The National Dialogue Steering Committee” and Membership Composition

Overview

Several points should be made regarding “Republican Order for the Reconstitution of the National Dialogue Steering Committee” and Membership composition. The data collected on each individual member shows that Membership composition is not inclusive, but exclusive and dominated by one ethnic group mostly from two regions of South Sudan (formally Upper Nile and Bhar Al-Ghazal) currently, Warrap and northern Bhar Al-Ghazal, Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile States. It is not a national dialogue; rather it’s a dia-state dialogue.

In addition, some members are from one family, for instance; Lt. Gen. Pieng Deng is a half brother of Dr. Francis Deng, as well as Ms. Lily Albino is a daughter of Rtd. Maj.Gen. Albino Akol Akol. Data collected when analyzed on key positions, ethnicity, political parties, gender and professional association affiliations etc. leads to the conclusion that it’s not a national dialogue, but a fraud and a scam to manipulate the current situation to benefit Jieng council of elders (JCE), buying time, mislead international community as well as insulting to the intelligence of South Sudanese citizens and friends of South Sudan.

The initial observations show the following:

Which one comes first Peace or dialogue?

As a matter of principle, achieving peace should be the priority and followed by dialogue. Therefore, dialogue cannot replace absent of peace and it cannot resolve political and humanitarian crisis in the country in the way it’s conceived and being implemented. Furthermore, this is not the right time for dialogue in the middle of ongoing war in the country and massacre of thousands of civilians, forcing hundreds of thousands into refuge in the neighboring countries. A genuine dialogue should be after the 2015 peace implementation and when All South Sudanese returnees and refugees have returned home in their constituencies. For instance, South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established and functioned after political settlements brought the nation together after long period of healing processes. To do the opposite is setting the country into wrong direction, shaky ground and it might lead to disintegration of South Sudan to smaller States as it happened in the Balkans.

Key Positions

Co-Chair and Rapporteur and Deputy Rapporteur positions are controlled by JCE hardliners. These members are the architects of the “born to rule” Dinka slogan in late 1970s and early1980s. The slogan born to rule is now born to destroy South Sudan. As is commonly said, the previous experiences determine the future experiences and outcomes; the hardliners will control direction of discussions as well as pre-determine the resolutions of South Sudan National Dialogue (SSND) which will not be representative of views and opinions of opposing parties and other ethnicities. For example, in 1989, President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir initiated national dialogue and invited SPLM/A to participated, and Dr. Garang declined on the ground that, it was not inclusive and controlled by the northerners and hardliners Members of NIF and SSND is no different than the former Sudan national dialogue and even worst.

Ethnicity

South Sudan has 66 ethnic groups and only 18 ethnic groups were represented in very small number against 45 members from one ethnicity group. 48 ethnic groups who suffered the most human right violations are excluded from participations. Equatoria has 32 ethnic groups and 13 ethnic groups were appointed.

Political Parties

South Sudan has 36 political parties and only 2 are included and these two are part of Juba regime. E.g. Taban Deng IO and Joseph Ukel groups. In addition, most members are SPLM and SPLM/IO cadres. The key positions of decision making are controlled by hardliners of Jieng Council of elders (JCE) and excluded women.

Gender

Gender representation is not balanced and contrary to the concept of 25% quotas for women. The current list shows that women represents only 15.6%, and 8 out of 15 women are mostly citizens of Warrap, northern Bahr Al-Ghazal, Jongeli, and Unity States and sadly enough there is no single woman appointed in key position-this is a complete marginalization of South Sudanese women and defeats 25% quotas system.

Religious leaders

Clergymen representation is not balanced and the current list shows that there is no representation from government critics such as Catholic Church vocal clergymen Bishop Laku, all were excluded as well as important members of opposition groups such IO, PDM, NMC, NDC and many others. The list shows many Bishops and Pastors who were silent about their colleague Pastor Lasu and many other pastors who were killed by national security the day after national day of prayers and prior. This shows that these Bishops and Pastors are supporters of government and its corrupting influence on society, with many among them being co-opted by the government.

