SPLM-IO official says country divided as results of JCE’s pursuance of ‘Dinka nationalism’

JUBA – A senior member of South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, SPLM-IO, has accused the Jieng Council of Elders (JCE) of being behind the country’s polarization along ethnic lines because it started to pursue what he said is “Dinka nationalism” and “community interest.”

This come after the Jieng Council of Elders issued a statement distancing itself from the ongoing conflict in the country arguing that it has always been pursuing peace among the diverse ethnic communities in the world’s youngest country.

“The group has now written, distancing themselves from the political situations in the country (2013-2021), dismissing the Revitalised Agreement (2018) and seeking to replace it with the National Dialogue Reports and its Cover Letter,” Nathaniel Pierino, the SPLM-IO representative to the National Constitutional Amendment Committee said in a statement to Sudans Post.

“Today, as a result of the activities of JCE, pursuing Dinka nationalism and community interest, within the politics and governance of the country, South Sudan has been Balkanized, polarized and divided along tribal, ethnic and regional lines, a situation that pose existential threats to the very foundations of the country,” he said.

“The miseries of the country and of its population; the collapse of state and government etc are the spinoff of the politics of JCE and their accomplices to divide and unilaterally rule the country without regards to development and to the exclusion of the other sixty three (63) tribes inhabiting South Sudan.

“The JCE turned itself into an exclusive opportunist violent capitalist regime and attempted to build an exclusive system that; condoned corruption and encouraged impunity, evidently, failure to arrest and prosecute corrupt government officials who also happened to be members of JCE themselves; promoted tribalism and nepotism in public service, hence depriving and limiting opportunities to members of other communities, promoted ideology of majoritarianism and marginalization of other sections and communities, promoted centralization of power and resources in few hands and impoverishing the bulk population of South Sudan including those of Dinka descents, and a system that conspired with foreign, individuals, agents and governments to undermine the independence and territorial integrity of the country; by promoting personal and private international relations, looting and repatriating the wealth of the country to foreign capitals etc.

“The JCE inadvertently, compromised the sovereignty of South Sudan and the Security of the country. Consequently, from 2012, South Sudan maintains its lead as the world’s most fragile country and a ‘Failed State’; majority of its population are food insecure, and lagging 30 years behind the Eastern and Central Africans Countries in terms of illiteracy.”