Aney Majak: The New York Basketball Star on the Rise

Posted on by The Two Sudans

This past weekend, I had a chance to visit and chat with South Sudanese in Upstate New York where I was elatedly greeted by the excellent news of Aney Majak, the young man whose indomitable talents are getting a great deal of attention in Basketball Championship in​ the state of New York. Aney Majak plays for Leadership Young Men Academy in Rochester, New York. With the outstanding contributions of​ Aney Majak, the Leadership Young Men Academy has progressed to the semifinals of the The New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s Boys Basketball Championships in Glen Falls, New York. It’s the top Basketball championship in the state of New York for high school students.

Coaches and senior college athletes of major divisions across the United States would come to Glen Falls, New York, and watch competitive games not only for leisure but also in their hunt for uprising young stars like Aney Majak. As the semifinals battle rage on, the winning team will certainly proceed to the federal Championship, and hopefully, Aney Majak’s team would make it to the Federal Championship which is a class of its own.

Aney, the new Luol Deng in the making, I would say, looks quite indubitably determined to pursue success in the world of Basketball. Take a lot at the team photo and his photo below.

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 There he’s on the left in white lions jersey number ten (10) and assertively holding the ball with serious looks of a man set for the mission. Not only these, there is more! Aney Majak is a 2015 senior at the Leadership Academy.
The young man is balancing education and his chosen sport career astutely. With great care and upbringing by his adorable parents, Kuc Majok and Achai Dau, who crossed rivers and seas to make sure that Aney and his siblings get decent education and other rightful career opportunities, one would conclude that Aney Majak is on the right move, a move that deserves unreserved support.
He was born in the Republic of Yemen on 29th June, 1996, but he’s originally from Aweil in South Sudan. He has never been to his home country, South Sudan, but he is planning on visiting soon when time permits. He’s available to contact and for possible career advice and support. He’s reachable at: (+1) 585-458-1993.

In Defense of Mathiang Anyoor

Posted on by The Two Sudans

For many reasons, I have been ignoring the contemptible rants directed at the unwavering forces of Mathiang Anyoor, a military unit of the South Sudan national army, trained and armed in the Northern Bahr El Ghazal State’s town of Pan-tit. “Mathiang” means Brown and “Anyoor” means Caterpillar in Dinka, and so the name “Brown Caterpillar” or Mathiang Anyoor was probably given to these forces to mean that they’re dangerous and can’t be easily seen if they hide or lay in ambush. One of the reasons as to why I’ve elected to sit on the fence and watch as the game of condemnations unfurls is that, I don’t want to be outlandishly perceived as a supporter to any of the South Sudan’s warring factions. It is clear to be seen that the continuing civil war in South Sudan has, to a great extent, affected South Sudanese in many ways including analytic competencies. Anyone who has been keenly following the interactions of most of the so-called South Sudanese intellectuals could tell how awfully and brashly they have been debating as if they lost their brains to Peter Gadet Yak, the man whose erratic behavior is difficult to grasp. In any case let’s go back to the story of Mathiang Anyoor. With the little and authentic account that I know, I seek to shed light on the formation of these forces(Mathiang Anyoor) and my precise intention in undertaking this task is to clarify and redirect those that have been faultily informed of Mathiang Anyoor’s very existence. The faultfinders maintain that the aforesaid South Sudan’s military unit was illegally trained and armed by the current General Chief of Staff, Gen. Paul Malong, with the aim of guarding Salva Kiir’s presidency. Consequently, the ill-informed grumblers call Mathinag Anyoor as “Gel-Beny” (a leader’s shield or protector  in Dinka). I have read people like Kuir E Garang and Rengo Gyyw Rengo making claims in respect to Mathiang Anyoor, and their claims are not only misinformed but are also largely blemished and prejudiced, too. The two gentlemen including Dr.Majak are typical example of the people who cite Mathiang Anyoor in their discourses as President Kiir’s private army, Gen.Malong’s trained militia, etc, etc.

What I know.

