In Response to the ‘Equatoria Community Second Extraordinary Conference and the Fifth Conference Resolutions’

By: Equatorian South Sudanese Communities in Exile and the Diaspora

February 2, 2015 (SSNA) — On behalf of the larger, silent and suffering majority of the People of Equatoria, we the undersigned sons and daughters of Equatoria South Sudanese Community in Exile and the Diaspora, hereby express our bitter concern and categorically reject the statement by a lobby group of Equatorian beneficiaries of the government in Juba. We accordingly underscore the following to set the record straight:

1. It is out of question that this group of self-interest lobbyists, hiding under the auspices of the current Vice President and three governors of Western Equatoria State,Central Equatoria State and Eastern Equatoria State are feeling unsettled with the rapidly changing political landscape under the weight of the IGAD-mediated peace talks in Addis Ababa, fearing that the political landscape might change to their disadvantage. This lobby group has been rallying a group of their supporters and beneficiaries of nepotistic practices and their extended family members in a desperate bid to maintain their status quo and continue milking the ailing cow that is South Sudan.

2. The shameless lobbyists should be aware that Equatorians in particular, and South Sudanese in general, are closely monitoring their moves and know who the members of the group led by the Vice President and three-mentioned state governors, cabinet ministers and members of parliament are. These are people addicted to accumulation of ill-gotten wealth who are desperate to maintain the ill-famed government in Juba.

3. Equatorians are not so myopic as to neglect the root causes of the conflict in South Sudan and the thousands of innocent citizens massacred in cold-blood by state sponsored militia. Equatorians are fully aware that what drives the lobbyists is the sheer quest to continue basking in opulence with their extended family members in foreign cities, while at the same time fearing the imminent accountability for pillaging the resources of the country.

4. It should be realized that the real interest, the real cause and hope for Equatoria rests in the current movement against Salva Kiir Mayardit and his corrupt cohorts in Juba. Barely two months ago, Equatorians met in a caucus at Pagak in Upper Nile State to evaluate, deliberate and present the position of Equatoria regarding the future governance of South Sudan. Earlier, under the auspices of Equatoria South Sudanese Community in America (ESSCA), Equatorians came out with a position paper which detailed in no uncertain terms the wishes and aspirations of the people of South Sudan, with Equatorians being part and parcel of them.

Conclusion:

These clearly expressed positions of Equatorians should not be contradicted by selfprotecting and self-seeking millionaire vice president, governors, cabinet ministers and military generals. Surely these unpopular politicians have everything to gain from a failed government and everything to lose from a well-established government that we have been working and consulting to establish by addressing the root causes of the poor governance and the conflict. When it matters most for them, they rally Equatoria behind them, but when all is sweet and green for them Equatoria matters less.

However, this time around we will not allow self-interests to prevail over the common interest, wishes and aspirations of the majority of our people. Therefore, the ongoing peace, which we want to be real peace-building and development planning process should not be deterred and should not be watered down by disguised ill-intentions of a few politicians. Equatoria should not be used as a Trojan horse for execution of sinister plans of these politicians!

Signed (in alphabetical order):

Dated: 02 February 2015