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..!