In 2008, the Northern Bahr El Ghazal State’s borders were militarily attacked by the Republic of Sudan. This outrageous attack compelled the Juba government to dispatch troops to Northern Bahr El Ghazal State to confront the startling insecurity alarms in the vulnerable areas like Kiir Adem (Mile 14), Waar Guet, and other state borders that were under attack. To the Aweil community, this ferocity wasn’t only a threat but also an insult to their much treasured and freedom fighters’ homeland, Mading Aweil.  Aweil community in Juba in particular didn’t take this issue nonchalantly and, therefore, patriotic Aweil sons including but not limited to Ayii Duang, Kawac Makuei, Garang Diing Aguer, and Malong Awan, organized camaraderie meetings in Juba and gathered support including food items for the boys at the front-lines. The then governor of the state, Hon.Madut Biar, was reputedly slow in responding to the threat and consequently, Gen.Malong capitalized on his slowness to influence the backing of Aweil’s people. Having understood the concern of the people of Aweil, and given Gen.Malong’s colossal military strategies, the President of the Republic dismissed Gov.Madut Biar and appointed Gen.Malong in March 2008 as the new governor of the fraught border State, Northern Bahr el Ghazal. It was shortly reported that the soldiers who were sent from Juba to Aweil cowardly escaped when the war got real and the State was still under foreign threat. Gov.Malong was left with no option but to mobilize and train homeboys who offered at will to protect Mading Aweil which was applauded by the central government and the national ministry of defense sent training materials and facilitated their training.This is how Mathiang Anyoor was formed and the recruitment of these young patriots became a national army’s policy as well. The contradiction in Central Government’s support to Mathiang Anyoor first raised its head when the then General Chief of Staff, James Hoth, and the then Deputy Minister of Defense, Dr. Majak Agot both refused to graduate the trainees. In this respect, one should be pardoned to ask many questions and the first question is: why would an army refuse to graduate its trainees? what changed, or what was going on with Dr.Majak and Gen.James Hoth? Correct answers to these questions will/shall automatically lead us to a significant discourse.I won’t claim to produce correct answers but I’d like to give an account that attempts to uncover Dr.Majak and Gen.James Hoth’s inherent intentions. In 2012, there were reports of coup plans by the SPLA’s top generals in the army and Dr. Majak and his military cronies were repeatedly linked to those coup plans. The plans were ostensibly dismantled by the president with the help of the national security. The president later on restructured the army and named General Pieng Deng Majok as the new Inspector General of Police. Should president’s suspicions and subsequent actions hold meaning, then Dr.Majak and Gen. James Hoth’s intentions not to graduate the nationally trained military servants could be rightly gauged, and one reason could be that Dr.Majak and Gen. Hoth blocked the graduation of these soldiers because they wanted to frustrate the army and making it indefensible and, therefore, easy for them to use it in notching their political projects. To validate this assertion and in a logical sequence, Dr. Majak recently told his audience in the USA that “president Kiir trained 15,000 militias from Dinka Tribe, who were recruited from the Bahr el Ghazal States of Warrap and Northern Bahr El Ghazal. These forces are responsible for the genocide committed in Juba” (Nyamilepidea, Oct 27, 2014).  What does this statement tell you? Dr. Majak simply had hidden plans and, thus, didn’t want an army that wasn’t presumably loyal to him, and in this case, Mathiang Anyoor had no close relations with him whatsoever. This shouldn’t be taken as attacks on Dr.Majak or anybody but for anyone to defend Mathiang Anyoor from its critics,one must reveal related accounts like Dr.Majak Agot’s. Like I mentioned in the beginning, my intention is to clarify the existence of Mathiang Anyoor and refute weak and deceitful charges that are being made against their formation. I don’t support what they do nor do I denounce their actions either, I just want to tell their story as it is. I must agree and to the critics’ credit that the president is coincidentally using these forces against Dr. Riek’s but the primary purpose of Mathiang Anyoor was to protect the border areas under foreign threats like Kiir Adem (Mile 14). To call Mathiang Anyoor as a private army or gel-beny, one should as well call SPLA the same because they received the same training and both are loyal to Gen. Malong Awan and  President Salva Kiir.

A call for Postponement of South Sudan’s Elections

Posted on by The Two Sudans

…Of late I have been reading news of South Sudan’s general elections scheduled to take place in July 2015 by the country’s Elections Committee in what apparently seems to be a push by the president Kiir in attempts to legitimatize his presidency. It is quite stunning how the commission(National Elections Commission) calls for national elections when some part of the country is bleeding. The politically influenced commission is inexcusably aware of the “war of positions” that has inflicted an extortionate and incontrovertible sufferings in south Sudan,especially the Upper Nile Region since the war broke out in 2013, and alas, the war spilled into Lakes State’s backyard lately with unidentified number of people reported dead and many more injured.

First: The argument mostly presented by those calling for general elections is the legitimization of the government of president Kiir , and the argue to conform with the national elections act. That argument is in place. However, given the inhuman events that unfurled since December 15, 2013, it is clear to be seen that the most affected regions of the country will certainly find it hard if not impossible to vote, and their votes consequentially matter. The Elections Commission should carefully consider the ills descending the country’s welfare rather than scampering people into the polling stations to endorse leaders.

