Security arrangements, what is it?
By Dr. Laura Nunu Numirano (MD/MPH)
After five decades of war, suffering and instability, South Sudan seceded from Sudan on July 9, 2011. But only after two years of independence, it was embroiled in war with itself with the most brutal genocide and human rights atrocity the world had seen.”Since the conflict started in December 2013, more than 4 million people have fled their homes, with 2.47 million taking refuge in neighboring countries. Close to 200,000 people are living in six UN “protection of civilians” sites across the country. Seven million people need humanitarian assistance, most of whom faced acute food shortages.(South Sudan, human right watch2019)”
As the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity(RTGoNU) is being formed, some of the most important questions the people of South Sudan must ask in regards to the security arrangements are: when and how can we finally go back home to rebuild our life again? Where is our security? What are the necessary measures put in place for ending this cycle of war? How can we avoid this in future? Who are responsible for this war and how can we hold them accountable?
To answer these questions, we must not only understand the root causes of insecruty of our country(1) but also equally understand the dynamic of the forces that let to the root causes of insecurity of our country(2). This is very important if we are aiming at creating an approach that will holistically address the issues of security arrangement and implement it satisfactorilly in letter and spirit.
From the Law of Unity In Diversity (3)which says that as humans, we are global diversity of unity in our humanity because in Sense and Essence we are all one whole family of human beings created in the image of God. And each single one of us is a unique entity of that One Human Family. As a result, irrespective of all the variables that makes us specifically unique, in Essence and Sense, we are really ONE. How, because 99% of everything that make us human are the same. It is only in the 1% variables of differences that we are uniquely different, as such, we feel different. This means, we are not just random collection of dust. We exist because we have the rights to existence, occupying space in the universe, in a specific form, time and place, otherwise, we won’t exist. Which equally means, we are alive because we have the rights to life, otherwise, we won’t be alive. As you can see, this is not different from the universal human rights values and principles of human/people rights. However, the Law of Unity In Diversity goes further into explaining why, how and from where do these rights come to exist.
As explained above, this literally means, no-one has the right to deliberately take any human life, including their own, because life and death is sacred to the creator who gave it to us. It is a mystery we still can’t comprehend fully. Irrespective of our advancement in science and technology today, we still cannot predict fully when one is born before they exist or when and how they can die after they exist. As such, killing is a crime and specially taking innocent lives is a crime that should not be tolerated by any human family, period. This explains why the responsibility to protect found expression and scope in the work of a body like the UN.
What does this mean to the security arrangement in our country?
What the Law of Unity In Diversity brings on board is, the insights into the dymamics of forces that led to insecurity in our country. Following the facts of events that led to war, two elements of insecurity can be identified, mainly, the cause and the effect systems of insecurity. The cause system can be mainly attributed to the tribal politics based on power struggle that is feuled by culture of revenge war(4). And the effect system is the defense war system of the caused war. These includes but not limited to the revolutionary movements and their millitary wings. However, these are not the only causes of insecurity of our country. Another part of our insecurity comes from the war beneficiaries system and their partners. Those who use the status quo for their own benefits. And on the other side of this spectrum of the beneficaries system are the real victims of this war. As you can see, everything is interconnected and related creating complexity. But with the above identifications and understanding, clearity is possible. As a result, for the issues of insecurity to be addressed satisfactorilly, a wider scope of local, regional and global arrangements are required. This is because the insecurity in our country is far beyond the insecurity of the elites; which seems to dominate the arrangement of security in the (RTGoNU).
This defineltly shows that, indeed, we are not an entity of our own as some would like us to believe. We belong to the global family of politics. So, for us to stick our heads in the sand and act like chickens without heads is not just being naive, but even worse, being not in touch with the reality of the world we live in today.Therefore, if there is any attempt to institute security arrangement, all these various elements of insecurity must be dealt with and considered.
So, who, what, why, where, when and how?
The questions that beg answers are: why do we need security arrangments? For who is the security arrangements of paramount importantance? How can we bring it about and what roles do the so called leaders play in championing it? Ironically, whether we are part of the cause, effect or beneficiary systems of this insecurity, we all claim we are doing it for the sake of the people of South Sudan who are the real victims of this war, right? Now, as the Revatalized Transitional Government of National Unity(RTGoNU) is being formed, where are the security arrangements that specifically addresed the issues of the ordinary citizens of South Sudan? I mean, the real victims, especially those who are fenced up in PoCs around the country and those in the middle of the capital city, Juba? Not forgetting those in the IDPs and refugee camps, the diaspora and all the citizens who are in constant fear for their lives and property in the villages and towns of South Sudan. Including those residing in the capital city, Juba who are under constant threats and fear for their lives due to unknown gunmen, heavy militarization and state of emergency?
We, in South Sudan NADAFA for an alternative government are saying that, if there is any arrangement for security, our people from our ancestral regions of Upper Nile, Equatoria and Bahar Al Gazal must be at the center of it. And the security arrangments that will bring sustainable peace and stability to our country must be that which is mainly aimed at creating condusive environment in which our people can return home to rebuild their lives and participate fully in the nation building process. Therefore, the real question as asked by Dr. Dario Hakim is: how can we make this peace process inclusive and better for everyone?
Since this war started as power struggles between the elites (mainly tribal elites), is it really a surprise to see them still struggling in their appointment of positions for power? What is obvious though, it seems we have just come a full circle without learning lessons that much in the course of our struggle. Doing the same thing and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity I guess, or is it not?
May God bless you and bless South Sudan, Amen!
References:
1) The root causes of war in South Sudan, where are our votes?
2) The Bitter Truth about South Sudan war: Power, Money and Land!
3) Unity In Diversity, what is it?
4) South Sudan, a country at cross-road.
NADAFA 