South Sudan is having a long Journey on a rough road

It’s still a long journey on a rough road.

By: Abraham Daljang Maker, Kampala Uganda

The long awaited independence came like a thief on the 9^th July 2011 and everyone could not believe that it was true. After the two decades of civil war fought between north and south Sudan, comprehensive peace agreement came as a blessing which latter brought a little bit of peace and tranquility in the country. Six years of interim government in south Sudan was finally sealed off with the Independence of south last year.

Tears of joy were rolling down on everyone’s cheek on that day when the flag of the world’s newest nation was hoisted. Many south Sudanese believed that this was to mark the suffering and agony of war and its ramifications.  Life was like an automatic vehicle that only needs a driver to move it. For the first time in my whole life, I slept soundly because peace has come at least; well I didn’t know what peace means. For that matter, I used to ask my mother what it means to have peace because I was born in the war and grew in it. However, there were many things which short lived the happiness of the people. First was the emergence of the rebel activities in the Greater Upper Nile region. Many generals with their loyal soldiers turned their gun against the innocent civilians and again my heart ached when I saw many people fleeing for their dear lives. This made me raised my eyebrows with fear in my heart that people will again return to suffering but I took simple and relax. A few months latter, another horrific episode occurred in the same region. Two ethnic groups butchered each other and burnt houses and loot property, which I thought was just a war hangover and I was still basking in the independence period. This seemed to have ended when the government intervened and reconciled the two communities. But before people would forget all these occurrences, there was a serious aerial bombardment at the unity state which brought again misery to civilians; the accusing finger was promptly pointed to the former foe which the Khartoum vehemently denied. My heart raced faster with fear because I witnessed the terrific attack during the war when every home had to dig a hole where people would hide whenever they hear the sound of a plane.

Few months down the road, the south Sudan Army took control of the Panthou which is popularly known as Heglig. The occupation was received with the mix feelings. For the citizen of south Sudan, this was a very big achievement and it showed the military might. Nonetheless, the international community, the African Union, US and the UK condemned the act and branded it as an illegal occupation. South Sudanese citizens were asking why the United Nations and African Union condemned the occupation of Heglig and did not condemn the occupation of Abyei by Khartoum Government. Juba government obeyed the AU and UN by withdrawing its troops from disputed area. But the plans to hold the talk over the post referendum issues were brought to standstill due to the counter accusations by the two parties.  Border demarcation, and Abyei issue plus many other things remain the big thorns on the road to freedom and this still brought the uncertainty in the near future.

Besides all these mayhem within and outside the country, there are still other things that seem to be a great hindrance to peaceful movement on the road to final constructions of the new country. Education remains a big challenge in the country where about 90% of the populations do not know how to read and write. Education begins from nursery school but you find that a few nursery schools are concentrated in the small city of Juba leaving other rural areas sleep in their illiteracy. Universities and secondary schools owned by the government are struggling to catch up with time but little is done to save them. Rumbek secondary school in lakes state for example is one of the oldest schools in south Sudan but now it is like an old man struggling with live. It works for few months and closed for almost a year. Not to mention primary schools in most states which are left to few people who have the love of progress. Another sector that faces a very big pitfall is the health sector. Most states have big hospitals but you hardly find drugs and other health facilities in them, many Primary health care units (PHCU) are fairly doing well especially those run by none governmental organizations. Those who are well off find their ways to neighboring countries like Uganda and Kenya to seek treatment and big people seek treatment in the US, UK, India, China and many developed countries but the destitute are left with no option other than struggling with those few drugs in the country’s hospitals. Agriculture, which most African countries rely on, is in a cripple situation. As the saying goes, “No man can leave without bread.” Agriculture needs to be rehabilitate in the country in order to avoid being dependent on imported food from the neighboring country like Uganda. Western Equatoria state would be a bread basket if it is well used; because it has good climate that can favor agricultural production. All these and many other things are very big obstacles which I think can frustrate us if they are not critically looked into properly. This therefore means that after having celebrated the historic independence of the country, everyone has to take it as a task to do his or her part to see that we all move towards achieving the main goal and maintain the happiness.