South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Aluong Maker Aluong
The leader of the African People’s Congress (APC), Deng-bil William Aguer, urged citizens on Tuesday to move beyond community leadership that lacks national impact.
He called on the youth to redirect their efforts towards building a stronger, united South Sudan.
“The emergence of such associations represents a proliferation or duplication of authority within a community that is already represented at the national, state, and county levels. This raises questions about the necessity of additional community associations, particularly for those of us living in our own country,” Aguer stated.
He reiterated that domestic community associations are not relevant in all aspects; they are primarily vital for individuals living abroad, in exile, or in refugee camps.
Aguer noted that the only significant lesson he has gleaned from community leadership is the demonstration of the democratic process, which signals civic engagement and reflects a collective aspiration for a more participatory governance model in South Sudan, similar to what was recently accomplished by the Twic East Youth Association (TEYA).
He acknowledged that this association demonstrated a successful and credible execution but emphasised that there is little else to build upon that achievement.
“It is unfortunate to note that many candidates in both the TEYA and BCYA, as well as other community associations, are likely not representative of the youth demographic, with several contenders being individuals in their late forties and fifties. This discrepancy raises concerns about the authenticity of youth representation and the effectiveness of these bodies in addressing the true needs and aspirations of younger generations,” Aguer remarked.
He further expressed his skepticism about whether these associations might have been imported from extreme circumstances, such as refugee camps, feeding into a mindset of a generation that does not require them but rather longs to serve or participate in governance.
Aguer explained that the resettlement challenges currently faced by their community in Twic East, as well as other communities in the nation, cannot be addressed by community associations; they strictly fall within the remit of the actual government.
He lamented that people are wasting their time, resources, and energy on an option that is not viable to any significant extent.
“The issues that drove our people to flee Twic East, in particular, are the failures of the current government, and only the real government can address them, not some Juba-based associations. They are bigger than they appear!” Aguer reiterated.
He concluded by urging South Sudanese citizens to advocate for democracy so that elections are fair, free, and just enough to allow capable leaders to emerge, whether from national or regional levels. This democratic process will help bring in leaders who can deliver services rather than wasting time on community associations that lack far-reaching impact. A youth chairperson cannot perform at the same level as someone elected to Parliament.