Civil Society, Youth, and People with disabilities

Civil Society, Youth and people with disabilities groups are completely disregarded. The behavior of South Sudan government suggests that youth and people with disabilities have no value in South Sudan’s development, decision-making as well as have no say in future of nation building.
For the benefit of readers and concerned citizens of South Sudan and friends of South Sudan, it is important to shed light on some key members of the committee, and provide analysis on overall selected members and draw conclusion with some recommendations to move the country forward.

First

Abel Alier is Dinka from Bor and was a Former Vice President of Sudan (1970-1982), he served as president of the High Executive Council of Southern Sudan in Juba, after Lt. Gen. Joseph Lago gave him green light to do so. Alier was the first Southern Sudanese to introduce mono ethnic politics and Dinka hegemony in South Sudan which lead to Kokora in 1983. His time was known by tribalism, employment and appointments of one ethnic group based on tribal lines and favoritism. Alier never participated in the first phase of civil war (1956-1972) fought mainly by Equatorians as well as the second civil war from 1983-2005. Alier has always acted on the advice of Khartoum regimes and advanced the interests of Arab-north in the South. Alier is one of the architects of “born to rule” slogan in late 1970s and early1980s.

Bona Malwal is a Dinka from Warrap and Warrap is Kiir’s home State. Malwal is a member of the secretive Jieng Council of Elders tribal advisory council to President Kiir. Malwal was Minister in Alier’s Cabinet in the Regional Government of Southern Sudan. Malwal is key member of the “born to rule” Dinka slogan along with Alier, Justin Yack and Joshua De Wal.

Malwal was an opponent of the late Dr John Garang De Mabior and the anti- separation of South Sudan. Malwal was known for his famous hate speech which he delivered on Saturday, March 21st, 2015 in Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.A. In the meeting, Mr. Bona Malwal said “South Sudan existed thanks to the Dinka and therefore belongs to the Dinka people, and the Dinka have earned it and are where they are now above all others in South Sudan.” Please, refer to below link for full text.
http://www.southsudannation.com/south-sudan-a-country-for-dinka-only-bona-malwal-tells-dinka-in-usa/

Dr. Francis Deng, is Dinka Ngok of Abyei. Abyei is still disputed area by both Juba and Khartoum and its fate is still unknown. Deng is known for his unionist position and opposes South Sudan secession and defended his views in many public forums in Middle East. He expresses his views in letter exchange with former University of Juba Professor currently in Oman as well as with former retired South Sudanese Professor at University of Toronto in Canada. 25% of Abyei citizens hold key positions in South Sudan government and some holders of Sudanese passports and working for Khartoum regime and some receiving salaries from both Juba and Khartoum.

Lt. Gen. Pieng Deng is Dinka Ngok of Abyei, and a half brother of Dr. Francis Deng. Gen. Pieng was former Chief of Police. South Sudan Police Services administrative corruption happened under his authority.

Second

Analysis

The objective of a dialogue is not to analyze things, or to win an argument, or to exchange opinions or to pre-determine the outcome of dialogue or pre-written dialogue resolutions. Rather, it is to suspend your opinions and to look at the opinions of other parties into dispute, to listen to everybody's opinions, to suspend them, and to see what all that means in resolving political crisis, peace without justice, land grabbing, marginalization and exclusion from administration of the country, mono ethnic politics and centralization of political, economic, administrative and military powers in the hands of few or two ethnicities.

SSND in its current status will not achieve everlasting peace, but rather it will create more division, suffering, killings, and political instability in the region.

What South Sudan requires is political settlement through peace talks that includes all parties into the conflicts, but not mono ethnic dialogue or dia-state dialogue. Why mono ethnic dialogue? because it excluded 48 ethnic groups in the refugee camps in the neighboring countries who would love to participate.

The solution to South Sudan man-made political and humanitarian crisis is not mon dialogue, but reforms of government institutions and deliver justice to the victims of land grabbing; rapes; marginalization and exclusion; favoritism; tribalism; lack of promotion of non Dinka public servants; limit President Powers; division of powers to three levels of government; human rights crimes and held criminals and public servant’s thefts who stole 4.5 billion dollars from government coffer accountable.

The solution to South Sudan bad governance is for the current and future government should reflect 66 ethnic groups at all government levels specially security, police, customs, army and public services as well as division of powers to all levels of governments.

