SPLM’s Lost Vision: A 13-Year Independence Reflection on South Sudan’s Destiny
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Lord Scipio, concerned South Sudanese student in Kampala, Uganda
By Lord Scipio, Kampala, Uganda
Sunday, 07 July 2024 (PW) — As South Sudan celebrates its 13th anniversary of independence, the question arises: Has the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) lost its vision? Established long before the country’s independence, the SPLM, once a beacon of hope for generations of South Sudanese, now stands as a testament to unfulfilled promises and lost potential. The SPLM’s transformation is reminiscent of a promising young man who, full of potential, gradually succumbs to the vices of corruption, incompetence, and self-destruction.
What was once a revolutionary movement is now a shadow of its former self. South Sudan, a nation struggling to maintain its identity, is hindered by the SPLM’s apparent inability to steer away from its destructive path. Opinions vary on the SPLM’s future. Some believe a return to its foundational vision is possible with new leadership, while others feel the damage is irreversible. I, however, believe the SPLM has gone blind and cannot regain its vision. To understand this tragic present, we must revisit the movement’s history.
Founded on May 16, 1983, the SPLM emerged from a mutiny in Bor town against the Nimeiry government, marking the beginning of the war of liberation. It quickly became the vanguard of South Sudan’s liberation struggle, embodying the aspirations of a people yearning for freedom and self-determination. Despite a shared vision of South Sudan’s liberation, ideological differences among its founders soon led to significant splits, notably in 1991.
John Garang’s vision of a “New Sudan” aimed at creating a unified, secular, democratic, and diverse nation. However, many within the SPLM and the broader population did not support this idea, favoring outright independence for South Sudan instead. These ideological rifts, coupled with personal ambitions, led to internal conflicts and weakened the movement.
John Garang’s charismatic leadership was the glue holding the SPLM together. His charisma and revolutionary ideas held together a diverse coalition of fighters and political figures. However, the movement’s reliance on his leadership would prove to be both its strength and its Achilles’ heel. Garang’s untimely death in 2005 left a leadership vacuum that the SPLM has struggled to fill. President Salva Kiir, while close to Garang, lacked his vision, discipline, and ability to resist the corrupting influences of power.
As the saying goes, “Power doesn’t corrupt, but reveals who you are.” The transition from liberation movement to governing party exposed the character flaws of many within the SPLM’s leadership. Without Garang’s guidance, the SPLM quickly forgot the hardships of the liberation struggle and the debt owed to the people, especially the veterans. They became intoxicated by power, revealing their true, corrupt selves.
The 13 years since independence have seen a gradual but steady erosion of the SPLM’s founding principles. The liberation movement that once symbolized hope and progress for South Sudan has become synonymous with corruption, incompetence, factionalism, authoritarianism, and neglect of war veterans. The SPLM’s current state reflects a party that has lost touch with its roots and the aspirations of the people it claims to represent.
The party’s current structure rewards sycophancy and punishes progressive thinking. Progressive members face hatred and envy, driving them to either conform to the corrupt system or risk their careers and lives. This environment shows that the SPLM has already set itself on a path to self-destruction, with no efforts to address its internal issues. Instead, it continues to oppress the nation, dragging it down with them.
Like a vehicle driven by a blind driver, the SPLM party is steering the nation towards potential disaster. For the people of South Sudan, the only hope lies in replacing the SPLM’s current leadership with one that can restore its original vision and steer the nation towards a better future. Ignoring this need for change will only lead to further suffering and decline for the entire country.
The SPLM’s dismal failure need not be South Sudan’s destiny. The power to chart a new course lies with the people, just as it did during the liberation struggle. It’s time for South Sudan to reclaim its vision and build the nation its founders and martyrs dreamed of.
The author, Lord Scipio, is a South Sudanese university student studying in Kampala, Uganda, and can be reached via his email: lordscipio6@gmail.com.
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