Dear Dr. Barnaba Bak Chol,
I write to you today with a heavy heart and a burdened spirit as I witness the deplorable treatment of our wounded heroes left in agony outside the gates of the Ministry of Finance. It is truly shocking and disheartening to see those who fought for the freedom and independence of South Sudan now suffering at the hands of the same government they helped establish.
These brave individuals, who risked their lives on the front lines and defended the leadership of President Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar during the tumultuous periods of 2013 and 2016, deserve nothing but respect, care, and support from the government they served with unwavering loyalty.
I implore you, Dr. Barnaba Bak Chol, to either step down from your position as Minister of Finance or take immediate action to compensate and provide for the needs of our wounded heroes. South Sudan possesses the resources to cover the expenses of all its citizens, yet the prevailing corruption within government offices and tribal communities has hijacked the rights and well-being of our people, especially those who have sacrificed their health and well-being in service to the nation.
The mismanagement of funds, the lack of transparency, and the failure to adequately address the medical needs and allowances of our wounded heroes reflect a gross injustice and a betrayal of their sacrifices. Your statement claiming that the Ministry has been “invaded” only serves to divert attention from the urgent issues at hand and further exacerbates the suffering of those in need.
Dr. Barnaba Bak Chol, the people of South Sudan deserve better. They deserve a government that upholds accountability, transparency, and compassion towards its citizens, particularly towards those who have selflessly served and suffered for the greater good.
It is time to right these wrongs, to acknowledge the failures that have occurred under your watch, and to take responsibility for the well-being of those who have been neglected for far too long. The legacy of your tenure as Minister of Finance will be defined by how you choose to address this critical issue.
For the sake of justice, for the sake of our wounded heroes, for the sake of a better South Sudan, I urge you to do the right thing: resign from your position or make amends by prioritizing the needs of those who have given everything for our nation.
Furthermore, I urge you to retract any statements that downplay or dismiss the severity of the situation facing our wounded heroes. Every life in South Sudan is valuable, and the use of violence or intimidation against unarmed individuals, especially those who have already suffered so much, is unjustifiable and goes against the principles of compassion and humanity that should guide our actions.
In the interest of justice, accountability, and the well-being of our citizens, I urge you to take decisive steps to address these issues and ensure that such acts of brutality and neglect do not occur again. The people of South Sudan are looking to you for leadership and action in this critical moment, and it is imperative that we do right by those who have given so much for our count
Emmanuel Malual Makuach is a South Sudanese journalist and researcher focusing on the impact of social media triggers in the conflicts of 2013 and 2016 in South Sudan. Contact him at malualmakuach77@gmail.com
