How long will the Country mutely observe Lou Nuer and Murle tribes’ carnage?
By Gieth A. Dauson, Juba SEP. 7/2011, SSN; I still remember an after-work conversation over a cup of coffee with a friend on issues pertaining stability in South Sudan, when he paused in the middle of the chat and asked: But, Gieth, why does it always happen from Greater Upper Nile region? Puzzled, I asked what he meant, but he chose to continue. Can you guys in that region allow other South Sudanese to enjoy their hard earned peace? Don’t you people think these acts are tainting heroic sacrifices paid by this region during the liberation struggle? Speechless, I only switched to a different topic. But, after a long self debate and internalization, I concluded that my friend, fed up daily news of political rebellions and tribal clashes at my back yard, intended to challenge me as a son of greater Upper Nile region to advocate for putting our regional house in order in terms of stability. I also consoled myself that he did so in good faith, because when one part of the Country bleeds, the whole Country does. The author is emotionally and psychologically agitated by inter-tribal doom that has recently engulfed both Lou Nuer and Murle communities of Jonglei State. With death toll standing at thousands, from series of tribal attacks and revenge killings; shelters burnt to ashes; crops and livestock for livelihoods taken away by either community; women and children abducted and other inhumane practices executed by attackers from both communities, we will always look back as a nation and rue the opportunities we never cease to stop lives from being lost. It’s my humble believe that the government did little to avert the situation. As citizens of this Country, in our various designations, It’s my strong believe that we did not also play our roles to save more lives from what the world saw eminently coming forth. They say “better late than never” and I reckon this nation needs to rise and emerge victorious to the challenge of tribal wars, less; we give the “failed state proponents” a reason to smile. It’s common knowledge on the international arena that South Sudan has witnessed violent inter and intra tribal conflicts, compounded by armed rebellions for most part of pre independence period, with highest death peak registered in 2009. Research and statistical figures show that Jonglei State has been the most affected. Numerous theories have been put forward by traditional leaders; government officials; scholars and humanitarian organizations on the causes of these violent conflicts and measures were proposed to address the predicament. All efforts by various stakeholders to reduce or end violent conflicts in South Sudan and particularly Jonglei have fell short from time to time. So are we missing something? Narrowing it to current violence involving the Lou Nuer and Murle communities, the author believes that there is a small button that needs triggering in order to realize tranquility in the greater Counties of Pibor and Akobo. Very obvious factors aside, the author believes the Murle and Lou Nuer conflict continue to be aided by total absence of peace dividends in form of service delivery in the Counties in which these communities are found. Very little was done during the interim period. Both greater Pibor and Akobo Counties are cut off from other parts of the Country, especially national and State capitals by lack of road networks. Little has been done to address food insecurity and hunger which characterizes these areas in wet season. Youths have no access to schools, are unemployed and no attempts have been made to show them alternative livelihood sources. Small arms and light weapons proliferation on the hands of idle youth is very high, despite many disarmaments attempts by the government. There has never been telephone networks coverage, which is a simple development step, until recently when some networks were set up in some areas. The only source of communication in most part of interim period has been via thuraya phones, locking these areas off. Above all, these areas are characterized by shortage of water for both livestock and human consumption throughout the dry season, and hence, residents migrate to water points during this period. They share scarce water and pasture and possibilities of clashes have been very high. These are the key underlying and driving factors of this conflict. Many people in and outside the government have either little or no substantial information about local dynamics in these areas. This has continuously resulted into wrong diagnosis and remedy measures for the addressing the conflict. Worth noting is the South Sudanese disease; “pride derived from tribal identity” that is occasionally in play, when prominent politicians; chiefs and local administrators apparently side with their respective communities either justifying their actions or sabotaging reconciliation efforts. Sometimes, the neutrality of government representatives, notably commissioners seem compromised because, they could be under intense pressure to support community actions, regardless of whether they are justifiable or not. This makes many people think that things might have been different if commissioners never originally came from areas they serve. Having a Madi man or woman as a County commissioner in Pibor and a Shilluk man or woman as a Ccounty commissioner in Akobo would make the difference, but who really knows? While looking for answers to this conflict, fingers have always been pointed at external sources, leaving a high potentiality of recurrence as seen recently. I believe peace and stability can only be felt by people who preach and promote it. My personal opinion on Lou Nuer and Murle conflict is that, peace will only come when the sons and daughters of Lou Nuer and Murle jointly accept an alternative way of addressing their differences and embrace dialogue that shall formulate a framework for addressing various underlying issues that have been fueling this conflict for decades. This principle would apply to any other tribal conflict across the Country. People fight