AVOID TRIBAL DIVISIONS WHILE IN SCHOOL, SOUTH SUDANESE STUDENTS ADVISED

A section of students occupying the conference hall during the function. Photo by Godwin Abedican.

By Godwin Abedican

Arua

South Sudanese students in West Nile are being called upon to avoid divisions among themselves based on tribes and other alignments while in schools.

This was a key message during the South Sudanese United Students Association (SSUSA) organized 13^th Independence Day anniversary of South Sudan held at Eripark Beach Resort, Arua on Tuesday July 9, 2024.

SSUSA, is a body that brings together all the south Sudanese students across the West Nile region and beyond, established in 1998 to foster unity among the students who come from South Sudan.

Speaking during the function, Martin Sebbit Justine, the president SSUSA Koboko district noted with great concern of tribal divisions that continue to crop among the students is something he says is affecting corporation among them. “I have a challenge in Koboko, where there are ethnic clubs that are formed. This is making SUSSA to fall in Koboko district. I feel we should work as a team and be able to exercise the unity and prosperity that we always talk about such that we can be able to show love at the end of it all, for the sake of our country South Sudan,” he said.

Rev Isaiah Majong Deng, who represented the religious leaders during the function implored the students to put aside all that creates division among them and draw closer to God so that they realize the need to be one in spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood of their nation. “Fellow South Sudanese, we need to take unity to be our key in our country South Sudan. Unity is more powerful and if we have that, our country will move on peacefully. We need to live tribalism, whether you are a Dinka, Nuer, Murule, Bari, Zande, Kakwa, Acholi and what have you, let us stand firm as one country, South Sudan,” Rev. Deng called in his communication to the students.
 
Bako Judith the ARCC Arua Central division with other officials at the function.
Photo by Godwin Abedican.

In her advice to the students as the Guest of Honor during the celebrations, Bako Judith, the Assistant Resident City Commissioner for Arua central division, Arua city, implored the students to take the mantle of determining the future of their country as the youth through embracing education.

“It’s all about how you can enable yourself to be called a South Sudanese so that the unity can remain regardless of your tribe. We all have the same blood color that unites us to be called Africans. As the youth and students, you are the change agents for peace in South Sudan. You are going to create change between yourselves as students and because you are already united as young people. With the advantage of the numbers, you have the right to demand peace from your leaders in South Sudan,” Bako said.

The republic of South Sudan became independence on July 9^th 2011 after a majority voted for secession from the Sudan in a referendum with around 98.8 percent in favor of independence.

The ethnicity of South Sudan is richly diverse. There are 64 tribes or ethnic groups in the country with many sharing a common culture, very closely-link cultural traits and intelligible languages which form distinct larger family units.
 
 

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