By Kalany Mamuon
What is happening in South Sudan now was inevitable, unavoidable. The country inherited not just its mother state’s borders, but also its deep-rooted dysfunctions, such as cycles of bloodshed, political marginalization, and ethnic disintegration.
The much-celebrated peace agreement was never a genuine solution. It was a fragile truce that temporarily divided power and wealth among the elite, while leaving the root causes of conflict untouched.
Many in South Sudan still search for someone or something to blame. Some point to the North, believing the crisis was born there. But the North is gone, and yet, the chaos continues. Others believe the problem lies in regions like Darfur, assuming separation would bring peace. But even if Darfur were to go its way, instability would persist.
Some blame the Jalaba [Arabs], believing that their removal will restore order. But even in their absence, turmoil would persist. The same applies to those who blame the Kisan or Eastern communities each time, the notion is that removing a group will heal the nation. It never does.
South Sudan’s crisis is not caused by a lack of resources or potential, but by a mindset that opposes unity, diversity, and responsibility. The cancers at the heart of this crisis are extremism, intolerance, and a stubborn rejection of opposing viewpoints.
There is a pervasive victim mentality that blames others for every misstep, refusing to accept accountability or pursue constructive change.
This culture of blame obscures the fact that the foundations of a functioning modern state tolerance, inclusive governance, rule of law, are still absent.
This crisis is not purely political. It is highly sociological, influenced by how people are reared, what they learn, and how they perceive the world. Nothing will change unless we change our way of thinking, stop pointing fingers, and begin to accept responsibility. A nation’s reality reflects its collective psyche. To reconstruct South Sudan, we must first rebuild our way of thinking.
Note: The views expressed in this ‘opinion’ piece published by King Media are exclusively those of the writer. The author is solely accountable for the veracity of any claims indicated, not King Media.