Anyone who claims to love Bol Mel or Adut Kiir should just reconcile the two (Part 2)
President Kiir and VP Bol Mel are two but inseparable; You can either Love them as One or Hate Them as Two.
By Ariik Atekdit, Juba, South Sudan
Saturday, 30 August 2025 (PW) — In South Sudan when President Kiir is taking it so low and slowly; they don’t like it. Many South Sudanese blame President Kiir for being so forgiving and not speeding up on matters that need quick decisions and strategic responses relevant to matters and situations are being disadvantaged.
Those who think that they have modern way of handling government and politics assume that Kiir at times is being an old and outdated war commander who should either go home or join church choir master’s instead; not taking roles in a Presidential Palace. They recommend him to be an Abuna (a pastor). Referring Kiir as an Abuna is the assumption that he is good at taking things personal to forgive those who might have mishandled public matters and who should face accountability for public interest.
Recently, after Kiir had appointed Uncle Dr Bol Mel and that Uncle Mel is taking things now seriously and so fast. Everyone is blaming Dr Mel for taking powers from President Kiir, like it would be good to go Kiir’s old way of being forgiving, allowing government officials and individuals to be more powerful than the government. This has been the situation we have persevered for so long, where government institutions are becoming so weak and individuals becoming so intimidating.
Personally, I would advise Kiir & Mel to learn to benefit from the rule of law as they work on their principles. Whoever is arrested should be presented in a competent court of law. Charges should be set so clearly so that nobody should interfere with the standard principles. The government should employ, improve and make a strong justice system in the country to allow the weak to claim their rights through it and therefore the wrongdoers can also be accounted for.
When the justice system in the country is strengthened all of us will feel protected. This is important, so that it doesn’t appear that X and Y are responsible for the arrests. So that the communities don’t take the roles in standing behind their sons whether by calling for their release or defending the individual leaders behind the claim arrests. Because when an individual is arrested, they are to answer the charges established against them and they can still be proven innocent after the hearing. It only becomes bad when you detain a person for too long without making them appear in a competent court of law then it becomes unlawful itself.
The ongoing scenario in the country is the very process by which politics is migrated to the innocent traditional communities or ethnic groups and people begin to wrangle with it differently. By the way, whoever claims to love Kiir must begin to learn to love Dr Bol Mel too. The two are inseparable. The noise we make against Mel may not be listened to or counted for.
Dr Mel came to these higher positions because President Kiir has built trust in him. Kiir personally mentored Mel to arrive there. I believe nobody among the SPLM members or among the closed allies from his Jieng community has recommended Mel for a position whether at the Presidency or in the SPLM house, but Kiir thought this himself and made it happened.
So, you can’t claim to love Kiir and begin to campaign against Mel, his own moulded staffer and political partner, the two will make you fail. You can either choose to support them as one or hate them as two.
For the politicians, they shouldn’t shout to make Kiir relieve Mel, he will not do that any sooner. They should rather choose to campaign for the provisions of the political space and freedom. More especially, those who claim to be SPLM members should request that their party be strengthened as a political institution under the same Kiir & Mel.
The politics of opposition and breakaway has failed us as a country, and so we need to begin to reason differently. Sometimes it is important to support Kiir so that he easily can exit. It is also fine to cooperate with Mel to transition and have peace so that we can quickly get a better and capable President in the process.
However, choosing to oppose the two will lengthen our struggle and sufferings. If people dwell so much in opposing Mel, Kiir will strengthen Mel’s ability to challenge such elements. Kiir is good in the politics of defeating and proving the oppositions wrong. If we take this route this time, it will be long to arrive to the end.
It is time that the SPLM members should dialogue among themselves; and after the SPLM-SPLM dialogue the greater political forces in the country should also dialogue to make a better way forward in order to avoid wars and arrive to a reliable Peace so quickly.
Ariik Atekdit has been a journalist, freelance writer and educationist. He can be reached at [email protected]
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