The Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) demands the immediate end to the war that is now going on in the Republic of South Sudan (RoSS). The war that is taking place in RoSS and that has already killed thousands of people and displaced hundreds of thousands is a reactionary war and therefore unacceptable. A just war which is inevitable and necessary is war of defence of nations and people, war of national and social liberation. A just war is war against colonialism and imperialism, war fought for freedom and human rights, war for removing the system of exploitation and oppression of person by person. The ongoing war in RoSS is not a just war under these standards and should therefore be condemned in no uncertain terms. The leaders of SPLM/A led by President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar will ultimately be made to take responsibility for this shameful and senseless war that has increased the suffering of the people of the youngest nation in Africa and the World.
The leaders of SPLM/A who came to power after a long and protracted war of national liberation from the successive reactionary Khartoum regimes ought to have learned about what to do or not to do from other African countries that have been independent for about fifty years. Instead, the leaders of SPLM/A driven by personal aggrandisements continue to make the same mistakes made by the regimes in power in most of African countries. Rather than making and implementing policies of liberating their country from poverty, underdevelopment, dependency and national sovereignty, the SPLM/A regime drives the country and people along the path of neoliberalism, neo-colonialism, imperialism and dependency. Instead of working to democratise SPLM/A and RoSS society, the leaders engage in intrigues and all manner of reactionary actions for holding personal power for purely narrow and parochial interests.
As a consequence, no sooner had they got into power than they started looting their country and doing all the bad things that are done by other African leaders yesterday and today. Thus dictatorship, corruption, tribalism, nepotism, greed, betrayal of principles of the struggle for national liberation, and existence and perpetuation of reactionary ideas and policies are the order of the day among the leaders of SPLM/A led by President Salva Kiir. The leadership does not inspire the people towards national unity, development and national progress but instead kills their patriotic and progressive spirits due to its reactionary governance of the country. When Kiir disbanded the whole cabinet a few months ago and formed a new one composed of his sycophants, he did not do that in the interest of the welfare of the people of RoSS but rather to monopolise power for himself in preparation for the coming national elections. This naturally created bitterness, despondency and disaffection among senior members of SPLM/A including Riek Machar and citizens of RoSS who have been demanding democratic change within SPLM/A. Dividing the armed forces along tribal lines in order to consolidate personal power and wealth was the greatest mistake made by the regime that has greatly contributed to bringing about this brutal and destructive war.
SDP calls upon the African Union and regional organisations including IGAD and East African Community, as well as the UN to use all means possible to ensure that this mad war stops immediately and peace returns in RoSS as a matter or urgency. Indeed, we are pleased that already good efforts are being made by the leaders of the organizations in the interest of peace and security of the suffering people of RoSS. Africa and the World must not abandon the people of RoSS at this hour of need!
However, while dealing with the immediate problem and problems of the war, all people and organizations interested in peace in RoSS must demand that the SPLM/A regime deals with the root causes of the problem and begins to implement long term and sustainable solutions and measures for peace. This includes addressing the questions of greed and corruption among the leaders, dictatorship, tribalism and nepotism. Besides, the search for sustainable peace and human security in RoSS is not a matter of SPLM/A alone; it should involve all political parties in the country and also the civil society. The leaders of RoSS must be reminded that they are there to lead the struggle against poverty and underdevelopment and not to amass wealth for themselves and their cronies. SDP is in solidarity with the people of RoSS who are demanding national unity, democracy, human rights, transparency, accountability, new national constitution, peace and implementation of progressive social and development policies in their country.
Finally, SDP calls upon President Salva Kiir who is now President of RoSS and commander of the armed forces to command the armed forces to stop war immediately wherever they are. At the same time, simultaneously, Riek Machar and all those who command armies in RoSS must also immediately order their armies to stop fighting. As a gesture of good will and sincerity to peace and national reconciliation, Salva Kiir must also immediately release all political prisoners and promise not to stand for the seat of President of RoSS in the coming elections. Riek Machar too must without delay participate in the peace process while also promising not to campaign for the position of President of RoSS in the same elections. All this should be done in the spirit that peace and the interests of the country which are bigger than individuals however powerful or influencial they may be.
On their part, the people of RoSS, particularly the youth, should prepare not to support or elect anyone to power who they know is a tribalist or who has become a millionaire after he or she came to the leadership of the country. They should reject the reactionary war and neoliberal socio - economic policies that expose the country to imperialist domination while escalating poverty and underdevelopment and increasing the gap between the few rich elites and the majority of the people of RoSS.
In the meanwhile, humanitarian organizations must be facilitated by all stakeholders of the peace process in RoSS as a matter of urgency to deal with the big and worsening refugee and humantarian crisis created by the war. The people of RoSS who have suffered enough for the just war of the independence of their country do not deserve to continue to die and suffer due to a worthless war of post independence opportunistic pro - capitalist leaders! Those who decide to refuse to work for peaceful solution must be made by the face justice now or in future.
Mwandawiro Mghanga, Chairperson of SDP