OPINION || Don’t Let Social Media Divide Aweil.
By Ayak Leon
My dear brothers and sisters of Aweil, I greet you with love and respect. We've always prided ourselves on being a peaceful and harmonious community. Our state has been a beacon of stability in South Sudan, and our people have consistently shown maturity and restraint in the face of challenges. As our elders often say, "A tree with strong roots can withstand the strongest winds." This proverb reminds us that our strength lies in our cohesion and determination, and it's precisely this strength that we need to draw upon as we navigate the challenges facing our community today.
With this reputation comes a responsibility to speak up when things go awry. Lately, I've been disturbed by the way some of our own are speaking about the President and his family on social media, particularly his daughter who his excellency the President appointed as the senior presidential envoy for special programs, Hon. Adut Salva. The criticisms are getting too personal and disrespectful, and it's unbecoming of our community. The President, regardless of our differences, is still our leader and deserves dignity. As the saying goes, "You don't burn down your house to get rid of the rats." This isn't about ignoring the issues or sweeping them under the rug; it's about addressing them in a way that reflects our values and respects our traditions.
This brings me to the point that the President has given us significant positions and opportunities, and we recognize his contributions to the mighty Northern Bahr el Ghazal state. People tend to focus on the negatives rather than the positives. We often forget the good someone's done and only remember the mistakes. The Luo proverb says, "A cow doesn't forget where it was tied." This proverb speaks to the importance of loyalty and gratitude, and I believe it's a message that we should take to heart as we reflect on our relationship with the President and his government.
Some people are saying we're being marginalized, but that's not entirely accurate – there are some communities in South Sudan that are truly underrepresented in the national government, and they're keeping quiet. Be patient and see what unfolds. The President is our commander-in-chief, and we should respect his decisions no matter what, criticizing him in a respectful manner when needed. As we await the unfolding of events, let's remember that our strength lies in our unity and our ability to work together towards a common goal.
I anticipate that some might question my motives or disagree with my perspective. I'm not speaking on behalf of the President or his daughter. I'm a concerned citizen, and I'm speaking up because I believe it's the right thing to do. I'm not being paid or compensated for this; I'm just a daughter of Aweil who wants to see our beloved state thrive. In these uncertain times, our elders and community leaders must step up and guide our young people. They have been too quiet, and it's usually the times like these when elders of a community jump in to solve problems or feuds.
This is why I urge you to be cautious and discerning about the information we receive. As our elders say, "If you don't know the river, don't jump into it." I know some people might be trying to use our community to further their own agendas. We must remember that our stability and tranquility are what make us a target. The enemies of progress might be trying to use us to get rid of our leaders, but we must not fall for it. We are the people of Aweil, and we will not be used as pawns in someone else's game. We must analyze situations carefully and act wisely, always keeping our community's best interests at heart.
With this approach, we can navigate the challenges ahead and stay focused on our goals. We can't ignore what's happening on social media – it's a powerful force that can shape opinions and drive change. We need to address the grievances and find a way forward. Our people are hurting, and they need to be heard. As leaders, it's time to listen, to understand, and take decisive action.
Aweil was the President's strongest support base, and it's not in our interest to lose that connection, especially with elections approaching this year. We need each other – the President needs our support, and we need his leadership. Our diaspora community has been vocal strongly, and their voices matter. We need to include them in our discussions and find a way to address their concerns. Remember social media was the main source that created a lot of uprising and took down some governments in some countries so please don’t ignore the diaspora on social media.
As our elders say, "When the hyenas are many, they can chase away even the lion." We need to stand together and present a united front. To my fellow youth, please be mindful of your words and actions. Raise your voice with logic and tact, not propaganda. We're better than this. We are educated, and we need to act as such – raising our voice in an intellectual way. Remember, "The pen is mightier than the sword," but only if used wisely.
To our Aweil elders and community leaders, this is a call to action. Gather, discuss, and find a way forward that honors our values and traditions. When people make too much noise, don't ignore – interrupt with swift action. Listen to the community, hear their concerns, and deliberate among yourselves. Take the message to the President – that's what leaders do. You've guided us through tough times before; we need your wisdom now more than ever.
We are Miith Aweil, which means (children of Aweil) and we will not let division and anger define us. What happened to "Kong Kouch"? Meaning, wait before you take any action! We must restore our image and reclaim our reputation as a community that values harmony, cooperation, and mutual respect. We owe it to ourselves, our children, and our community to preserve the peace and unity that we've worked so hard to build. It's time for us to come together, sit down in a forum, and address our differences. We are still the people of Aweil, known for being resilient, peaceful, and civilized – united and strong! 😊
As I conclude, I want to emphasize that our strength lies in our cohesion and prudent decision-making. I know Aweil may be targeted by some communities, but what can I say when you are great people tend to be jealous. Or maybe the enemies of peace are using you to get their agenda across since they know that you were the one state that is stable and supports the president 💯 so they say to themselves “ for us to get rid of the president, we have to use the people of Aweil and confuse them so that we break their unity and turn them against the government and the president”. So please my people, you have to be vigilant and cautious before you act.
May God bless the president South Sudan, the people of South Sudan in general and the people of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State in particular.
Best regards
By Ayak Leon
Former office manager vice president’s office, currently working with the UN 🇺🇳
E.mail me @ Ayak.deng.1206@gmail.com
Ayak_deng@yahoo.ca
Disclaimer: Aweil News Agency has no opinion on issues discussed in this article and no bias intended against any
person or institution. The opinion solely belongs to the author to whom the article is credited.
