The role of social media in South Sudan political upheaval

The role of social media in South Sudan political upheaval 

By: Abraham Daljang Maker

KAMPALA: The recent fighting among the presidential guards has resulted into what would be termed as massive killing in the country if massacre is an over exaggerated word.  Much as many people look at the two men; president Kiir and his Ex-VP Riek Machar as the two big elephants flexing their muscles, it should not be forgotten that the social media especially Facebook has also played a significant role in fueling all these violent. It started way back when the president took a decision of dissolving the entire cabinet most of whom had served in the liberation struggle. This sparked a lot of debate on Facebook status updates with many people predicting what would happen while others were using tribal sentiments to provoke the situation, you could clearly see what would happen in a few months after the sacking of the Vice President. A significant point to note is that most political leaders have Facebook accounts which they manage by themselves or being managed by others for them; in this case they are able to get ideas from the diverse groups which could have increase their discontent and action. With Facebook, people can create anything to instigate non-existent situation of which if you are someone who react at the first sight, you can easily be incited by any updates. There are also a lot of youth forums on Facebook, these platforms would be very healthy if they were created for developmental and enlightening purposes; nonetheless, most of them are tribal, community, households and family forum. They are used to discuss how certain tribe have dominated certain position in the government, how certain tribe, clans, community is better than the other. How certain tribe, clan, family are the threats etc. these things will not take us anywhere at all unless we see ourselves as one people.

 A few days ago, one of the students posted on the wall of South Sudanese Students’ Union in Uganda that small boys from Nuer tribe were forced by people from Bhar el Gazelle to eat corpse in Juba.  Who on this earth can do such inhuman treatment? How sure is this person about the incident? The thing must have been coined up by someone who wants things to get worst so that people can act. Jok Madut Jok said that let’s not see ourselves as Nuer or Dinka but South Sudanese. Madut’s vivid description of the situation of Nuer’s brothers in UN compound in juba and the fear they are living in brought tears into my eyes, why should we inflict pain to ourselves?  This might be the same situation of the Dinka IDPs in UN compound in the other areas captured by the forces loyal to Machar. How long shall people live like aliens in their own land? Why can’t we just come out and say enough is enough instead of fueling the whole situation on the social media?  The right thing we could do as young South Sudanese in other countries like Uganda and Kenya is to organise ourselves despite ethnicity and denounce that odious act at home. This can deter hatred and would teach those rival folks to know that we are united and we don’t want them to ruin our future. 

 People are spreading a lot of lies on Facebook, who knows those army Generals who are believed to be paying allegiance to Dr. Machar must have also been influenced with unconfirmed reports on Facebook.  Social gathering on electronic media should not be underrated because it has been the factor behind many uprisings in other parts of the Africa. As a matter of facts, there are some people who like to take advantage of mayhem and they would always want to create chaos. It is therefore important to analyze things on this social platform before one move on with any decision. 

According to report on Sudan tribune, Lakes State caretaker governor is said to be protecting the Nuer community in Rumbek. If this is done in all parts, it will save people from fear and it will reduce incitement. In order to be responsible citizens of this new nation, everyone must exercise some sense of responsibility despite the age and level of education. No man is an Island and if we have that in mind then we shall know the importance of being together. Before you go, I want to ask one more question, do you guys know that ruining that country by those who want to fulfilled their ambition means that we young people will not have better future? If you can look at this destruction, it will take other decades to reconstruct what have been destroyed, and vacuum of those killed in this crisis will never be filled. Why then can’t we stand up against this and condemn it? Well, think about this and if it touches your heart, then be responsible in whatever action you do. God bless you all.