INTERVIEW: Activist backs lawsuit against gov’t over violation of women share of power

NAIROBI –  South Sudan activist Betty Yom who is based in the Kenyan capital Nairobi has said that she would support any lawsuit that will be taken against the government should it overlook women in the allocation of power at the states and local levels.

Last week, an activist threatened, during a press conference in Juba, to sue government should it violate women share of power in the upcoming state governments as it did in the appointment of governors.

Sudans Post took decision to sit down in a brief interview  with Yom on the controversy and below is the full interview.

Q1. HOW DO YOU SEE THE GENDER BALANCE IN THE REVITALIZED GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY AND WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE BY THE PARTIES AND NEEDS TO BE DONE AHEAD OF STATE GOVERNMENTS FORMATION?

ANSWER:  The gender balance in the revitalized government of national unity is not good because it has not given the right share to the women. The women of South Sudan need equal percentage with men in the government. However, the 35% that was given to women as per the revitalized agreement is the beginning but not the real percentage that women desire. Moreover, the major problem with gender balance at the moment is the lack of political will on the side of the government. The regime is completely reluctant to give and implement the 35% of women and that is the biggest challenge now in South Sudan.

Additionally, the parties need to do several things before the formation of state governments: firstly, security arrangements. It is the most important area that the parties need to focus their energies and hard-work first before other things. The unification of forces and demilitarization of towns and cities in South Sudan need to be completed first.

The training of forces of both the opposition groups and government is vital. security arrangements are crucial but the government seems to lack political will to avail funds for security arrangements and that is completely wrong.

Furthermore, secondly, formation of a national parliament: the government and opposition groups need to form a national parliament before the formation of state governments. Also, the government needs to stop unnecessary attacks on the forces of opposition groups because it’s undermining the agreement and ceasefire and it can spoil the revitalized peace agreement in South Sudan.

For instance, the several attacks on opposition forces that took place in Equatoria (Kajo-Keji), Barl el ghazal and Upper Nile region is bad totally and need to be stopped. Moreover, the government needs to accept the appointment of general Johnson Olony as a governor of Upper Nile state as per the revitalized peace agreement.

There is no reason entirely why the government can reject the opposition’s appointee. It is their right to appoint whoever they want so long as it is in line with the agreement. For example, the government appointed the governor of Unity state despite being an opposition stronghold and SPLM-IO did not reject that because they wanted peace in South Sudan. So why do SPLM-IG reject SPLM-IO’s nominee?

Lastly, the main armed opposition’s leader Dr. Riek Machar accepted to go to Juba without his bodyguards and forces and that greatly demonstrated seriousness for peace on his side and the government needs to appreciate that. So in my opinion, the government needs to do all the above things before the formation of state governments.

Q2. DO YOU THINK THE PARTIES TO THE AGREEMENT ARE COMMITTED TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REVITALIZED PEACE AGREEMENT, IF NOT, WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY SHOULD DO?

ANSWER:  The parties to the agreement in South Sudan are not implementing the revitalized peace agreement the way it should be implemented. And the biggest blame goes to the government because the government doesn’t want to implement the things I mentioned in question 1.

The government needs to be serious with peace agreement by implementing everything that was agreed and signed in the revitalized peace agreement. The government needs to provide funds for peace implementation and follow everything that was agreed in the revitalized peace agreement.

Moreover, I think opposition groups have a little blame and they need to stop internal division amongst themselves if they want to bring change in South Sudan. they need to stop that culture of defection from opposition to government, government to opposition and so forth. That culture is not good for opposition groups that want to bring real reforms and democracy in the country.

The opposition groups need to unite and speak in one voice and demand reforms and democracy together and that is the only way they’ll succeed in South Sudan. They need to put personal interest aside and look at the big picture and peace for the country. That is what I think will help the opposition groups to bring real change in South Sudan.

Q3. SOME ACTIVISTS HAVE THREATENED TO SUE THE GOVERNMENT IF IT DOESN’T CONSIDER RESPECTING WOMEN’S SHARE OF POWER IN THE STATES. DO YOU SUPPORT THAT?

ANSWER:  I support that 100%. The government needs to be serious and fulfill the percentage that has been given to women as per the revitalized peace agreement in South Sudan. Furthermore, the government doesn’t only need to be sued for any future failure to respect women’s share of power in the states but need to be sued now for failure to respect women’s share of power at the national government in Juba.

As a women’s rights activist, I have noticed the failure of the government to respect the 35% given to women at the national government as per the revitalized peace agreement.

In addition to that, the government of South Sudan and general public need to see and appreciate the wonderful job that some great women’s leaders like Angelina Ateny, Rebecca Nyadeng, Nunu Kumba, Lily Albino, Rebecca Joshua, Awut Deng, Beatrice Wani, Sarah Cleto and etc. The women’s leaders above have done an excellent contribution in South Sudan and they’re continuing working tirelessly to ensure that lasting peace and stability is achieved in South Sudan.

South Sudanese women in general want a peaceful and united South Sudan and they need to be given their rightful share in the government of South Sudan so that they’ll play their part effectively in the peace implementation and national development in South Sudan.