The solution to South Sudan political crisis is when South Sudanese is treated equally not based on his or her ethnic groups and employed based on job merits, not of favoritism.

The solution to South Sudan political crisis is encouraging opposition groups whether it armed groups or not they should participate in any national issues. Government’s argument of preventing them is has no logic to it. During the CPA talks, If Khartoum regime would put forward similar argument of “preventing armed groups from peace talks” South Sudanese would be fighting the north today.

What should be done?

If Juba regime still maintains its position of resolving political crisis through dialogue, than the SSND should be under the auspices of an independent international organization such as Initiative of Change Swiss (IofC). IofC has credibility, expertise, experiences, and skills to select members from all parties in the conflict, conduct fair and impartial process in neutral location and submit final report with recommendations.
http://ca.iofc.org/iofc-international

African Union should replace IGAD lead in negotiation with both government and opposition groups, because most IGAD Members have vested interests in South Sudan and they are not impartial.

African union should encourage and support opposition groups to unite their objectives, and speak in one voice.
Kiir’s government should release political and non-political detainees, because it is key towards political settlement. The current list of detainees is exclusively non-Dinka which raises alarm. Please, see attached detainees list for full picture of injustice and discrimination.

South Sudanese politicians and senior public servants are well known for their high level of corruption. They have sticky fingers that have been implicated in the disappearance of public funds, and development money which more often than not ended up in their private accounts in banks overseas. To combat, financial corruption in South Sudan, it is very important that Western governments should pass law that will prohibits transfer of money from South Sudan to western banks without proper transparency; also the law must force, and persecute the international financial institutions (IFI) and other banks or bankers who fail to disclose any private accounts from South Sudan, and specially if the account is related to statesmen. Failure of the Western governments to act means that the West is encouraging, and abetting the endemic corruption in Africa.

The AU,UN,EU and Western governments should find legal mechanism to recover the stolen $4.5 billion from South Sudan and repatriate the fund to pay public servant salaries, development programs and project such as health care, schools and others

Finally, President Kiir’s should put the interest of the nation first, before his personal and tribal interests. Kiir should give peace a chance by consideration stepping down to provide positive environment for political settlement and move South Sudan out of political, economic, humanitarian crisis. The longer Kiir stays in power the worst people suffer in refugee and IDP camps as well as the country suffers economically.


Hüstin Läkü,SR
Federalism, Decentralization, Conflict Resolution and International Development Consultant

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Members of South Sudan National Dialogue Committee

