Appeal to the government of NBGS

Decentralization in its essence advocates and stands for delegating powers to a particular group of people in a particular place. In its depth level, means power sharing at its grassroots level; cutting down central administration routine, and so far managing oneself. This delicate and precious gift to the people was the fundamental cornerstone of the SPLA/M tentative Manifesto.

Thus, in its highest level, decentralization encourages people to embark actively on activities pertaining to the development of a severe backward and marginalized area like Aweil Town. However, this legitimate request by Aweilian neither means ignorance nor complete negligence of the state issues, South Sudan issues, as well as Sudan issues, but as Aweilian, we need our voice to be heard in our affairs.

Hence, Aweil Town and its suburbs, which is the site of NBGS, is the most disadvantageous and severely marginalized area in the whole state. Despite the fact that Aweil is the site of the government, yet it’s treated in a devious way. Statically, Aweil Town is the most populated town of a bout 100.000 people residing in it, not mentioning the high influx of exiles, Diasporas, and the internally displaced people, who had been residing in the northern part of the country during the ugly civil war.

Nonetheless, in my last visit to Aweil in April this year, the general scene of the town indicates that there has neither been development; nor development fund allocated to the town. One of the main obstacles is that the town has been hypocritically annexed to Aweil Central County, which tactfully moved its site to Aroyo in Lou area.

If we examine the creation history of Aweil Central County and its coming into existence, was thoroughly a political compromise to the protest of the Lou people, who descends from Nylath, Aroyo, Chilko and Barmayen.To be more specific and not offending the beloved Lou brothers, The budget of Aweil Town and its suburbs goes to the development of the newly established town of Aroyo; stripping Aweil Town development and marginalized its inhabitance. Furthermore, the tactical moved of the state HQs to Aroyo; stripped Aweil the scarce financial resources, which it needs desperately to develop and grow.

Despite the fact of the creation of the position of the executive director for Aweil Town, yet, no separate budget nor a commissioner to run its affairs. In May this year when I was in Aweil, I could hear silent protest and discontentment among the Aweilian, lamenting and disapproving what’s happening to them. While I was roaming in the town, I could realize that the whole infrastructure had been badly destroyed due to the war.

Dear fellow Citizens, Look at what had happened to the basic needs, such as environmental services! There used to be about ten public latrines and garbage places attached to the latrines location to facilitate collection of garbage. Please, follow with me closely!

1- Ayuang Public Latrine, which used to serve the people of “Makuac Aweit” was demolished by Athian Mayom and turned it into a Mosque.

2- There were three public latrines in “Maderria”. One was next to Malith Jal resident, which was destroyed and turned into a private house. One was next to Khalil Abdel Rahim, which was also demolished and turned into home by Khalil himself. The third one was next to late Dr. Kual Aken home, which was also demolished and turned into a private home.

3- The situation in “Machar Konyok” was the same. There used to be two. The first one was demolished by Ustaz Aken Maluil and turned it into a private home. The second one, which was next to Mabek Deng resident, was also demolished and turned into private home.

4- Other Latrine was in front of Aweil Civil Hospital, which was also demolished and turned into shops. Another one was opposite to Aweil Mosque, which was also demolished and turned into shops. The last one was in the government Zone, behind Aweil Prison, was also destroyed and turned into a house

Dear fellow citizens, could you please imagine this great lost to the town, while the government is watching! Frankly speaking, the inhabitance of Aweil Town demand that all those grabbed public properties should be retrieved, so that modern Latrines and garbage places should be installed, in order for Aweil to have clean environment.

Historically, environmental services in Aweil before the war in 1983 used to be up to date, but nothing is present right now, because the government is not serious in developing the town. The present administration seems to be pathetic and does not want to address this high level of destruction done by a group of selfish individuals. However, imagine how selfish people could turned all those public properties at broad day light into personal, while the government is watching and turning blind eye on those horrible deeds.

Dear fellow citizen, the urgent question is ….where do you think public could go toileting and damp garbage as well? Before the war in 1983, there used to be a big damping tanker collecting Latrines waste day and night. There were also two big tractor trailers collecting garbage day and night all over the town to a damping destination in Mathiang, (God bless Madut Ayel, Deng Mabek, Abdel Kayum and the rest of the crew of the environmental services in Aweil.)

Dear fellow citizens, Read this real story from the glorious past of our beloved town “Aweil” concerning environmental services in the late 60s. Please explore this little episode with me. There one times in the 60s, used to be an Arab inspector of local governments called, Mr. Mohamed Osman, nicked name “Abu Ganoon….A man of law”. This man used to drive his vehicle all over the town, if he find an individual resident urinating in the street, he would arrest that person and fine him three Sudanese pounds or imprisonment. Imagine now days, you could damp your human waste in the street and no body asks you……What the hell on earth are you doing dear good citizen?

Secondly, public open spaces had been invaded by individual too, especially spaces which surround schools. How do you expect our kids to study in that environment? All the basic schools in the town I’ve been to are besieged by those small illegal huts, where alcohol is brewed….. Should a child inter those huts and have a sip of wine or proceed to his classes and acquire knowledge for better future? What are what dear fellow citizens?

