Garang was a charismatic rebel leader whose battlefield success was matched by his decades-long diplomatic push in Washington that won critical support from a disparate group of Americans (representatives from both parties, prominent evangelicals, eventually even President George W. Bush, George Clooney and Don Cheadle). Garang was also a development economist with a doctorate from Iowa State and a vision for the future: a social and economic strategy that called for a shift in power and resources away from urban elites and oil production in order to prioritize the needs of rural communities and make agriculture the engine of growth.
Although Garang’s goal of decentralization was enshrined in the constitution, it has been thwarted by elites since. My first Martyr’s Day, four years ago, was a scene I would see repeated on countless nights: veterans huddled around the table listening to Garang’s speeches on old phones, swapping memory cards with copies of their favorites. Conversations often began with a lament (in hushed tones) for the police state that South Sudan has become.
Ten years on, the country is still reeling from a new civil war that left about 400,000 dead and millions displaced. A brittle truce holds for the moment, even as leaders continually shift promised elections and the united States and other governments tire of footing the bill and the need for constant political pressure to avert war.
Cynicism is tempting, especially about a government that celebrates Garang’s martyrdom — his face adorns the currency and walls of government buildings — but refuses to enact his vision. What’s needed is a return to Garang’s roadmap for the country’s development, which outlines a strategy that could relieve the pressures of the current impasse and give its people a greater sense of shared interest in the future.