NO	NAMES	POSITION	ETHNICITY	STATE	PARTY	GENDER	REMARKS
1.	Hon. Abel Alier-Wal Kwai	Co-Chair	Dinka	Jonglei	SPLM	M
2.	Hon. Angelo Beda Bangboru	Co-Chair	Azande	WE	SPLM	M
3.	Hon. Gabriel Yoal Dok	Vice Chair	Nuer	Jonglei	IO	M
4.	Mr. Bona Malual Madut	Rapporeur	Dinka	Warrap	SPLM	M
5.	Dr. Francis Mading Deng	Deputy Rapporeur	Dinka Ngok	Abeyi	SPLM	M	Sudanese citizen
6.	Dr.William Othon Awer	Deputy Rapporeur	Cello	UN	SPLM	M
7.	Prof. Moses Machar Kachuol	Member	Dinka	Lakes	SPLM	M
8.	Gen. Rtd. George Kongor Arop	Member	Dinka	Warrap	SPLM	M
9.	Prof. Paul Lado Bureng	Member	Bari	CE	SPLM	M
10.	Hon. Manasseh Magok Rundial	Member	Nuer	US	SPLM	M
11.	Rtd.Maj.Gen. Andrew Makur Thou	Member	Dinka	Warrap	SPLM	M
12.	Hon. Michael Mario Dhuor	Member	Nuer	Jonglei/ Fanka	IO	M
13.	Maj.Gen.Rtd. James Loro Siriso	Member	Bari	CE	SPLM	M	Decease
14.	Maj.Gen. Rtd.  Albino Akol Akol	Member	Dinka	NBG	SPLM	M
15.	Lt. Gen. Rtd. James Hoth Mai	Member	Nuer	Jonglei/ Nassir	SPLM	M
16.	Lt. Gen. Rtd. Pieng Deng Kuol	Member	Dinka Ngok	Abyei	SPLM	M	Sudanese citizen  & brother of Dr. Francis Mading Deng
17.	Rev. Matthew Mathiang Deang	Member	Nuer	US	Data N/A	M
18.	Hon. Rachel Nyadak Pau	Member	Dinka	Jonglei/ Akobo	SPLM	F
19.	Hon. Monica Ayen Maguat	Member	Dinka Bor	Jonglei	SPLM	F
20.	Shiekh Juma Mussa Saeed	Member	Lugbwara	CE	Religious Group	M	Muslim
21.	Dr. Haruun Ruun Lual	Member	Dinka/Malut	UN	SPLM	M
21.	Dr. Stephen Abraham Yar	Member	Nuer	US	SPLM	M
22.	Hon. Mary Furun Michael	Member	Kuku	CE	SPLM	F
23.	Hon. Lucia Atilio Juma	Member	Otuho	EE	SPLM	F
24.	Hon. Joseph Ukel Abango	Member	Jurchol Luo	WBG	USSP	M	Decease
25.	Hon. Simon Kun Puoch	Member	Nuer	UN	SPLM	M
26.	Hon. Luciano Thomas	Member	Fertit	WBG	SPLM	M
27.	Dr. Jone Ruach Jal	Member	Nuer	UN	SPLM	M
28.	Mr.Joseph Nyok Abie	Member	Dinka Ngok	Abyei	SPLM	M	Sudanese citizen
29.	Mrs. Tabitha Guang Awuok	Member	Cello	UN	SPLM	F
30.	Mr. kawac Makuei Mayar	Member	Dinka	NBG	SPLM	M
31.	Dr. Priscilla Nyanyang Joseph	Member	Dinka	Lakes	SPLM	F
32.	Dr. Betty Achan Ogwaro	Member	Acholi	EE	SPLM	F
33.	Mr. Garang Deng Aguer	Member	Dinka/Aweli	NBG	SPLM	M
34.	Mr. Joseph Stephen Buga	Member	Data N/A	WE	SPLM	M
35.	Hon. Arthur Agany Pooli	Member	Dinka	Warrap	SPLM	M
36.	Maj.Gen. Rtd.Clement Wani Konga	Member	Mundari	CE	SPLM	M
37.	Rev. Clement Janda Guya	Member	Kukwa	CE	SPLM	M	Decease
38.	Mr. James Lily Kuol	Member	Nuer	UN	SPLM	M
39.	Mr. Jackson Abogo Gama	Member	Kukwa	CE	SPLM	M
40.	Bishop Hilary Luate Adeba	Member	Kukwa	CE	Religious group	M
41.	Rev. Peter Gai Lual	Member	Nuer	Jonglei	Religious group	M
42.	Bishop Isaiah Majok Dau	Member	Dinka/ Bor	Jonglei	Religious group	M
43.	Bishop Elias Taban Parangi	Member	Kukwa	CE	Religious group	M	Self claimed Bishop
44.	Bishop Gabriel Roric Jur	Member	Dinka	Yirol	Religious group	M
45.	Bishop John Okumu Primo	Member	Ma’adi	EE	Religious group	M
46.	Prof. Bol Deng Chol	Member	Cello	US	SPLM	M
47.	Dr. Riak Gok Majok	Member	Dinka Tonj	Warrap	SPLM	M
