When South Sudan gained independence on July 9, 2011, the world celebrated a nation born from immense sacrifice, resilience, and the collective dream of freedom. For millions of South Sudanese, independence symbolized not only liberation from decades of oppression, but also the promise of dignity, self-determination, and a peaceful future. Yet, 14 years later, that promise has faded into recurring cycles of crisis, violence, and mistrust.
The independence struggle was long and painful. Generations of South Sudanese gave their lives in the belief that their children would live in peace and dignity. Villages were burned, families displaced, and countless lives lost in the hope of achieving freedom. However, the country that emerged has not yet delivered on these dreams. Instead, what we see today is a state trapped in political deadlock, violent competition over resources, and a culture of division that undermines nationhood.
The truth is that South Sudan’s problems are not caused by the ordinary citizens. They are the result of a leadership crisis, a mindset among those who claim to have liberated the country. Some of these leaders fought in the liberation struggle, while others did not participate or were too young during the war. Regardless of their background, many of them now carry an attitude of entitlement to power. This has become the foundation of tribalism, nepotism, sectarianism, and exclusion.
Instead of serving the people, leadership has been reduced to the preservation of power, access to wealth, and the protection of tribal or clan interests. Key government institutions have become highly politicized, with appointments often based on ethnic allegiance rather than merit. This has eroded trust in the state and widened divisions among communities.
This crisis of leadership has had devastating effects. It has deepened poverty, discouraged investment, weakened education and health systems, and left millions dependent on humanitarian assistance. Leaders who should have been nation-builders have become managers of endless conflicts.
Thetoxic political culture has spilled into the society at large. It has fueled tensions, pastoralist conflicts, and nomadic migrations that disrupt farming communities. Each year, reports emerge of violent clashes between cattle herders and farmers, leading to killings, displacement, and destruction of livelihoods. Farmers have lost their crops, while cattle keepers face revenge attacks, perpetuating a cycle of violence.
Communities that once co-existed peacefully are now locked in mistrust. Traditional systems of conflict resolution have weakened, and political elites often exploit tribal grievances for personal gain. Ordinary South Sudanese who were farmers, herders, traders, or civil servants have continued to suffer while leaders fight over positions, resources, and influence.
The ideals of self-determination and internal autonomy, for which millions sacrificed, have been betrayed by political selfishness and the proliferation of militia groups dissatisfied with governance. Instead of unity, South Sudan has become a patchwork of power centers, each protected by guns and ethnic loyalties.
Beyond the visible violence, there are also those dying in silence, the elderly, women, children, and people with disabilities. These groups bear the brunt of conflict and instability, yet they remain invisible in the political discourse.
Women walk long distances in search of food and water, facing risks of violence. Children are recruited into armed groups or grow up without education. People with disabilities are left behind during displacements, often without access to basic services. The elderly, once custodians of wisdom and tradition, are now among the most vulnerable in a society that has been torn apart.
Their suffering is rarely captured in political speeches, peace agreements, or international negotiations. Yet, they represent the true face of South Sudan’s pain. Any genuine conversation about peace must begin with the recognition of these silent victims.
It is worth to note that the way forward requires more than peace agreements on paper. It demands a new mindset that will put the peoples mind in thought of peace not only power struggle and deliberation, at the center of governance. South Sudanese leaders must recognize that liberation was not a personal achievement but a collective struggle of the people. The legitimacy of leadership cannot come from past glory but from present service to citizens.
True peace must be rooted in justice, reconciliation, and accountable governance. This means building institutions that serve all South Sudanese. It means creating opportunities for young people, empowering women, protecting farmers, and ensuring that resources benefit communities rather than fuel elite competition.
South Sudan cannot afford to remain hostage to its history of divisions. Communities must be brought together through dialogue, truth telling, and justice. Local peacebuilding efforts, often led by faith-based organizations and civil society, should be supported and scaled up.
Equally important is the need for accountable governance. Leaders must be held responsible for corruption, violence, and abuse of power. Without accountability, peace will remain fragile, and citizens will continue to lose faith in the state.
South Sudan still has a choice. It can either remain hostage to its past, trapped in cycles of mistrust, violence, and failed governance, or it can embrace a new future where liberation means more than political entitlement to the citizens who suffered the 21 years of civil strife with the Sudan Government .
A future South Sudan must be one where freedom is not only just about the arms of the government as a flag and a national anthem, but about dignity, peace, and prosperity for every citizen. It must be a country where no child goes hungry, where no farmer loses crops to violence, and where no woman walks in fear. It must be a nation where leaders see themselves not as rulers, but as servants of the people.
The crucial question is not whether South Sudan can survive with the people who have already proven their resilience through decades of struggle. It is whether its leaders have the courage to change course before it is too late.
The future of South Sudan will not be decided by international mediators, peace agreements, or external aid alone. It will be determined by the choices of its leaders and the determination of its citizens to hold them accountable.
If the spirit of liberation is to mean anything, then it must be redefined not as a claim to power, but as a commitment to justice, peace, and dignity for all. Only then, will South Sudan rise from the ashes of conflict and become the nation its people dreamed of on that historic day of independence.
The writer, Mogga Loyo Junior, is a social researcher and peace advocate (mogtomloyo@yahoo.co.uk.
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.