By Gen. Salva Mathok Gengdit, Hon.
The recent interview done by the Kenyan journalist Jeff Koinange to H.E President Salva Kiir Mayardit made me respond to one of his questions, saying, “are you the unifying factor of this country (South Sudan)?” This was Jeff asking H.E President Kiir.
President Kiir responded to the question nicely and I would like to expand his answer to this question for any one concerned to know more on the answer to this question.
Yes, Gen Salva Kiir Mayardit is the symbol of unity of this country because of the following reasons:
Those coups were based on sectional/tribal basis. Example, Nasir faction relied on Nuer, Kerbino Kuanyin with greater Bahr el Ghazal fighters, Arok Thon Arok with Koryom who were mostly Bor, Progressive officers wanted a support from communist countries like Cuba by then and William Nyuon with purely Nuer.
With all divisions, Gen Salva Kiir never thought to support neither, stood with the leadership of Dr John Garang. I should be frank, from 1987 to 2005, the majority of fighting force was from Bahr el Ghazal in particular from 1991 to 2005. If Gen Salva Kiir Mayardit was not a unifying factor, he would have taken over, as you know our tribalism in the movement after Nasir faction coup.
The above few points I mentioned made me to say strongly with confident that President Kiir is a symbol of unity of this country. He accepted to sign the R-ARCSS and it was a dangerous agreement for the country. He signed that agreement for the sake of unity for the people of South Sudan to have peace although it is a dangerous agreement for the country until now.
The writer is a liberator, former caretaker governor of Warrap State, Deputy Chief of General Staff of SPLA, and Deputy National Minister of Interior. He is serving currently as R-TLA National MP. He is reachable via +211925571888
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