48.	Prof. Samuel Wassara Samuel	Member	Azande	WE	Academic	M	Decease
49.	Dr. Kuot Mawein Kuot	Member	Dinka	Warrap	SPLM	M
50.	Dr. Adil Athnaziou Surur	Member	Fertit/ Kresh	WBG	SPLM	M
51.	Mr. Baba Medan Konyi	Member	Murle	Pibor	SPLM	M
52.	Hon. Tulio Odongo Oyaho	Member	Otuho	EE	SPLM	M
53.	Hon. Chuol Rambang Lueth	Member	Nuer	Jonglei/ Akobo	SPLM	M
54.	Dr. David Kueth Thuvang	Member	Nuer Fanjak	Jonglei Nassir	SPLM	M
55.	Hon. Joseph Lual Acuil	Member	Dinka Kuac	Warrap	SPLM	M
56.	Hon. Aldo Ajou Deng	Member	Dinka Abiem	NBG	SPLM	M
57.	Hon. Daniel Awet Akot	Member	Dinka Gok	Lakes	SPLM	M
58.	Hon. Kuol Athian Mawein	Member	Dinka	NBG	SPLM	M
59.	Hon. Paul Mayom Akec	Member	Dinka	Lakes	SPLM	M
60.	Hon. Deng Dau Deng Malek	Member	Dinka Twic	Jonglei Bor	SPLM	M
61.	Hon. Joshua Dau Diu	Member	Dinka Padang	Jonglei Bor	SPLM	M
62.	Mr. Benjamin Majak Dau	Member	Dinka Ruwen	Jonglei Padang	SPLM	M
63.	Hon. Arthur Akuein Chol	Member	Dinka Paliet	NBG	SPLM	M
64.	Hon. Nartisio Loluke Munir	Member	Päri/ Lopi	EE	SPLM	M
65.	Mr. Pascal Bandindi Uru	Member	Blanda	WBG	SPLM	M
66.	Mr. Wilson Peni Rekito	Member	Data N/A	WE	SPLM	M
67.	Hon. Kom Kom Geng	Member	Dinka	NBG Aweil	SPLM	M
68.	Hon. Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior	Member	Dinka Bor	Jonglei	FD	M
69.	Hon. Kosti Manibe Ngai	Member	Moru	WE	FD	M
70.	Hon. John Luk Jok	Member	Nuer	Jonglei	FD	M	Decease
71.	Eng. Donald Gideon Azomona	Member	Data N/A	Data N/A	SPLM	M
72.	Dr. Mario Arenk Awet	Member	Cello	UN	DC	M
73.	Hon. Magoot Maker Mayindi	Member	Dinka	Data N/A	SPLM	M
74.	Dr. Simon Ngor Awajor	Member	Dinka	Data N/A	SPLM	M
75.	Mr. Festo Simon Lemi	Member	Pojulu	CE	Academic	M
76.	Mr. Lual Deng Kon	Member	Dinka	Data N/A	SPLM	M
77.	Mr. Nyundeng Moses Jiek	Member	Nuer	Jonglei	SPLM	M
78.	Ms. Nyaruac Pal Gai	Member	Nuer	Data N/A	SPLM	F
79.	Mr. Steven Robert	Member	Data N/A	Data N/A	SPLM	M
80.	Ms. Munira Abdelwahab	Member	Anyuak	Pibor	SPLM	F
81.	Mr. David Okwer Akweny	Member	Anyuak	Pibor	SPLM	M
82.	Mr. Ali Burnm	Member	Borun	Maban	SPLM	M
83.	Hon. Lidia John Jok	Member	Nuer	Jonglei	SPLM	F
84.	Ms. Lily Albino Akol	Member	Dinka Aweil	NBG	SPLM	F	Daughter of Maj.Gen. Rtd.  Albino Akol Akol. Both father & daughter are members of the committee.
85.	Dr. Albino Bol Dhieu	Member	Dinka	NBG	SPLM	M
86.	Mr. Daniel Deng Bol Arua	Member	Dinka	Jonglei	SPLM	M
87.	Mr. Machok Majong Jong	Member	Dinka Malut	US	SPLM	M
88.	Mr. John Marik Makur	Member	Dinka	Warrap	SPLM	M
89.	Hon. Jasmin Samuel Adakayi	Member	Moru	WE	SPLM	F
90.	Ms. Grace Alex Abalang	Member	Lango	EE	SPLM	F
91.	Mr. Kalisto Ladu Faustino	Member	Bari	CE	SPLM	M
92.	Mr. Stewart Soba Budya	Member	Kukwa	CE	SPLM	M
93.	Ms. Rebecca Francis Gae	Member	Nuer	Data N/A	SPLM	F
94.	Dr. Lual Deng	Secretariat	Dinka	Data N/A	SPLM	M
95.	Mr. John Juan Dong	Secretariat	Nuer	Data N/A	SPLM	M
96.	Mr. Deng Gai Gatluak	Secretariat	Nuer	Data N/A	SPLM	M
97.	Archbishop Daniel Bol	Secretariat	Dinka	Jonglei	Religious group	M