and finally settle issues on the table. Nothing can be settled through a barrel of a gun, and the signing of CPA that ended decade’s long Sudanese conflict is a living testimony. The theory of finishing one tribe has no place in this contemporary world and nature. Nothing created by God can be wiped out by human actions. So if any of these communities are thinking of completing each other, it’s not possible. It’s time the governments shows some authority and create a space for peaceful engagement. In 2006, a precious opportunity for putting up a framework for the settlement of Lou Nuer and Murle conflict was missed. When Lou Nuer community was disarmed in 2005/2006, the same was not done to its neighboring communities, until around 2008/2009 when disarmament was conducted in Pibor County. The sluggish 2008/2009 disarmament was less significant in bringing stability in this corridor. Lou Nuer community, subjected to series of small scales raids by its neighbors started rearming when another disarmament exercise was commencing in Pibor. The Pibor community cried foul and the exercise was not successful. It’s a missed opportunity because; were all these communities simultaneously disarmed and government backed reconciliations processes stepped up; basic service delivery including opening roads to County HQs accelerated; Telephone networks opened and alternative livelihoods schemes for youths set up, these people could have seen the importance of peace and could have embraced it. In nutshell, people here see no future given the situation they are in and therefore feel neglected; have lost faith in both state and national government because they could not see any authoritative actions or any services provided. When confronted by any situation, they act violently to restore their pride. Nobody foresaw what death scale was forth coming or nobody cared. Nobody cared from the government. Nobody even cared among Lou Nuer and Murle leaders. If anyone cared, the lives being lost could have been saved. It’s important to underscore that violent incidences involving Lou Nuer and Murle communities have historically been on considerably small scales, mostly for stealing cattle with few casualties and child abduction cases. The main targets of raiding have always been cattle and a few child abduction cases. Before 2010, there were a few cases of targeted killing targeting elderly; women and children. No crops were and shelters were burnt. Given the remoteness and isolation of Lou Nuer and Murle corridor, vast majority of South Sudan had little or no information about what was happening in this part of the Country, and in silence they continued to suffer from their own hands. It was not until 2010 when Lou Nuer community, probably fed up with frequent raids from their Murle Counter parts amassed thousands of young men and headed to Murleland and subsequently raided several villages. This was the incident that changed the Murle Lou Nuer dynamic in decades in that, besides raiding cattle, houses were burn to ashes; women; children and the elderly were killed, women and children were also abducted. As expected, the Murle tribesmen mobilized for revenge, attacking several villages in Akobo and Uror; killing women; children; elderly, in the same “scotch earth like” move as previously done on their loved ones by the Lou Nuer. Death tolls were in thousands. Surprisingly, nothing was done by either the State or Central government. Intellectuals; politicians; chiefs and religious leaders from both Murle and Lou Nuer communities never made any move. The common government song of the “north's hidden hand behind” was sung as a reason behind the violence. Politicians and opinion leaders from both communities were quite, only bracing for more revenge and more scores against each other. Other prominent figures from Upper Nile region and South Sudan were quite too, making people wonder where the solution will come from. The relative calm that was restored by South Sudan referendum and preparation for independence was not felt by the two communities, as these areas continued to engage in violence. By March 2011, thousands of young men from Lou Nuer again went to Murleland for cattle raiding exercise that lasted for weeks, killing women; children and elderly; as well as abducting scores. At national level, it was treated as a Jonglei incident, as it was treated as a Lou Nuer and Murle problem in Jonglei State. As such, Murle youths organized revenge attacks in the following months resulting into more devastating casualties on Lou Nuer. This went on in April through May 2011. Again, nobody paid attention to the situation. By June 2011; Lou Nuer youth mobilized for revenge attack and headed back to Murleland and raiding cattle killing people, in a very large scale. The number that went was so big that almost every Murle village was over run. The Murle cried for rescue and not even the security forces in Pibor area attempted to restore calm. This time the casualties on Murle tribe were too many since almost all villages were infiltrated by Lou Nuer youth. Looming was an imminent revenge attack. The Murle took their time and only struck in August 2011. This time, several villages in Louland; women; children and elderly killed in hundreds if not thousands; women and children were abducted and several herds of cattle taken. By now, we can predict correctly that Lou Nuer could be mobilizing for another revenge attack on Murle community. But, the question is: How long will the Country mutely observe Lou Nuer and Murle tribes’ carnage? It’s time we take responsibility of our own affairs and future as a Country and as individual citizens. The Khartoum that has been our scapegoat for generations, and rightly so, is gone. Only God knows why He created us in this corner of the globe with distinctive identities and languages, and nobody can amend that. Our dignified ancestors who kept these tribes in peaceful coexistence, in the areas they occupy, for decades are no longer there and it’s our turn to do everything to continue to live in peace. In spite of our egos and prides, no tribe is better or stronger