South Sudan at Heart

The Niles النيلان -Arabic or English? South Sudan’s linguistic dilemma

Where does lakes state belong? By: Abraham Daljang Maker, Kampala Uganda. KAMPALA:   It has been a while without writing any piece because the situation in South Sudan is not favoring us journalists.   However, the dire situation in Lakes state has forced me to break the silent at last so that I can speak up and see if my opinion can make some sense in the minds of the readers, the politicians and policy makers. The question as to where does the lakes state belong can be answered in various ways by different people in walks of life, but to me; lakes state does not only belong to Lakers alone as you may think. It belongs to all the ten states of South Sudan, to you and me; amazingly, it also belongs to Kenyans, Ugandans, Tanzanians and Congolese. Ask why and I can tell you that all those people that I have mentioned reside in that state and anything that affects it also affects all of them as well. As the saying goes, “what affects eyes also affects nose.” That ...

Street children in Rumbek lakes state are expecting bright dawn By: Abraham Daljang maker KAMPALA:   a good number of street children in Rumbek town, the capital of lakes state, is looking at the bright side of their lives as they expect government support and the development of their talents.   Rumbek town has an increasing number of street kids, especially boys 5-17 years of age bracket who leave their homes and come to live on the street of the small town where they live by scavenging for food in gutters and the leftovers in small restaurants.  Finally, they converge at freedom square, where they spend their nights on a dusty and cold football playground.  Due to hardship in getting food, some of these children have resorted to a dangerous game of pick-pocketing and snatching any valuable item they lay their hands on. As a result, they are beaten and seriously injured by the people to whom they take things. These children al...

I was caught up in a battle field and survived narrowly  By: Abraham Daljang Maker Any fair minded person would not do what I had done on the January 18, 2013 in Rumbek town. It was as a normal morning just like any other day; I was sitting on the compound of my cousin brushing my teeth, suddenly there was a loud bang of a gun short. This happened at a distance of a stone throw from where I sat.  Alas! It was a communal fighting between Ruop and Kueeth clans of the Dinka ethnic groups of Rumbek center. The cattle keepers popularly known as “Gelwong” in the Dinka dialect attacked themselves among the civilians in the suburb of the town. Bullets were flying like birds above everyone’s head, confusions engulf the whole town as women and children were yelling while running for their dear lives.   I also join the procession of the terrified masses but after a short distance; I decided to return so that I could witness what was taking place. Foolishly enough, I ...

Who can contain the dire situation in South Sudan? By: Abraham Daljang Maker Freedom is what everyone was longing for in South Sudan. From 1955-1972, the slogan was the same. “We need to be free and determine our destiny.” The futility of 1972 Addis-Ababa agreement showed its ugly face when the South Sudan army was assimilated into the Sudan National army. This prompted another movement in 1983 leading to the loss of estimated two million lives; however, the best fruit of this struggle was the birth of a new nation. Hosting the national flag was greeted with ululations and chanting of the song of freedom especially in the National anthem.   Many of us thought that this would mark the end of suffering and the road of success and development seemed to be clear and straight. The oil money poured into few pockets and the rural populations remain in their pathetic lives and even some wounded heroes remain wondering why they lost their limbs without gaining the benefits of thei...