By Bagura Abraham
![Bagura Abraham [Photo courtesy of author]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/unnamed.jpg?resize=959%2C802&ssl=1)
A journey which normally takes between two to three hours, took over five hours that day. What caused the delay are cattle herders, moving with their cattle and family. According to the indigenous, they are shocked to witness what they refer to as special cattle that share the road with humans. Sometimes, these cattle are carried in lorries and offloaded in random villages for reasons well known to the cattle herders and the ruling party, whose leaders still brag to know everything which happens within the Republic of South Sudan.
The usual trek involved men, women and children who were fully armed more than the renowned official army of the country, the South Sudan People’s Defense Force which is abbreviated as SSPDF.
They carry sophisticated weaponry that are rare in the country, yet the Unified Forces are being graduated with sticks on claims that the levied Arms embargo has made it impossible to procure guns.
What is shocking is, the riffles these herders carry are brand new. Everyone was seen carrying a gun with several rounds of bullets wrapped on the body. Surprisingly, children who appeared to be as young as twelve years were equally heavily armed.
What saddens me is how the same cattle herders who are originally from Jonglei state in Upper Nile go on rampages, killing whoever they find. Few days ago, five people were killed and several fatally wounded by the same cattle keepers, who are on an obvious mission of migration with intension to change the demography of the country, beginning with Central Equatoria State. All the victims were found in their gardens as proven by the gumboots the corpses were found in.
It is important to note that anyone carrying any kind of weapons in my home state is immediately arrested, tortured and sometimes killed. This is very true and vividly witnessed in other states.
All these are happening at the watch of the SPLM ruling party, whose leader has been issuing presidential decrees that have no impacts, for the relocation of cattle from the Equatoria Region.
To acquaint you with Equatoria region, this is predominately a region where farmers live. They depend entirely on farming which the invading herders are destroying. Remember, I am referring to the revolutionary Sudan People’s Liberation Movement abbreviated as SPLM, which claimed it was fighting for justice, descent life as a first class citizen and development, to mention but a few. The same people who backed up SPLM are being killed today in their own ANCESTRAL lands.
The once upon united South Sudanese are being weakened on daily basis by what seems to be an official policy of the ruling party called divide and rule which is based on tribalism. In the Republic of South Sudan today, some tribes are untouchable with freedom to move freely while others are being harrassed especially when they do not speak a certain language. Same communities have been divided based on mere campus directions of East, West, North and South. Such outdated politics extends to the division of innocent citizens based on counties.
What is happening today is justifying the allegation that the late Dr. John Garang had partitioned and designated Equatoria region as grazing land. With the demographic changes being witnessed in Nimule, Kaya, Yei among various locations coupled with land grabbing in mainly Equatoria region, there is no doubt, this might have been a classified reason for the civil war which claimed many lives. I am talking about the grandchildren of those the war claimed. Could this be a genuine reward for the sacrifices their parents and grandparents offered?
In a nutshell, this lousy and outdated politics has led to various groups calling for an independent country of EQUATORIA. How can a morally upright person disagree with such groups, given the hell they are living in? We did not support the SPLM/A to end up this way. On this note therefore, I call upon all the forces of change to unite and pursue the change we thought was being fought for.
I call upon all the friends and funders of the then SPLM/A to step up and re-echo why you supported the once upon rebel group. Remind the ruling party on the principles which late Dr. John Garang presented to your governments that made you to commence the support. Sadly, the one-time rebel group remains one today, against the beloved people of the Republic of South Sudan. Alternatively, there is need to resume your support but to those representing the suffering citizens, whom you have always desired to help.
Although there are various groups, allow me to recommend to you the ROUND-TABLE which is being organized. Much as I am not affiliated with the groups organizing it, I highly recommend your funds to be invested in such a peaceful approach to the man-made crisis in the Republic of South Sudan. I call upon sound minded South Sudanese to come up and boldly condemn the ongoing inhuman situations that take place with no justice. Let roads be used by humans as expected, to enhance trade and quick movements of people and goods along Juba-Nimule Road as well as the others.
Attached to this article are two pictures. One was taken few days ago by the member of the Social Media Criminal as baptized by one Hon. Martin Elia Lomoro, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs. According to him, such a criminal is one exposing and condemning the wrong doings of the failed and assassinating government he proudly works for. The second picture was taken few hours after the official opening of the freedom bridge, as if the bridge could not be durable enough without these cattle officiating the same bridge.
I condemn these deliberate acts, while calling upon the people and friends of South Sudan to join me in calling upon the everyone, to demand for a federal system of governance if we are to maintain a single and United country. I insist on the call upon the President of the Republic of South Sudan, alongside his first Vice president to adhere to the resolutions of the National Dialogue, which continues to request the duo to exit active South Sudanese politics. This will allow peace and stability to prevail.
The author is a pastor and advocate for good leadership and governance. He can be reached via. Bagura21@yahoo.com.
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