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Fellow South Sudanese and all Sudanese,
On behalf of the United South Sudan Party (USSP), I take this opportunity to wish you all Happy Christmas and Prosperous 2008. Likewise, I congratulate all Muslims on the successful completion of their Eid al-Adha celebration.
Between October and November 2007, I visited our beloved South Sudan after more than ten years in exile. During my visit, I met with some of our people including members of the civil society and the South Sudan Legislative Assembly in Juba, the Capital of South Sudan. The aspirations of the people of South Sudan for peace and the right to eventually vote for an independent, sovereign South Sudan in the referendum scheduled for 2011 remain unequivocal. USSP would like to assure the people of South Sudan that it is firmly committed to the promotion of peace and democracy, and the unity of all South Sudanese people, for the common goal of an independent state. I believe that wherever you are, you will join me in prayers for peace to prevail throughout our motherland, for justice to reign and for all of us to be driven by the spirit of goodwill towards one another as we work together for the birth of the sovereign state of South Sudan. In this third Christmas of peace-time South Sudan after the signing of the CPA, our thoughts and prayers turn to all those who died in the course of the struggle for justice in our country—may their souls rest in peace. For those in our country or in exile who are unable to be with their families during this holy season, especially those who are in hospitals or held in prisons for whatever reason, may they feel the spirit of Christmas, too.
The year 2007 is a year that has been marked by moments of mixed hope and despair. As it comes to its close, the message we wish to convey to you all is one of hope and dedication to peace. We urge the partners to the CPA—the SPLM and the NCP—to exercise wisdom and good judgement to see the need to implement the CPA fully without any reservation. We pray that the discovery and exploitation of oil in South Sudan must not be a curse for South Sudan and the whole Sudan or an obstacle to peace, but rather a blessing to the whole country. Therefore, we urge the partners to the agreement to take immediate steps to implement the Abyei protocol without further delay and reservation in order to ensure the full implementation of the CPA. We take this opportunity to thank all those who worked tirelessly and with full determination to bring about peace to our country. We urge them all to persist in their noble efforts to ensure that the peace is sustained. Sustaining the peace calls for more than just lip service. It requires a concerted effort and a willingness on the part of all parties to make it work. USSP hopes that the New Year will witness that necessary commitment and willingness.
In the year 2007 our country has seen much violence, including the cold-blooded killings of three senior police officers in Western Equatoria State (WES) and Ugandan residents in Juba. May the souls of all victims of violence in our country rest in peace, and may justice reign supreme in our country. We urge the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) to take concerted and adequate measures to ensure that law and order prevail in the post-war South Sudan. At the moment there is no way of knowing that peace actually exists in South Sudan because most citizens are worried and fearful of threats to their lives by those who are able to take the law into their own hands without fear of any punishment. I have fears and concerns that the culture of violence is becoming endemic in our country. Clear examples are the senseless killings that took place in Western Equatoria and Jonglei States in recent months. Some elements in the security forces or tribal groups use maximum force as an instrument of first resort, intimidation and coercion to get what they want. This is unacceptable and is sowing the seeds of anarchy. It must never be allowed be the norm in the year 2008. The role of the Government is to protect its citizens as well as other nationalities who reside in the country to ensure that every human being is respected by Government agencies by practising the respect for human rights and human dignity and demonstrating that every person is equal before the law. I believe that without these universal norms, violence, intimidation, coupled with criminal activities of social groups that may have been created as a result of inadequate enforcement of law for a long period of time on one section of the population, may lead to massive unrest, further conflict, widespread poverty and death. Starvation may also become inevitable due to new waves of displacement. It is high time the people of South Sudan began to receive and enjoy the dividends of peace. Such an ideal is impossible in the presence of tribalism, corruption, nepotism, favouritism, intimidation and insecurity.
USSP is fully committed to the unity of South Sudan, the rule of law and the freedom of speech, so that those in authority may become fully accountable to the people of South Sudan. Without the above ideals, there can never be peace in South Sudan. The partners to the CPA must genuinely commit themselves to work together for peace, for the speedy transformation of South Sudan from war to a stable, democratic country that will uphold all the principles of the rule of law. Only then will peace be achievable and sustainable. USSP will seek to work with all political parties in South Sudan to play its part in the peace process.
South Sudan has a right to be free and independent.
Again, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New Year!
Clement Mbugoniwia
USSP Party Leader
Tel: +44(0)7810 536392
