South Sudan’s journey to independence was long and painful, yet it was carried by leaders who believed that change was possible.
From the outbreak of the first Anyanya War in 1955, to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, the people of Southern Sudan endured decades of bloodshed, oppression and marginalization. They faced air bombardments from Khartoum, saw villages burned and communities scattered. They walked for miles without food or water as children starved along the roads. In all this suffering, the spirit of resilience remained alive because freedom was the hope that no one could take away.
During the rule of Khartoum, Southern Sudanese were denied rights and opportunities, forced into slavery and exploited to provide security and resources for the North. Many were taken as soldiers and denied their childhood and the chance to study in schools.
They were silenced and forced to follow Sharia law, which stripped them of cultural identity and religious freedom. Churches were closed down and communities punished for worshipping in their own way. They lived through years of oppression, humiliation and abuse. They were excluded from the national army and public service, and made strangers in their own land.
It was this suffering that gave rise to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and Army in 1983 under Dr John Garang and other visionary leaders like Kerubino Kuanyin Bol, William Nyuon Bany and Salva Kiir. They resisted because they longed for justice, equality and freedom. They dreamed of a South Sudan built on democracy, service delivery and human dignity. They carried the pain of their people and stood as shields against injustice. Their vision was clear. They wanted to build a nation that would stand tall in the world. Their rallying call was not for tribe or region, but for equality, dignity and justice for all.
Yet today that vision has been forgotten. The sacrifices of those who gave their lives have been betrayed. The promises of liberation are broken. South Sudan declared independence on July 9, 2011 after a referendum where 98 percent voted for secession. The celebrations were filled with joy and pride as citizens filled the streets of Juba, waving flags and singing songs of freedom. The world recognized a new nation and for a brief moment, South Sudan stood united as one people with one destiny. However, independence has not brought the peace and prosperity that was promised. The people remain trapped in poverty. Mothers still weep because their children sleep without food. Fathers mourn because opportunities are stolen by a few who scramble for resources. Dreams have been turned into despair because of corruption, mismanagement and division.
Those who joined the liberation now control power and scramble for resources. They impose leaders through decrees and block the will of the people. They silence voices that call for democracy. Instead of unity and development, South Sudan has been marked by internal conflict. The outbreak of civil war in December 2013 shattered the hope of liberation and left millions displaced in refugee camps, IDPs and the protection of civilian sites under the United Nations. Families were torn apart. Brothers turned against brothers. Villages once united during the liberation struggle became divided by ethnic lines. Instead of building hospitals, schools and industries, leaders invested in weapons and war.
The people of South Sudan are wondering. What solutions are the leaders searching for when the truth is already in their hearts. The solution is justice, unity and service delivery. The solution is leadership that serves the people, rather than enslaves them.
The people need freedom in practice, not only in name. They need roads that connect rural farmers to markets, hospitals where mothers can give birth safely and schools where every child can study. They need clean water that saves lives, peace that allows displaced people to return home, and hope that shines brighter than guns and politics of survival.
Nationalism, patriotism and unity once carried the people through war and struggle. Today, those values are faint shadows. The spirit of liberation is fading as leaders chase power and abandon the call of the people. Yet there are still voices calling for change, leaders pleading for renewal, and mothers praying for the tears of their children to end. South Sudan is still a mother that gave birth to a unique generation with the power to transform this nation. That power has not been lost. It only needs to be reawakened. The youth of South Sudan, who make up more than 70 percent of the population, are that power. If they are empowered with education, skills and opportunities, they can renew the dream of liberation. If they are silenced, ignored or misled, the nation will continue to suffer.
Reconciliation is the first step. South Sudan cannot heal unless its people reconcile.
Reconciliation means forgiveness, but it also means truth. It means accountability for those who loot resources while citizens starve. It means restoring trust between communities. It means embracing diversity as strength and not as a weapon for division. It means giving dignity to refugees IDPs and those in the protection of civilian camps, who were still waiting for liberation. Reconciliation begins in villages, schools and churches. It begins with leaders who are willing to admit mistakes and choose peace over pride. It begins with communities that accept that no tribe is greater than another, and no citizen should be left behind.
Renewal is the second step. Renewal means building institutions that protect rights. It means strengthening democracy with constitutions that reflect the will of the people. It means investing in infrastructure so that farmer’s traders and teachers can contribute to the economy. It means transforming service delivery from empty promises into schools, hospitals and clean water systems. It means building an economy that works for the poor, not only for the powerful. It means using the oil wealth to lift people out of poverty, not to enrich a few individuals. It means building industries that employ the youth and reduce dependence on foreign aid.
Unity is the final step. Without unity, there will be no nation. Unity is not a word. Unity is action.
It is people standing together as one. It is leaders who put the nation above tribe, region and interest. It is communities sharing resources fairly. It is young people carrying the torch of liberation into a future free from corruption and violence. Unity means a shared vision of a South Sudan that belongs to all, not a South Sudan divided by greed and mistrust.
The liberators of South Sudan gave their lives for freedom. Their vision must not be buried with them. South Sudan stands at a crossroads. It can continue down the path of greed and division, or it can rise again with a renewed spirit of liberation. The blood of martyrs like Dr Garang is a reminder that freedom is costly and must be protected.
The tears of the widows and the orphans are a reminder that peace is priceless. The cries of the displaced are a reminder that liberation is incomplete without justice and service delivery.
The choice belongs to the people. The choice belongs to the leaders. The choice belongs to every mother, father and child who calls South Sudan home. The tears of our mothers must not be wasted. The cries of our children must not be ignored. The pain of our past must not become the pain of our future.
It is time for South Sudan to reconcile, rejuvenate and rebuild. It is time to call for peace. It is time to unite as one people and one nation. Only then will liberation be complete. Only then will South Sudan rise to the promise for which so many gave their lives. Only then will the dream of freedom become a reality.
The writer, Mogga Loyo, is a social researcher and peace advocate. He can be reached via email: 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.