South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Jenifer James
The 1st Deputy Chairperson and Secretary General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Dr. James Wani Igga, has attributed South Sudan’s slow development and the decline of cultural traditions to the nation’s ongoing conflict, emphasizing that peace is crucial for national progress.
Speaking over the weekend at the Pojulu cultural festival, Dr. Igga highlighted the detrimental effects of insecurity on cultural life and infrastructure development, particularly in rural areas.
“If there were durable peace, our people would celebrate their cultural festivals freely in their villages,” Igga told attendees. “But as long as the war continues, don’t expect development.”
The event, held to honor the heritage of the Pojulu community, brought together elders, youth, and cultural leaders. However, Igga noted that similar gatherings remain difficult in many regions due to displacement and violence.
Dr. Igga urged families to reach out to those still fighting in the bush. “We have to make peace; it’s very important,” he said. “Let us talk to our children in the bush and convince them to come home.”
Igga highlighted the stalled construction of the Juba-Kaya road, named after national liberation hero Aggrey Jaden, as a direct consequence of insecurity.
The project, he said, has been repeatedly halted due to ambushes along the route, deterring engineers and forcing the government to suspend work.
“Once the war ends, we can build the Juba-Kaya road with tarmac as a reward to the communities that participated in the liberation struggle,” Igga pledged.
Dr. Igga underscored the importance of cultural preservation, linking it to the broader struggle for identity and unity. “Each of us played a role in the fight for independence. We must now protect our identity and pass it on to the next generation,” he said.
Igga advocated for the teaching of indigenous languages and traditions in schools, proposing their formal inclusion in the national curriculum.
His remarks come amid growing frustration across South Sudan over stalled peace implementation and its toll on national development.
As the government of South Sudan attempts to implement the 2018 peace agreement signed by the parties, the country continues to experience conflicts in various states and administrative areas, which complicates the development of road infrastructure.
Last week, civil society activist Edmund Yakani called for the development of infrastructure, especially the Juba-Nimule Highway.
