By Engr. Maker Mangol Acien Yuol
Community Chiefs/Kings were the great force behind the achievement of South Sudan’s independence by the SPLM/A. The Community Chiefs/Kings liberated this country through the leadership that implemented the “Wech-thar policy” (Sending youths to join the SPLA by force), though it was a forced policy to have an SPLA.
The WECH-THAR POLICY was introduced to have an SPLA and to balance the families by Dr. John Garang and the Chiefs/Kings. Chiefs/Kings could send youths to the SPLA after thoroughly checking and balancing the families to send one or more than one youth.
Chiefs/Kings also continued to feed the SPLA by contributing some food, cows, goats, sheep, wine, etc., for the SPLA to use during the war against Arabs. Many youths who were taken to the army fought for free, and their families aren’t being paid back up to date. Some families were decimated during the war.
If a family had two sons for example, one son would join the army, and one remained in the family, and sickness, hunger, and community wars could not spare the remaining son. This left some families without people. Some communities have a strategy of marrying a lady by any relative of the deceased and producing kids for the demised people, but some communities don’t have this strategy, and it has caused some communities to be without a family tree today.
Cde. Dr. John Garang, Cde. Karubino Kuanyin Bol, Cde. Arok Thon Arok, Cde. Nyuon Bany, Cde. Salva Kiir Mayardit, etc., didn’t achieve the independence of South Sudan alone, but the support of the Chiefs/Kings gave them room to achieve the liberation of South Sudan today. I salute them in their presence or absence on this Earth.
You (Chiefs/Kings) fought a war that would not have succeeded if you weren’t leading the communities of South Sudan at the grassroots in line with SPLM/A policy. SPLM/A defeated Arabs because of the leadership that Chiefs/Kings played in the communities. On this note, our people whose sons were collected to fight Arabs for free just to liberate our country deserve great recognition in their presence or absence on this Earth.
I could carry food, a half bag of groundnuts, a half bag of crops, a bag half of maize, just to mention a few, to the sector of the SPLA, which includes Yith-Akuong, Gom-cok, Adhodhic sub-sector of the army, etc in 2000th. I must say I have contributed my labor force to carry those things to the center of the army, including my mother, who had suffered cooking food and carrying food to the center of the army, and many other colleagues and mothers who suffered so much during the liberation struggle.
The government should appreciate the Chiefs/Kings of the communities and revive their policies to recognize and work cooperatively with the Chiefs/Kings on the ground. They can bring lasting peace to this country by engaging with them and supporting them to govern the communities.
Their wisdom and traditional authority can be instrumental in fostering unity and reconciliation among the diverse ethnic groups within South Sudan. By acknowledging their historical contributions and integrating their leadership into the current governance framework, the government can build a more inclusive and stable society.
Moreover, empowering the Chiefs/Kings with resources and platforms to voice community concerns can bridge the gap between the government and the grassroots. This collaboration can address local grievances, reduce conflicts, and promote development initiatives that are culturally sensitive and community-driven.
In addition to their role in governance, Chiefs/Kings can play a crucial part in education and health initiatives by advocating for better access to these services in rural areas. Their influence can encourage community participation in programs that aim to improve literacy rates and healthcare standards, ultimately contributing to the nation’s overall progress.
As South Sudan continues to navigate its path towards sustainable peace and development, the involvement of traditional leaders is not just beneficial but essential. Their deep-rooted connection with the people and their understanding of local dynamics make them invaluable partners in the journey towards a prosperous future for all South Sudanese.
Email: makermangolacien@gmail.com