Advocacy

South Sudan in Crisis

                                 
"When the elephants fight, the grass suffers"

This quote was said to me by John Prendergast about the current situation in Juba. This I feel pretty much sums up what is going on.

I never thought we would be going to back to what has brought us to our  current surroundings. I was only three when I left Sudan and I have never been back. I grew up in Ethiopia and the United States but I still had a longing to once again see the place I call home. All of that changed for me a couple of days ago when the fighting broke out in Juba.

A day before, a group of friends and I decided to make signs for the democracy rally that was going to happen in Juba december 14th. A day later we found out that the rally had been postponed due to reconciliation talks within the government. That night we heard that there had been gunshots in Juba and people could possibly be hurt. At first I was puzzled as to why there would be a dispute when they were having reconcilation talks. As the night grew on things only took a turn for the worse.

The political atmosphere was already heated and this event was the catalyst that started the fire. information began to flood in and the real reason for the turmoil was revealed. I tried calling my family there but phones were shut down. luckily, I reached my sister in Ethiopia and she filled me in. I am not concerned about the political aspects of things right now but for the innocent people who are in the middle of the the fighting.

The Media

I have begun to realize that the South Sudan media was depicting the situation as a coup. The truth is that the public needs to do their best to educate themselves about what is truly going on. What happened could not simply be a coup. Although I was not there to report, I am confident my source is truthful about what they have informed me. Please do you best to research the situation because as the days have unfolded the issue has turned into an attack on civilians due to their tribal affiliation. This kind of action should not be tolerated.

Innocent civilians have fled to the UNMISS compound to seek refuge because they are being killed in their homes. The media has not reported on the exact number of casualties mainly because there is not a way to properly communicate with people. The GOVERNMENT is suppose to provide the FOOD, WATER and MEDICAL care for its citizens who are in need and in this case it not happening. People have become refugees in their own country.

The Diaspora

I know that there is not a lot we can do as we are thousands of miles from home but I urge you to do as much as you can. The innocent people who are suffering can not voice their concern so YOU have to be the voice for them. what has happened in the past cannot happen again and this event will shape  the political atmosphere of South Sudan in the future. Time is crucial and we as the citizens of South Sudan  in the diaspora have to be heard as a collective. Those of you who have access to the internet you have a lot of options as to what you can do to help South Sudan. The more you write about this issue the more news outlets will see it and talk about it. Here is a number of things you can do to help:

• Blog about what is happening and voice your concern
• Tweet 
• Facebook 

Please let me know if you have questions and I will try to answer them as soon as I can.