Republic of South Sudan.
While we continue to mock those who prioritize nationalism over tribalism, our children are left to study under trees. Our sick loved ones suffer and die without access to medicine. Our roads are reduced to muddy paths.
This mindset may appear courageous, but it is misguided. We must recognize and contemplate, before it is too late, that wars do not construct schools. Conflicts do not create roads, and the persistent underdevelopment afflicting Nuer lands and the entire country stems directly from Nuer’s highest affinity for violence.
We have been misled or, more accurately, we have misled ourselves into believing that rejecting government jobs demonstrates loyalty. But loyalty to what? Is it loyalty to a life of poverty? Is it loyalty to witnessing the development of other regions while ours remains stagnant? Winning wars is meaningless if the victories lack a just cause. The Nuer have fought for Dr. Riek Machar Teny, and it is time for them to confront the reality that fighting for one man’s claim to power while our people lack basic necessities is not heroism. It is an act of unnecessary self-destruction.
Ask yourselves what “Nuer Weu” truly means in a realistic context. Nuer Weu encompasses having a stable income. It includes the ability to send your children to school. It signifies access to essential services. It means not living in refugee camps or Protection of Civilian Sites (PoCs). It represents active participation in the governance and affairs of your country.
Those of us in rebellion have sacrificed our futures for a fantasy that will never come to fruition. We will never establish a government that exclusively represents our community. No tribe, be it Nuer, Dinka, Bari, Madi, Shilluk, Taposo, Kuku, Kakwa, Baka, etc.; will ever install a president by force in South Sudan. Tanks do not create legitimacy; elections do. Recognizing this truth is not a sign of cowardice; it is a mark of wisdom.
It is time to abandon the notion of Nuer Weu. Those who bear that label are not misguided; they are wise. They have opted for stability, adherence to the law, and a commitment to the national purpose. Consequently, they are also leading more fulfilling lives.
The Dinka-Nuer rivalry must be resolved timely. It must end, or it will finally lead to our destruction. This rivalry should be transformed into constructive competition. Compete in building hospitals and constructing roads and schools. Compete in graduating skilled doctors, lawyers, and engineers. Compete in lifting your people out of poverty.
Stop fostering false beliefs, such as the misguided notion of Nuer Weu, while inciting younger generations to adopt tribal loyalty. Such loyalty demeans others, undermines the nation, and perpetuates injustices. Every South Sudanese citizen has the right to live and work anywhere in the country.
A rational citizen should never forfeit their rights to escape a nickname, whether it be Nuer Weu or any other derogatory term. A choice like that signifies a preference for chains over freedom.
South Sudanese must reflect on their actions and cease the self-destruction driven by one person’s ambition. There is no honor in this; it is sheer foolishness. Our children will never forgive us for prioritizing war over their education, rebellion over their healthcare, and ethnic fantasies over their future. South Sudan belongs to all of us, or it belongs to none of us.
Till then, yours truly, Mr. Teetotaler!
The writer, Dr. Sunday de John, holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) from the University of Nairobi, Faculty of Business and Management Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, respectively. He is the current Chairman of the South Sudan United Front-Progressive and can be reached via drsundayalong4@gmail.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.