The case for legitimization of the presidency is unsubstantial. Consider this for example . The legislature and other chief legal institutions like National Elections Commission have the mandated powers to legitimize the presidency when needed. The Elections commission then can lawfully reschedule the elections which will give the warring parties enough time to iron out their differences amicably, and that, will consequentially allow the constituents to zoom themselves for the elections. We don’t need rocket scientists to tell us that people can’t vote when merciless bullets filled with hatred are flying over them. As the country gears towards democratization, the guerrilla mindset of doing things in South Sudan should once and for all be utterly annihilated. By now,everyone should have seen that impunity tied to politics of liberation has immensely contributed to the ghastly war ever recorded in the history of an independent south Sudan.

The constitution governs the country, and thus, the people have inalienable rights to claim what works best for them, and in this case, local South Sudanese exceedingly want peace not elections, for they see election as an extension of the war since the voting process itself will likely turn violence, just like in 2010. Furthermore, the Census remains a big deal, too. President Kiir admittedly told the Warrap State Parliament that “the lack of funds to conduct a census and complete the new constitution could result in a delay of the election”. This statement from the president entirely speaks about the delay and I don’t see why the president is contradicting himself in backing the call for elections when he’s well aware of the hurdles. As the leaders including the president always maintain that the country is too young, I think we shouldn’t be impolitic when handling things which carry lifetime consequences, and, any mistake committed during elections always got consequences. Again consider this for example. Gen.Athor Deng and Yau Yau’s rebellions were products of the indecorously guided elections in 2010. Hundreds of civilians were ruthlessly killed during these two rebellions and there’s a cautious argue to avoid the avoidable events this time.

Given all the undisputed realities on the ground, South Sudan’s Elections Commission should consider postponing elections at least for a year or two,after that, the IGAD led peace talks should have negotiated a meaningful peace and the masses could finally be in a better position to vote which is quite essential.

I sing Aweilian

Posted on by The Two Sudans

Well! Aweil Aweil, the land of tolerance,

Aweil, the land of braves

Aweil,the land of fighters,

Not warriors for warriors fight aimlessly.

Aweil, the land of unwavering heroes and heroines,

We talk when they shy,we act when they waffle,

Aweil,the home of peace, we uphold peace when they drag themselves into ignominious fights.

We maintain peace and advocate for irenic co-existence among our neighbors and beyond,

We follow when they lead not because we are followers but we want them to follow next time,

We entrust them to lead us but they lead to shames and eventual failures,

We mean war when we go for a war but with ourselves never,

We talk and act to prove right and wrong,

We raise hopes and courage when they are desperate,

We win when they lose and lose nothing when they win,thus;our victory means victory for all.

We stood firm and defied the protracted marginalization and never shall we be marginalized,

We treat them as friends but they treat us as their foe-men.

I talk Aweilian, act Aweilian,fight Aweilian and will die Aweilian

Oh Mama land we rise,

Oh Madingda,the land of hope

Oh Mading Aweil, the land of Great ancestors.

I pray you all!

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South Sudan: A failed State or on the Edge of Failing?

Link | Posted on by The Two Sudans

This article was first published by Juba monitor Newspaper in Juba-south sudan on December 18, 2012.   Days are gone, months are counting to mark the year of independence. The marginalized veterans (manazilin) are still wondering if this is the nation they fought for 20+ years, the masses are appeasing themselves and enthusiastic to benefit in one way or other from the most anticipated government. And it is sad to say, the author is predicting authoritarianism.

Hence, it raises the unanswered question of where is the state of south Sudan now. Failed or falling? Under the governance of president Kiir and the SPLM comrades, its always infrequent to untie the nation state from the liberation politics of the say that, we liberated this nation state and that, not an iota can direct us to where the nation is heading forgetting that the existing verity that, the governed did play/playing a momentous roles in securing  the sovereign state. Today go to the streets of Juba or whichever town in south Sudan and you will seriously know that the sound minded citizens have low opinions in regard to the existing board let alone the infinite denunciations . At this point in time, one would never rule out the prospect of improvements in the course of action but one should doubt whether there exist policies to amend the aggravating relations between the authoritarianism and the south Sudanese masses.

When the nation state was accredited last year, uncontrollable revelry sparks out cross-ways within and outside the nation with the hope that, the people got the nation that claimed the lives of 2.5 millions south Sudanese of which no one shall recoil in protecting the integrity of being a south Sudanese. But then, the author is skeptical of the self- framed nationalists and their cronies if they will meet public interest, with the country facing copious challenges be it the border disputes, the free-falling economy, the dark hours atrocities and the perilous cancer called corruption is sky-scraping, the list may go lengthy with number of rebels menacing the prosperity of the 17 months old state.

