By Maker Costa
In addition, it triggers controversies over the way southern Sudan is being run by its own people, and over the way the SPLM is fairing with its transition from a guerrilla movement to a political party. An observer would find no difficulty in noticing the following deficiencies in GOSS’s apparatus, at least, in this case:
Confusion and communication failure:
Both Mr. Nhial and Mr. President have participated in breeding confusion that was caused by the resignation. On one hand, Mr. Nhial, as an experienced politician, should have come out clearly with his resignation to the public through the media; in addition, he should have given the people of southern Sudan the reasons for his resignation. On the other hand, Mr. President and his government failed terribly information wise; in other words, a recognized government, which is no longer a guerrilla, should have come out with such a resignation to the people. A minister in a respectable government, especially, of Nhial prestige, shouldn’t resigned and be kept secrete from the people; hence, leaving everyone with nothing but to make up his own conclusions. This way of communication actually tells a lot about the incompetence of the GOSS, should I be frank, I would say the incompetence of the current leadership of the SPLM. Unfortunately, our fate is on the hands of this very same leadership. If mismanagement could be easily seen on top officials’ transactions, how rotten would the bottom officials be in their transactions?
Power struggle:
It is really unfortunate that the “SPLM” which is credited for bringing about the CPA; hence, bringing about the GOSS, is now on life support if not already dead. Power struggle in the SPLM/A has always been a stumbling rock, many lives were terminated, innocent people were vilified, others were brutally tortured, and others were even expelled just because they were seen as potential rivals to the leadership. At least, there was a pretext then for those crimes, obviously, the guerrilla status of the SPLM/A was blamed for those crimes, but now that the SPLM’s status has changed to that of a government, what else would be the pretext?
The current struggle for power is rumored to be between Mr. President Loyalists and, allegedly, Mrs. Nyandeng Loyalists [Nhial included]. According to this analogy, Garang’s loyalists and consequently Mrs. Nyiandeng loyalists are usurping to retain power. Anyway, both sides of the divide are totally damaging the image of the entire southern Sudan in the sight of the now attentive international community. Southerners thought that the “SPLM,” having been given 70% of power would be satisfied with it and, at least, continue with the implementation of the CPA safely in front of the greedy NCP/NIF partner. But as observed so far, reaching the referendum is now in question given the shaky leadership of the SPLM and its looming in-fight.
The unconnected politicians of the SPLM:
What should be clear to our politicians in the SPLM is that the SPLA is no longer a partisan army to depend on political-wise, since it is now nationalized and has become the army of the people of southern Sudan [even though the name SPLA remains]. With that said, these politicians should start thinking of their future because their future is really uncertain, given their polarity and the incompetence of most of their members. These politicians must understand that they have to be seen united by southerners; otherwise, they would face an imminent political defeat in the nearest general election which is just at the corner. Lots of things have to be intro