As the Jieng Community Elders¬the community where South Sudan’s current President is coming from, we greet you and wish you a happy new year. On the other hand, we the Jieng Community Elders appreciate the effort that you have been making toward calling for sincere and durable peace in South Sudan. And this shows that you are not pleased with what has been tearing South Sudan apart for almost a decade. So we wholeheartedly owe you tremendous gratitude for standing with the impoverished people of South Sudan.
For a very long time, we have been patiently watching how the government is running its affairs, thinking that there would be lasting peace for the people of South Sudan to enjoy¬through the Transitional Government of National Unity but we are wrong. Currently, there is fighting in Upper Nile and Jonglei States, and the government is doing nothing. In this fighting, a good number of lives were lost and people were displaced into bushes and waterlogged areas without food to eat. Still, a good number of people were internally displaced, and UNMISS has been their home for the past nine years. These people need to come out of that cage that the government of South Sudan has subjected them to for years.
However, we the Jieng Community elders have been angered by the lack of understanding between Salva Kiir Mayardit and Dr. Riek Machar. And we call for their exit of power, because the more they stay in that government, the more the suffering of the people of South Sudanese will continue. So, toward the end of December 2022, we had an emergency meeting and the nature of the meeting was to discuss the fate of South Sudan in the hands of President Salva Kiir and those under him. After the meeting, the resolution we came up with or the final decision we agreed upon was that General Paul Malong Awan, the former Governor of Northern Bahr El Ghazal and who served as the Chief of General Staff have to step in and rescue the people of South Sudan from the ongoing suffering.
The reason we suggested Paul Malong Awan is because, he had governed Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, Aweil, for years and there was transparency, peace, and equal sharing of the state resources. Through his leadership, the people of that state enjoyed the fruits of his administration. Again during his tenure as the country’s Chief of General Staff, he tried so hard to bring a conducive understanding between the government forces and the forces under Dr. Riek Machar. Moreover, as the Dinka Elders, we don’t see any other capable leader within our community who can help alleviate the suffering of South Sudanese apart from General Paul Malong Awan, and because Salva Kiir failed us, we ask you the IGAD, and East Africa Community to look into our request.
Lastly, we request that you consider our calls for a change of leadership in the Republic of South Sudan. For people are dying each day, and this is caused by the lack of commitment from the government side. On the other hand, there is no sign or chance that Salva Kiir will one day bring stability to the country. All his ability to bring the country together has faded. However, it is high and
the right time for the new leadership to take over from him. He doesn’t deserve to continue anymore. Also, his health is deteriorating every day and this tells the people of South Sudan that a new leader is needed immediately. Therefore, we call on the IGAD, the International body, and East African Community to hear the cry of the people of South Sudan by bringing back our son, General Paul Malong Awan.
Letter Council of Elders.cdr
CONCERN JIENG COMMUNITY
SECRETARIAT