Surely, one would simply suggest that before, we fall short and disappoint our fallen Heroes and the 2.5 million lives let there be a complimentary south Sudan for all whether young or old, big or small,opposition or proponents,and in regardless of our  tribes that are causing divisions within us because the author is of the view that south Sudan is on the margin of falling and we should not wait for the return of Jesus of Nazareth to come and salvage the state of affairs in our nation. We are the people, we are the power, we are the nation state, everything belongs to us and everyone is of us and if that’s a living reality, then why do we do things contrary to the well being of the south Sudan?

In October this year (2012), the people of Aweil State did serenely marched to the parliament square to demonstrate their anger with the so-called cooperation agreement which considers Kiir river (mile 14) as buffer zone yet mile 14 lies within Northern Bar el ghazal state. The demonstrators were perceived to have not understood the agreement, and with president Kiir doubting the demonstrators’ ability to fight and if they were genuine fighters. Subsequently, that war of words was reassured. The following month is November and  kiir Adem, an area bordering northern sudan, is under undeniable assail again by the Khartoum command and so raises the question of who signed the so-called Buffer zone agreement, Isn’t  Hon. John Kong the defense minister and his Sudanese counterpart that signed the buffer zone and other security agreements? If yes, then why are the bombs still falling on the innocent children and women in Northern Bar el ghazal state? Truly, the people of Aweil understood the terminologies and the implications on the agreement sheets than anyone and their demonstration was in place.

Well, let us see the significant aspects that can fail or succeed a rising state like south Sudan. And my little observation is, sovereign state justice system must triumph in order to normalize the rule of law which governs a nation state because every living persons ought to clinch managing doctrines and so does a state. Building strong institutions to foster the development could have been the first thing to do which is seemingly under-looked by the comrades in power and impunity is at large. The eye doctors had to attend to the Central Equatorial Minister who just walked and ordered the doctors that he should be attended first when five other patients including my self have been in the medical clinic for hours waiting on the doctors. The Indian eye doctors had no option but to attend otherwise, their business will be in jeopardy. Impunity at its best.

As I mentioned early, the crimes and atrocities in our country have sources and people who instigate them because our security organs (the good guys) theater an important task in protecting the country and guaranteeing justice for all but it seems as if they were tasked to protect certain individuals, because public safety remains unattended to and since then, everyone takes security in to his/her hands and the state becomes lawless and the impunity is at a high peak (might is power yeah).

Should you happen to ask the author whether there is existing neutrality in the legal system then he may not give you a definite response for reasons being that justice does exist and only for organized groups that is to say, the government officials are always on the safe wall and in whatever the case, they must be the victors! 75 Officials mostly cabinet minsters were cautioned by the president to return the missing public funds but to my surprise, no one responded to the call and again the question is, did the president or any other concerned lawful bodies like anti-corruption commission or the parliamentary committees execute any legal action to pressurize them to return the public money if the president himself is not a victim? If your answer is no or you’re unaware, then ask Mr. President and the associates the question of where is justice and when shall it prevails or dead perhaps?

The defamation case between Hon. Athur Akuien Chol, the former minister of finance versus General Pagan Amum, the current SPLM secretary General, in the supreme court of law early in the year(2012) could help validate what the author is talking about in the Judiciary of south sudan and you might have been informed that General Pagan the ruling party’s secretary general was accompanied to the court room by government’s high profile officials just to influence the case, and yes, Pagan won the case against the former minister who was bitterly kicked out of the system years before.

Strong institutions could also aid to curtail the looming corruption and surely could bridge public distrust with the stressed government of President Kiir Mayar.

Nevertheless, the question is; is there a well-built institution ever since the creation of semi-autonomous region in 2005 up-to-date? Be it the health sector, education sector or any other chief institution forget the call for good governance which our ruling party is trying to observe in opposite way? well the incompetence of our weak institutions do have people to account for,because the international community right after the signing of the comprehensive peace Agreement did stand firm with us in terms of donations from different countries and monitoring to witness the birth of a new state, and with the recognition from 90+ countries the author doubts if many nations have been recognized the way South Sudan’s independence was acknowledged by the world community.

Corruption and donations. The foreign donations were meant to build the infrastructures and improvement of living standards but then, I don’t know how our administrators understand the grants from the friends of South Sudan. Now that the friends of south are turning us blind-eyes, one would in prospective foretell what shall be the destiny of south Sudan. People raise concerns, possible solutions to the national well-being, but to my understanding no one seems to have heard them or even willing to listen to citizens voice. So, country mates stand up and work for a flouring south sudan today or buy a trash bin tomorrow..!