On 8th September 2009, the residents of Juba and its environ woke up to a rude shock.The roads to and from the fast growing capital city of South Sudan were cordoned off by army and police officers belonging to Sudanese People Liberation Army(SPLA) and Southern Sudan Police Service(SSPS) respectively. As if that wasn’t enough,they had also positioned themselves along the main and feeder roads for a major exercise that lasted for more than a week.
President Salve Kiir had ordered a disarmament exercise following the revelation that many civilians held with them illegal guns and other deadly ammunitions. The house to house exercise was successful since a cache of deadly weapons including pistols, assault rifles, anti-aircraft guns and explosives were found hidden in residents’ houses.
That was a clear indication by the Government of South Sudan that it was truly committed in promoting peace.
The world witnessed a peaceful referendum process on 9th-15th January, 2011.The citizens of South Sudan voted overwhelming for an independent status. It is therefore worrying that of late President Omar Bashir has been provoking the Government of South Sudan by attacking its citizens in oil-rich Abyei.
It is obvious that the Khartoum Government is not interested in honoring the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that was signed in Naivasha,Kenya in 2005.. The 21-year civil war that ended in 2005 left more than 2.5 million people dead. As I was working there back then, I witnessed first hand the devastating aftermath of that war. President Salva Kiir should totally resist war under all circumstances to for the sake of his people.
James Mwangi Kanyi,
Nairobi.
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