Warm greetings to you and your family from thousands of South Sudanese currently living in camps in the six civilian protection areas in our country.
Since you took on the role of Senior Presidential Envoy for Special Affairs, we have been closely following your statements. You promised to spearhead healing and reconciliation. These promises are not new, and I am sure they resonate with many South Sudanese, whether in refugee camps or in their homes.
I have noticed many intellectuals, including those from outside your community, congratulating you. There have been discussions in the civilian protection camps about their hopes for your actions. I have heard people, even those grappling with hunger, lacking medical care, and facing severe flooding in Upper Nile, expressing their congratulations to you. This has made me ask many questions. Why do the victims of President Salva Kiir’s leadership believe that his daughter will be their saviour?
Mark Twain once said to a public servant: “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time you paused and reflected.”
Let me give you a little background on the Protection of Civilians (PoCs) camp. These camps were set up during the heartbreaking events of December 15, 2013, when many lives were lost in Juba. The Nuer community reported over 20,000 deaths of civilians in just three days from December 16 – 18.
In the wake of these horrific events, armed resistance began. The UN Mission in South Sudan opened its doors to the civilians fleeing the violence in Juba. Currently, Bentiu in Unity State has the highest number of IDPs, with over 537,000 individuals. Malakal in Upper Nile State has around 515,000, Juba has 470,000, and Wau in Western Bahr el-Ghazal, along with Bor and Meluth County in Upper Nile State, also have significant numbers. Some of these camps have either been closed or handed over to the Transitional Government of National Unity established in 2020.
It is clear that this is not your first time engaging with the community as part of your corporate social responsibility efforts. Your speech in 2024 caught people’s attention when you spoke to students in Lakes State. The main takeaway was clear: work hard and respect your parents to find success. Your ASK Foundation team shared this message without checking in with you first, likely because they were so inspired by what you said.
However, we in the IDP camps have not felt your generosity, as your team did not include us in their plans. They concentrated on specific areas and communities that are loyal to the government.
I need to let you know that since the conflict began in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, in February 2025, the behaviour of the Kiir government officials has been alarming. They have closed all channels for dialogue and were committing ethnic cleansing, particularly against the Nuer. They have made threats against Dr Riek Machar and anyone who dares to question their actions, arresting those they suspect of supporting him. They seem to think that every Nuer is an ally of Dr Machar. Moreover, they have singled out 16 counties, comparing their suffering to that of the Palestinians in Gaza. It is shocking to see them bombing hospitals, markets, and civilian areas late at night in regions that have been flooded for the past five years, like the Old Fangak hospital operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). These actions have deeply divided South Sudanese along ethnic lines. Many of us, myself included, feel that the government is no longer a government of national unity. Instead, it seems to represent just a handful of the Dinkas.
Lately, the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have been expanding their territory. The South Sudanese Army has tried to push back, but has been outmatched. There has been a lot of criticism directed at South Sudan, and the UPDF Chief of Staff, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni, took to X Space on July 31, 2025. He boldly declared: “UPDF is the mightiest army in EAC; South Sudan must be taught a lesson before it opens its mouth.” He did not hold back, adding: “Attempting to confront UPDF is the fastest route to disaster.”
You are at a crossroads: You can either tarnish President Kiir’s legacy by giving in to corruption and siding with the officials your father appointed, or open a new chapter of dialogue, healing, and reconciliation with those you might see as rivals to President Kiir, especially Dr Machar. I encourage you to visit Dr Machar at his home in Amarat and thank him for his part in the liberation.
As Leo Tolstoy wisely said: “Be bad, but at least don’t be a liar, a deceiver!”
We, the IDPs, will feel a sense of safety and security if you engage in genuine conversations with those you perceive as enemies of your father. If you allow your foundation to extend aid to the PoCs in Juba and Bentiu, and if you personally visit the IDP camps, it would make a significant difference. I urge you to instruct the army to halt bombardments in Nasir, Fangak, and other areas considered hostile to the government. Additionally, please prevent the military from attacking the cantonment sites, the White Army, the National Salvation Front led by Thomas Cyrillo, and the SPLA-IO military bases. I implore you to advocate for the release of all political detainees to help usher in a new era for our nation-building.
I understand that sharing these sentiments openly can be risky. Still, I feel that this risk is worth taking, especially since you seem well-equipped to tackle the issue at hand. As George Orwell pointed out: “The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.”
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
The writer, Ruot George Wal Mut, is a freelance journalist, co-founder and Programs Manager of the Nile Youth Development Actions [NYDA] and human rights activist. He can be reached via email mutgeorge8@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.