JUBA – South Sudan’s Minister of Presidential Affairs, Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro, has issued a stern warning against forceful regime changes, citing the potential chaos that can follow unplanned transitions.
Speaking on Terab Television during a Martyrs’ Day event in Juba on July 30, Bakosoro emphasized the dangers of violent takeovers.
“Building a nation is not easy. Even if you are in that chair, perhaps your rule could be worse. We complain and complain, but we don’t want to end up like Sudan. When you forcefully remove a leader, the same curse will come back to haunt you,” he stated.
The event also included speeches from notable figures such as former Deputy Speaker of Sudan’s National Legislature Atem Garang de Kuek, former Petroleum Minister Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, and former SPLM members Chier Chuang Aluong, Pieng Deng Kuol, and Achuil Malith Banggol. Officials from the country’s defense, security, and police sectors were also in attendance.
Bakosoro expressed his disappointment over the treatment of wounded veterans who played a significant role in South Sudan’s independence.
“It is a shame for me. Those people, who are there, it is a shame for us. In our culture and traditions, we do not forget those who allowed us to be free in our land. Don’t forget,” he urged.
He also criticized South Sudanese leaders for straying from the vision that inspired the 1955 and 1983 civil wars, which concluded with the 1972 Addis Ababa Agreement and the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
Bakosoro cautioned against forceful power transfers, drawing parallels with the turmoil in Iraq, Libya, and Somalia.
South Sudan is currently grappling with an economic crisis, further exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which serves as a crucial route for its oil exports.
The country has been plagued by political instability since 2013. Consumer prices have doubled in recent months, and crime rates have surged.
Civil servants have gone unpaid for over nine months, raising fears of nationwide protests that could further threaten security.
