By Alan Clement
The family of late Steward Soroba Budia has urged South Sudan’s government to honor his political legacy, saying exclusion from national recognition deepens their grief and diminishes his liberation struggle contributions.
In a letter dated February 2 and addressed to President Salva Kiir, the family expressed “deep concern and distress” over Budia’s name being mistakenly included in a recent Republican Order as a member of a political party leadership body and stakeholder in election-related dialogue.
Speaking to this outlet, family representative Boboya James Edimond said the error reopened wounds that had begun to heal. “Since we saw the first list, and then the letter from the Office of the President, it has actually caused a lot of damages and stress to the family and community,” he explained.
He added that the government’s swift apology should be matched with equally swift action to address the family’s grievances. “The treatment must be the same. The same way they effectively responded and made an apology is the same way they’re supposed to respond to us.”
In the letter, the family acknowledged the presidency’s clarification that the inclusion was an administrative error and noted the apology issued. However, they insisted the matter goes beyond correction, demanding equity and recognition in line with precedents set for other deceased leaders whose families have been granted representation.
“If some government officials whose parents have died are able to be compensated by representation in the government, how come the government has been more quiet for our family for over six years?” Boboya asked.
“Our dad did not die in the bush; he died through the process struggle so that there’s a spirit of good governance and total peace,” he said.
Budia was a seasoned politician passed away in 2021. He served as Commissioner for Greater Yei, Minister of Information and Communication under Gen. Clement Wani Konga, and later as President of the United Democratic Party.
He was also a signatory to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), underscoring his role in shaping the country’s post-war political landscape.
The controversy highlights broader questions about how South Sudan honors its fallen leaders and whether families are equitably included in preserving political legacies.
For Budia’s family, the issue is not only about correcting an error but ensuring his contributions are remembered with dignity and fairness.