After Independence, South Sudan Must Now Put its House in Order
As the world continues to celebrate the birth of its 193rd nation and Africa’s 54th, the Republic of South Sudan could be stillborn if the politics of exclusion and official corruption that pervade the nascent state are left unchecked. Whereas the Southern Sudanese voted almost to a man for secession during the historical January plebiscite that gave way to the July independence, celebrations could be short-lived if the new nation does not put its house in order.
Barely seven months after the referendum, the SPLM has nonchalantly adopted its neighbouring Khartoum regime’s authoritarian attitude by neglecting some of the allies that provided the crucial referendum vote. Put another way, South Sudan has not only copied but perfected its neighbour’s politics of marginalization that was a source of the struggle for independence in the first place. It is this new-found politics of exclusion that has led to an upsurge in armed insurgencies, military defections and militia activity, a clear recipe for disaster for a nation just born. Needless to say, the presence of seven militia groups armed with dangerous weapons on the eve of a nation’s independence is a harbinger to continued deadly skirmishes and a source of instability.
One bad precedent that has been set by the Republic of South Sudan is the adoption of a one-party transitional constitution favouring the SPLM. Despite the advice given by international experts including those from the US Institute of Peace that advocated for an open, all inclusive document, the SPLM impudently ignored the views of the opposition. There is nothing more dangerous than attaining independence with a disputed constitution.
It is instructive that the transitional constitution denies the people the federal system by concentrating all the powers in Juba and allowing the President to relieve an elected governor or to dissolve a state legislative assembly. No constitution could be more draconian. Under article 101 (R) of the constitution, the president can also declare war and a state of emergency without the prior approval of Parliament. With this, it may only be a matter of time before the newly independent South Sudan erupts into war.
According to the International Crisis Group, the Brussels-based think-tank, the domineering approach from the SPLM has jeopardised the goodwill created by an important political parties’ conference in late 2010. Stifling debate and poor political management of such processes unnecessarily risk further antagonism among opposition parties.
Still, the current political and economic climate in South Sudan, where the majority Dinka, President Salva Kiir’s ethnic community and Vice-President Riek Machar’s Nuer tribe dominate most of the public service jobs at the exclusion of minority tribes, does not augur well for national cohesion. A new briefing by the Minority Rights Group (MRG) , an international NGO that creates awareness on minority rights, says that ethnic tensions fuelled by unequal access to resources and political influence in South Sudan could increase violence and threaten the stability of Africa’s newest nation. Notably, competition between ethnic groups over scarce resources continues to spark violence, often in the form of deadly cattle-raids..
For the nation to remain in peace, the government of South Sudan will need to focus on political representation for minorities and an equitable distribution of resources in order to alleviate ethnic tensions that threaten long-term stability.
Despite these teething problems, there is still room to make amends. As the new nation-state takes shape, the SPLM should leverage on its liberation struggle to initiate dialogue with opposition parties and militia groups and ensure an all inclusive government. In the interest of a cohesive state capable of delivering services to its citizens, the SPLM will have to learn a lesson or two in democratic reforms. The SPLA should also shed off its guerilla tag and exercise some military discipline.
The government of South Sudan has no choice. To continue enjoying the goodwill of the international community that monitored the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the government must adopt sound governance approaches especially in the management of the oil wealth which is the nation’s backbone. The international community too must continue assisting South Sudan to realise its long-term dream.