than the other, and the only disparity is only on numbers. We are not different from each other and it would be impossible to for instance to “separate a mixture of ten Murle and Lou Nuer two years old infants on tribal basis”. Believe me; they just look alike, meaning we are the same. The laboratory of liberation struggle indicated that we stood shoulder to shoulder during tough and good times and none of us is therefore weak. It also taught us that we were able to do it perfectly well when we stood as one unit, not as individual tribes. As we look forward to maximizing service delivery to our people who have endured hardships in their lifetimes, it’s imperative that we value every South Sudanese, regardless of tribe, who has witnessed the fulfillment of our martyrs’ aspirations (Independence of South Sudan). No more lives should therefore be lost through preventable conflicts. Since we could not envisage “a South Sudan without Murle and Lou Nuer tribes”, the time to save lives is now. The scale at which lives are being lost is too high and therefore as a nation, we need to move fast with a number of steps. Firstly, all leaders from Upper Nile region need to show some leadership. We know that Lou Nuer and Murle community intellectuals as human beings are overwhelmed by the conflict and eminent feelings of revenge. This means, other leaders from the region should take it up and engage all stakeholders from both Murle and Lou Nuer right way. As humans, everyone including leaders from these communities must be filled with anger and bitterness and may not think of calling for round table talk, but someone from other areas could influence them. At some point, they will understand that revenge cycle is not going to help anyone. They need to be shown with total commitment that the issue is a national problem. They must know that the lives that continue to be lost are precious for this nation. This move would prepare a ripe ground for dialogue. This move I believe would be a blue print for saving more lives from tribal conflicts from other corners of South Sudan. Secondly, the central and state governments should embark on unilateral disarmament exercise for Lou Nuer and Murle communities, as well other communities in the State and South Sudan at large. Some robust authority needs to be shown by the government. There should also be an immediate legislation illegalizing small arms on the hands of civilians and tough penalties levied on violators. This should however be done in conjunction and with involvement of local politicians from all areas, as experience has shown that some politicians may sabotage the process. Same should apply in other states to avoid double standards, which has been used by many communities as an excuse for rearming. It looks like a mountain to climb, but as government, it’s doable. South Sudanese are law abiding people, especially when those laws universally apply across communities, without any discrimination. Thirdly; the government should prioritize and expedite some developmental projects in the area. Roads networks which operate throughout the season to greater Akobo and Pibor Counties, all the way to Pochalla should be prioritized. This will not only improve security, but also hasten delivery of basic services as well as acting as a concrete peace dividend. When you give communities services and ask them to stay in peace, they would do, as opposed to only telling them when there is nothing to show for the importance of peace. It’s only when peace is linked to improvement in peoples’ living condition that they willingly and quickly embrace it. People who see bright future have hope for the best and would like to live. This means petty things like raiding and killing, which cost lives would be shun. However, these are expensive and long term developmental projects and patience would be needed from the recipients prior to the realization of actual results. In conclusion, when the term “would be a failed state” was coined for the Republic of South Sudan, the proponents’ analysis and prediction was based on these latent inter tribal conflicts, not only involving Lou Nuer and Murle, but also other communities in South Sudan, whose relationships are and continue to strained further, with little or no intervention. It was not because a political rebellion was capable of opening gates of failure to our beloved Country. I believe so because; we South Sudanese are capable through SPLA to defend our sovereignty. But we are too vulnerable when it’s to do with tribal identities. As fires burn in Jonglei State, similar state of affair is likely to happen in Warrap; Lakes; Unity; Upper Nile; Eastern Equatoria etc. Before independence, South Sudanese have never been one nationality, but, a collection of distinctively fragmented groups with different ethnic identities with nothing in common. But now, we have South Sudan in common and it’s high time we embark on thorough nationwide civic education to reinforce and cement our new identity. When the new identity replaces the tribal identity, stability will follow. Advocating for peace is a very challenging undertaking and could be equated to fighting for freedom. It calls for selflessness and integrity. Sometimes, you may be a hero for those who like peace at a given time and a traitor to those who do not embrace it at that same time. But one thing is for sure; there are a number of proficient men and women from both Lou Nuer and Murle communities, who could catalyze the drive for peace by advocating for no revenge and save more lives from being lost. The nation of South Sudan should also quickly come to their aid right way. Remember, when you bleed, we also bleed and the reverse is true. May God rest the lives lost in eternity. Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The author lives in Juba and is reachable though: Tele: 0955019420 and [email protected] COMMENTS, PLEASE CLICK HERE Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author(s) and do not represent those of the website. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. 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