Thirdly, some streets also had been blocked and some streets had been narrowed down by some selfish individuals, extending private fences to acquire more land on the expenses of public streets.

Dear fellow citizens, as strong message from Aweilian to the government….. We urge the government to act and retrieve abused lands by individuals, in order for us to start proper development in the town.

Dear fellow citizens, what’s missing regarding the envirnmental services in Aweil town are the following things:

1- Creating and equipping an environmental services department like the old days of “Mr.Faragalla”, the last environmental services officer I’ve known in Aweil. The support should be basically, financially as well as materially, because health is the starting point of development for every nation.

2- Retrieved and installed back all public latrines places.

3- Retrieved and installed back all garbage places

4- Retrieved all open spaces besieging schools.

5- Purchased damping trucks to collect garbage.

6- Supply gas to water pumping stations ( Ayuang and Aweil main market place stations.)

7- Lawfully, opening the blocked streets and roads.

8- Make a new survey to open new roads, streets, and Avenues.

9- Purchase tractors’ trailers to collect latrine waste.

10-Creating Public Transportation system in the town to persuade citizens to move out from the center to the newly surveyed suburbs.

Dear fellow citizen Mr. Kuc Majok Kuc, Your objective criticism is too much on our fragile government! …..Would you please slow down? Our government is a fragile government, two year’s old born baby. Can’t you see no development could take place for the following reasons?

1- No development budget allocated by Juba government.

2- Juba has just cut down budget on us.

3- The budget allocated for the state is not enough for salaries, leave aside talking about development.

However, dear fellow citizens, we the crew of northern Bhar Eh ghazal Government swear to all mighty God that……. No single penny tax comes from WarAwar Market place….No

penny tax comes from Aweil Market place…….No penny tax comes from the mobile “SPLA” checkpoint on Aweil-Marram High Way. Above all…No penny tax comes out of the

pocket of the citizens of NBGS. So what do you want us to do, as far no sources of income?

Dear fellow citizens……….Consciously, we can assure you, all our beloved and patient citizens…… that no ghost names exists in our pay sheets………No relatives randomly employed in the civil service….. all vacancies are advertised and posted through public service regulations. All applicants take qualifying exam, and a tough scrutiny is done before issuing final hiring. Moreover, we guarantee that 90% of our employees are not non classified staff; all of them are classified staff. Frankly speaking, we can allow the newly hired British Audit Firm to come to Aweil and Audit our last two years “Physical Financial Expenditures” that’s of course for transparency.

Dear Mr. Kuc Majok, you can see now we are all clean in the eye of the public! Please do wait until 2011 when the actual development would start. Thus, here are the signatories, who advocate the petition and support the creation of a seperate county for Aweil Town. Aweil County can be composed of the following areas:

1- Pan Amith area.

2- Maper Akot Aru area

3- Maluil Akoung area

4- Koum area

5- Ariakriak area

6- Aweil Town itself.

Here is the list of the initiators of the newly proposed County.

1- Ustaz Kuc Majok Kuc

2- Mr. Bak Rounrac Bak

3- Dr. Omer Yak Tong

4- Mr. Khamis Fadalla Tong

5- Lawyer Akuei Mawein

6- Lawyer Ngor Kolong Ngor

7- Judge Madut Santino Deng teeng

8- Army General Christo Simon Fataki

9- Mr. Deng Rounrac Bak

10-Mr. Bol Rounrac Bak

11-Mr. Kual Deng Kual Dhom

12-Mr.Daniel Andel uppur

13-Mr.Ayaga Andel Uppur

14-Mr.Mohamed Ahmed Labu

15-Mr.Khalid Ahmed Labu

16-Mr.Ali Ahmed Labu

17-Mr.Madut wol Abeim

18-Mr.Hambli Hanifi

19-Mr. Abukar Hassan Mohamed

20-Mr. Mohamed Hassan Mohamed

21-Mr. Ajang Ayang Ajang

22-Mrs. Nygot Majok Kuc

23-Mr. Wanya Goma Wanya

24-Mr. Abdel Rahim Ibrahim Khalil

25-Mr. Ngong Uguak Chan

26-Mrs. Seiama Simon Fataki

27-Ustaz. Omer Ibrahim Ahmed Al Khandagawi

28-Mr. Babiker Hassan Marrek

29-Mr. Shiekh Idris Abdel Gader Mohamed

30-Dr. Garang Thomas Dhel

31-Mrs. Ajay Thomas Dhel

32-Mrs Abuk Thomas Dhel

33-Mrs. Achok Deng Matonguk

34-Mrs Somia Tarek Amet

35-Mr. Gar Akecak Gar

36-Mrs. Nyanker Atem Atem

37-Mr. Atem Atem Atem

38-Mrs. Khaltoma Akot Malual

39-Mrs.Achay Atorjong Dau “ Mrs. Kuc”

The next article, if god permits, will be about education situation in NBGS…….Statistics….numbers….Past……. and….the future prospective!

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Little child taking bath in dirty pool water, representing water shortage crisis in South Sudan

Small child taking shower in contaminated water.

Aweil youths at dance ground performing the famous "lor Awana" or Awana dance