On July 9, 2011, the world watched in awe as South Sudanese rejoiced and danced to the birth of a new nation, born from blood of millions of heroes and heroines that perished in the 21-years’ fight for independence.
May their souls rest in eternal peace.
This independence was not just a political victory, but also a moral one: the right to govern ourselves and build a better future. Yet, freedom is only the first step in the long journey to self-determination Fourteen years later; South Sudan remains a nation at a crossroads, still searching for direction. Political instability, economic hardship, and ethnic division continue to block the path to peace and prosperity.
In retrospect, one is bound to ask critical questions:
What must we change to prevent further deterioration?
How can we build a peaceful and prosperous South Sudan?
How can the South Sudanese across 64 tribes contribute to shaping their destiny?
The answer lies in unlocking the full potential of what we already have. South Sudan must be built on two pillars: Unity and Meritocracy. We must rise above tribalism, nepotism, and favoritism—and embrace a future rooted in our shared identity and history, where human and material resources are used efficiently and effectively to build a strong nation.
Let us understand the urgency of our situation through facts. According to the 2025 IMF report, South Sudan has a GDP per capita of $251. That means each of our 12 million citizens earns, on average, about $21 per month, or just $0.70 per day. This reflects a level of poverty that affects daily survival.
Reports estimate that 80–90% of South Sudan’s population lives below the poverty line. This is the reason why the youth were resorting to gangsterism in towns such as Juba, and rampant cattle rustling in the villages and the cattle camps. This should alarm us all.
These figures are not just statistics—they reflect the real suffering of our people, and why our leaders and intellectuals must do somethings to change the direction.
In my previous articles, I explored our shared ancestry and identity using linguistic, genetic, and archaeological studies. In Part I, I demonstrated our kinship as blood brothers using scientific evidence. In Part II, I traced our origins to the dawn of humanity, showing our deep historical connections back to the Ancient Nile Valley.
As Dr. John Garang de Mabior once said, the ram goes backward into the past and sprints forward to face the challenge head-on. It is important to know your own history, whether bad or good, to have a strong foundation on which to build something great. We must realise that we are not simply grouped together by colonial borders. We are blood relatives, descendants of the same ancestors, who have lived together for thousands of years. If we do not unite and rise together, we will fall prey to what Darwin called natural selection—where only the strong, united and adaptable survive.
As a Dinka who has lived closely with the Nuer, the Bari, the Acholi, and the Shilluk, I see no fundamental differences in our cultures or values. Our shared languages, customs, and values—including our joint struggle for independence—should form the foundation of national unity. This unity must be reflected in governance and development.
Look at Rwanda for inspiration—our brothers and sisters there have shown us that unity and shared vision can accelerate recovery and growth, even after conflict.
In political philosophy, meritocracy refers to a system where positions of power and economic benefits are awarded based on ability and talent—not wealth, tribe, or class. A merit-based system restores public faith in institutions and inspires citizens to work harder, knowing that effort and excellence will be rewarded. I believe one of the tools our leaders can use to unlock the full potential of South Sudanese is merit based hiring, promotion and giving opportunities.
South Sudanese do not have any fundamental limitation to develop a properous nation. We have all the right resources and tools. What we need is to put the right people in the right positions. I am sure there are many examples of how putting right people in the right places produced great results, but I have particular two I can mention here.
One example I remember well was that of Dr John Gai Yoh. In 2014, under the leadership of Dr. Yoh, then Minister for Education, Science, and Technology, over 1,000 scholarships were awarded on merit. It was a moment of fairness that brought hope to many.
Another excellent example was Prof. John Akec, whose leadership transformed the University of Juba and left an enduring legacy. He showed what is possible when talent is placed in the right role.
Meritocracy gives hope to young people. It tells them: you are defined by your talent, not your tribe. This can inspire a generation to work hard, innovate, and lead.
According to a UN report, about 70% of South Sudanese population are youth. This is a massive human resource that our leaders must tap into to develop the nation.
As a wise Chinese man once said: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”.
Teach and inspire the youth to fish in the White Nile, and they will build a stronger and properous South Sudan. Those leaders who empower young people—who inspire them to innovate and lead—will be remembered as the true builders of South Sudan, just like Dr Garang, President Salva Kiir and others of the SPLM/A movement, inspired and led the masses to be the founders of South Sudan on July 9, 2011.
As we celebrate another Independence Anniversary, let us not only reflect on what we escaped—but on what we must become. Let us work toward a united South Sudan, where every citizen, contributes to national development based on merit. This unity must be rooted in our shared ancestry, identity, and values, and guided by a shared vision for a peaceful, fair, and prosperous nation.
Let us embrace a new national slogan: One People, One Nation, One Destiny – Driven by unity and merit.
Happy Independence Day, South Sudan!
The writer, Joe Mabor, is a South Sudanese Software Engineer and Architect based in Germany. He is currently working on Junub Classifieds, an upcoming online market platform for connecting buyers and sellers across South Sudan free.
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.