South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
From escaping bullets and seeing his friends dead during the long decades liberation struggle, Joseph Kuol Kuek Makoi,57, is among thousands of veterans living a wretched life.
The former Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) combat engineer from Abiriu payam of Cueibet County in Lakes state is yet to receive his pension after serving in the SPLA since 1983.
“Considering the fact that I am of old age, I want the government especially President Salva Kiir Mayardit to give me pension, equivalent with the work I have done during the liberation struggle,” said Makoi in an interview with The Dawn in Juba on Thursday.
Makoi was among the SPLA cadres who underwent training in 1985 in Bongo located in neighboring Ethiopia.
He said that while serving in greater Bahr El Ghazal region under Kalany battalion he saw many of his colleagues killed, adding that he reminisces about his luck to stay alive till today.
Makoi said that his commander in Kalany battalion was Elijah Akol Kuol, who led them into fierce battles with the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in Ruoto of Eastern Equatoria state among many others.
“I do not have a house; I was provided a space in Giada military barracks to construct temporary shelter where I am staying with two of my wives,” said Makoi.
Makoi said that among his tasks was to plant and remove land mines on roads during the liberation struggle.
“I do not regret having participated in the liberation of my country, the country is moving well but there is no change, we need to be in peace, we want food production because we want all our children to eat and we need health facilities,” he said.
Makoi said he hopes to send back some of his children to school when he receives his pension, adding that some of his children have dropped out of the university.
The retired war veteran worked with his contemporaries such as Nhail Deng Nhial and Marial chanuong in 1994 in Bahr El Ghazal region.
Makoi was transferred from the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) in 2006 to the fire brigade where he served as director of fire brigade in Torit.
He said that when he was posted to Torit fire brigade department he found the fire brigade being housed in a tent, and then he requested in 2008 the chief administrator in the office of the President Yol Luol to provide funds for building a permanent structure for the fire brigade in Torit.
Makoi afterwards requested the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to provide funds for building fire brigade office in Magwi and Kapoeta.
In 2013, he was transferred to Kuajok after he helped to oversee the construction of permanent structures for the fire brigade in Eastern Equatoria state.
Makoi is currently not deployed to any station within the fire brigade, though he continues to receive his salary.
