Better named Jungle NOT Jonglei

 By Wenne Madyt Deng


I know it is not trouble-free to accept right as it stands above; confidently, I know it is tough to deal with nomads of miscellaneous cultural beliefs, norms and other aspects connected to nomadic standards of living coupled with autocratic and dreadful mode of government. As you read this piece of information you need to put into consideration who the inhabitants of this cruel state are?

Jonglei state is inhabited by six authoritative tribes whose lifestyles relate and almost all of them completely depend on cattle as the source of food, wealth and bride prize. These tribes are at all times used as tools of achieving unexpected vision by overpowered big fish in the government and mutineers who rise and encourage one tribe to fight other one by giving arms to the youth in cattle camps.

Tribal conflicts have been rotational for many years among all the tribes and chiefly fixed in the hand of induced Murle tribe whose illiteracy has been taken as advantage by several insurgents to terrorize all the bordering tribes and uniquely known of child abduction across the state.

Jonglei state is the largest and the most populated among the states enveloped in the Republic of South Sudan. Concurrently, Jonglei state is the only state where the entire chaotic and rebellious projects are planned to be executed by political anemic elements of the diet in the heart of the nation. The state is heard all over the world for its horrendous phenomenon intentionally supported by its own natives in the upper house.

The state really suits to be renamed, I believe if JUNGLE is definitely the ruthless situation as the insistence of tribal conflicts and insurgencies remain integral and sustained by naked-eyed politicians to be the sources of signing agreements and raising a lot of funds to subsidize the workshops, seminars and accommodations at expensive hotels and round tables in the light to discuss Jonglei insecurity issues, then this state should get renamed as JUNGLE STATE.

It will be directly proportional to its condition. It is where all the peace building projects are proposed and appealed to the international governments and non-governmental humanitarian organizations based skeletally in the Jungle state. The lion’s share remains under the bed.

The innocent nomads whose minds are weaponry linked and the supreme installed hatred in their hearts by bribed backhanders who pretend while beating their chests in assembly that the government is ready to protect the civilians; initiate fractional disarmament which later hangs unfinished due to uprising of insurgent David Yau Yau and rigidity shown by some communities towards the disarmament forces.

Failure of the government to silent the operation of South Sudan Democratic Movement (SSDM) in eastern Jonglei is keeping the number of people killed by unknown gunmen escalating, raiding of massive number of cattle and countless abduction of children. Accusing one tribe to be the one applying hostility against the other will not stop me from renaming this state to be Jungle state.

Bitterly, it is well known that SSDM is a project of Juba and I have tangible evidences easy to say, it was straightforward for SPLA to tackle operation of the late insurgent Lt. Gen. George Athor Deng compared to Yau Yau which kills innocent civilians daily and the government officials remain with their hands folded in both assemblies discussing imaginary tales including lynching of writers as a means of media censorship.

 I always ask myself why they fought for independence and they are still investing in arming civilians to kill themselves tirelessly. How can you arm people and say again you want to disarm them? I don’t really know what to say, this is because the nation itself has already qualified to the list of failed countries as a matter of reality.

When we come to analyze within the Republic of South Sudan as a sovereign nation, Jonglei state falls in the category of the most chaotic and less developed states in the Republic of South Sudan and the failed state of course.

However, the insecurity in Jonglei state has made development to remain stagnant, all the roads linking the state headquarters to counties are impassable. This is not only because of insecurity but also the infrastructural nature of these roads is absolutely comparative to natural world paths which are used by jungle masters.

Few to mention are Elephants and poachers whose reason has bond with the environment. So narrow, constricted and muddy roads; supposedly, it can be a great sentence or chastisement if one plans to use. The inhabitants are untamed in their own habitat; one can never miss seeing weapon after every moment and assuredly within twenty four hours if you are out door.

These are pure civilians who have no connection with machinery weapons. These weapons in the hands of civilians are the ones increasing tribal aggression and enmity which has failed all the developmental aspects in the state. And I am sure with time if there shall be no meaningful implementation of disarmament and prosecution of governmental perpetrators then Jonglei shall be renamed as Jungle state.

The state with registered reputation all over South Sudan since the history of liberation is pinned to it has become a jungle of conflict and its status is diminishing as it is being swallowed up by mischievous spirit of social injustice. For sure, this state needs to be rescued from mayhem of diabolical hurdle leading the young state to the darkest and sodomy destination punctuated with ravenousness and lack of consideration for others.

The writer is a humanitarian worker in Jonglei state, Republic of South Sudan and can be reached at wennemadyt@gmail.com