18/05/2025
A heartfelt and reflective analysis of the legacy of the liberation struggle in South Sudan, emphasizing sacrifice, acknowledgment, and post-revolution realities.
By Jok WäMonychok
4:4:2 Formation
One thing with any liberation struggle is that, after the war, betrayal sets in. This is very painful considering how those you think wouldn't betray you can do it in an awful manner.
The theories of post-revolution are very ruthless. However, H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit is a kind-hearted man. He doesn't forget those who are loyal to him and he doesn't forgive those who betrayed him before.
I'm saying this because I know very well President Salva knows very well the post-revolution theories, but he still accommodates many colleagues of his and even those who were against the movement.
Alas, there's a lingering feeling of dissatisfaction in the way history of liberation is being claimed. There are no archives for honouring the fallen heroes and heroines. And thus, it has become the responsibility of family members to recognize or market their relatives' sacrifices. To an extent, some people have had to falsely claim to be liberators when they were recently recruited for the sake of grabbing job opportunities and worst, only recognize liberators based on interests.
I was approached by one man of good will, who advised me to avoid praising the liberators who have died and instead praise those who were alive. According to him, I was inheriting their enemies and it wouldn't reward me. Again, I receive another advice on the same thing, which I considered.
To be honest, the government can't pay financially over two millions martyrs we have lost during the course of the struggle. Some notable martyrs deserve schools, roads, hospitals, halls, squares, etc named after them . However, the whole two millions deserve a better country with clean water, electricity, housing, good roads, hospitals, schools, job opportunities, stable economy, security and peace for their children and relatives. Those are the fruits of liberation. They will feel proud in heaven for their sacrifices have contributed to happiness of their people.
Some of us do not have fathers who were commanders, but our fathers contributed in a way the top leadership of the movement knows them. Today, they can't see those who respect and see them as liberators. That's because the system is being ran like a black market where everything is handled in a manner of brokerage.
There are times when all we need is recognition. Nothing else. That's why whenever President Kiir honours some people, they feel important and have unending love towards the country and the president.
My father once said, "President Kiir Mayardit and SPLM will never leave power until his government compensates my cars the movement used." He said this statement when a friend of his told him the president mentioned his name and his lorry in Akon. He was honoured and he always advise me not to leave SPLM.
I brought up this story not to boast, but to remind all of us that we have all contributed and there is no reason for putting on khakis to be recognized as a liberator. If it was not your time to be in the bush, because of age, now is your time to liberate your country from countless problems. We all liberated this country in one way or another and no one can directly humiliate you.
The case of inequality in wealth distribution can be attributed to the hungry backgrounds we all came from. We are all avoiding our hungry pasts that's why majority of the people have lost ethics. But no one can physically intimidate you without you responding appropriately. The country belongs to us all.
Let's all remember our fallen heroes and heroines all together, without discrimination. Former president of Sudan Omar Hassan Al Bashir once said: " It's all because of me. Whether you die of gun wound, snake bite, hunger, or wild animal, I am the one who put you in that situation." Whether this was a propaganda to unite South Sudanese or he truly said it is a subject for verification. But the essence of this quote is that we all suffered and died to liberate this country together.
Happy 42nd Anniversary of SPLM/A
GOD BLESS SOUTH SUDAN
