By Abraham Majak Makur
![South Sudan youth ride atop a bus as they chant slogans in support of the referendum on southern independence in Juba, January 4, 2011. [Photo credit REUTERS]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/south_sudan_youth001.jpg?quality=89&ssl=1)
Cdr. Daniel Awet came to Yirol in 1986 and took over the command of Bhar el Ghazal region from the Late Cdr. Makur Aleyou who was recalled to go back to Bonga, Ethiopia after his failed operations in Yirol in 1985. By then I was a young man of around ten to twelve years.
Sgt. Makuac and Sgt Riak remained around Yirol when it was under the control of the enemy as from 1992 till 1997 when it was captured by the SPLA. After the capture, the two remained in Yirol. Sgt. Makuac was one of the military police officers who became instrumental in keeping law and order in the war ravaged town of Yirol. He was known for his generosity and commitment to the rule of law. He was like a commissioner in Yirol then. He was liked by the civilians because he was not just using the law but educating the people to behave themselves citing that the struggle is for the freedom of the citizens – not to harass them.
When I asked Sgt. Riak of the whereabout of Sgt. Makuac Agany,, he told me that Sgt. Makuac has been commissioned as major or may be a a lieutenant colonial now in the SSPDF, formerly known as SPLA. I told him that Makuac deserved it as he is a great patriot and one of the pioneering forces of our revolutionary struggle.
Looking at the health status and his social condition, it is regrettable that we liberated South Sudan but her veterans are harvesting poverty and agony. It is only South Sudan that have the suffering veterans of the historic liberation known by the world for its formidable fighting forces for 21 years. By comparusion, the twenty one years of struggle were better then these days of the indeoendemce country.
My message to the CDF of the SSPDF, is to improve the living conditions of our veterans by expeditiously processing pension schemes for the support of the veterans as well as for their families.
God bless South Sudan!
The author was Minister of Physical Infrastructure of the defunct ELS/Yirol, and a current political activist.
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