* State Data: Not available for 10 members.

* Ethnicity Data: Not available for 4 members.

% BY STATE (2022)

STATE	CE	EE	WE	JONGLEI	US	UN	LAKES	WARRAP	WBG	NBG	Abyi	PIBOR
No of  Member	12	6	6	22	5	6	4	8	4	9	3	3
Percentage %	14%	7%	7%	25.2%	6%	7%	5%	9.2%	5%	10.3%	4%	4%

 

% BY GENDER (2022)

ITEM	FEMALE	MALE	YOUTH	REMARKS
No of Member	14	83	0	Defeats CPA 25% quotas for women
Percentage %	14.4%	85.5%	0%	It’s men committee.

*CPA: the Comprehensive Peace Agreement

% BY PARTY (2022)

ITEM	SPLM	IO	FD	USSP	DC	Academic	Religious	REMARKS
No of Member	80	2	3	1	1	2	8	N/A
Percentage %	82.4%	2.0%	3.0%	1.0%	1.0%	2.0%	8.3%	N/A

 

% BY FAITH

ITEM	CHRISTIANS	MUSLIM	CHRISTIAN WOMAN	MUSLIM WOMAN	Remarks
No of Member	96	1	0	0	Lack of diversity and  man show
Percentage %	99%	1.0%	0%	0%

 

% BY ETHNICITY (2022)

No.	Ethnic Group	No of Members	Percentage %	No.	Ethnic Group	No of Members	Percentage %
1.	Acholi	1	1.0%	33.	Angakuel	0	0%
2.	Avukaya	0	0%	34.	Bai	0	0%
3.	Baka	0	0%	35.	Balanda	1
4.	Bari	3	3.2%	36.	Banda	0	0%
5.	Didinga	0	0%	37.	Bongo	0	0%
6.	Dongatona	0	0%	38.	Burun	1	1.0%
7.	Horiok	0	0%	39.	Fertit	1	1.0%
8.	Imatong	0	0%	40.	Dinka	42	45.1%
9.	Jiye	0	0%	41.	Cello	3	3.2%
10.	Kakwa	5	5.3%	42.	Jumjum	0	0%
11.	Keliku	0	0%	43.	Jur Beli	0	0%
12.	Kuku	1	1.0%	44.	Kaligi	0	0%
13.	Lango	1	1.0%	45.	Kara	0	0%
14.	Larim (Baya)	0	0%	46.	Kichepo	0	0%
15.	Lokoya	0	0%	47.	Luwo	0	0%
16.	Lolubo	0	0%	48.	Mangayat	0	0%
17.	Lopit	0	0%	49.	Murle	1	1.0%
18.	Lugbwara	1	1.0%	50.	Ndogo	0	0%
19.	Ma’adi	1	1.0%	51.	Nuer	19	21%
20.	Makaraka	0	0%	52.	Sere	0	0%
21.	Moru	2	2.1%	53.	Yulu	0	0%
22.	Mundari	1	1.0%	54.	Anyuak	2	2.1%
23.	Mundu	0	0%	55.	Kresh	1	1.0%
24.	Ndogo	0	0%	56.	Juro Chol	1	1.0%
25.	Nyangwara		%	57.	Data N/A	0	0%
26.	Nyangatom	0	0%	58.	Data N/A	0	0%
27.	Otuho (Lotuho)	2	2.1%	59.	Data N/A	0	0%
28.	Päri	1	1.0%	60.	Data N/A	0	0%
29	Pöjulu	1	1.0%	61.	Data N/A	0	0%
30	Tenet	0	0%	62.	Data N/A	0	0%
31.	Toposa	0	0%	63.	Data N/A	0	0%
32	Zande/Azande	2	2.1%	64.	Data N/A	0	0%
				65.	Data N/A	0	0%
				66.	Data N/A	0	0%

THE LIST IS INCOMPLETE