Deng Majok: Sudanese girls' True value lies in their naturalness

I've been to so many pre-marriage dowry negotiations and have seen it all.  Our girls are so valued that one could comfortably say, they are the only girls in the world (at home or in diaspora), whose true value is quantified in dowry terms.

Light or true black, skin color has never had a significant bearing on the value put on the girl. Her true value lies in her naturalness and pleasant character of the heart. In fact, some of the highly valued Sudanese girls have always been the true black ones.

Why are many of our girls not seeing this fact, and instead, invest heavily on skin alteration creme and eye color altering contact lenses, not to mention the "wigs!", with the only aim of looking more European? It seems as though someone, or entities have brainwashed our girls into the belief that "black is ugly!" Someone is to blame here. Whether it's the parents, the advertisers', or something else, someone has failed to highlight the true value of our girls, which is right on their noses.

There is an illusion that black men prefer the white, or light skin girls, and therefore altering one's true skin and eye color would boost market prospects. Though there is some truth to this, but majority of us, Sudanese men, have always ended up marrying inside our cultures, besides having great distaste for creme!

So sisters the next time you think of spending your hard earned cash on creme to  make a mess of your skin, and be looking like "Jackos", please remember that we, your men, are quite happy with who you're. Your true value lies in your naturalness and pleasant character of the heart. Our culture values you so much that even the disable females have always been married off!

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of CNA

Sam Ruot: The Next Battle In Sudan will be fought by Youth!

In words of James” Youth is the joy, the little bird that has broken out of the eggs and is eagerly waiting to spread out its wings in the open sky of freedom and hope.”

To echo James, my fellow young southerners’ voices after the birth of the newest nation will be like the spring of Life. We will be the age of discovery and dreams.  I read India is of largest youth population in the world today, and the entire world is eyeing India as a source of technical manpower. Well, South Sudan will be the strongest nation because I sense that many youth are tired of the on going violence. I predict in many years to come, people around the world will learn how bright and energetic our young people will be. I learned there is every young southern living outside the country with much potential and when they go home, great things will happen.  Republic of South Sudan will look at youth as a source of talents and great agents of change.  If we the southerners’ youth make up our mind and work in close unity with working class people, we will hold the political power in our hands.  Republic of South Sudan youth has the power to make our country from developing nation to a developed nation. Is it a dream?  Personally, no because youth dreams take them to stars and galaxies to the far corners of the unknown. I would say, I have never being inspired before in my young life watching young people across the Middle East. I hope for a world free of poverty, unemployment, inequality and exploitation of man by man. A world free of discrimination on the grounds of tribes, genders and language is the world I know God created. A world full of creative challenges and opportunities to conquer them is a world you and I longed for, so my friends let us convert these hopes in reality by working together hand in hand.

What I think the role of the youth should be in South sudan.

First, we know that the role of youth is of most importance in today’s time. It has underplayed itself
in field of politics, and it playing itself in many corners in our world.  It should become aspiring entrepreneur rather than mere workers, or told my politicians that “You are too young to say that”  youth can play a vital role in elimination of terrorism for the lack of better word I would say. Young participation should be the important because youth are the country’s power in my opinion.  We youth we recognize problems and we can solve them. Youth are turning to strong forces in social movements nowadays.  Unfortunately, many of our young generations in Sudan are not bothered to dream any vision.  King said “I have a dream” and I could say that the dream came largely true. If he had not thought of that dream he would have accomplished nothing in his life. Another set back I see with my fellow southern Sudan youth is the indifferent attitude towards things, situation and politics.  Many of them have the new cool formula of “Let the things be” this is providing fatal to Republic South Sudan‘s development. Lack of unity and spirit is the major setback. Well, it is time the youth have to realize their power, their roles, their duties and their responsibilities and stand up for their rights and be the voice for voiceless. Now instead of what I call “brain drain” we should act like magnets and attract world to Republic of South Sudan. Republic of South Sudan will be a developed nation only if everyone contributes the best of his or her capacity and ability. We young people are wholly experimental and with the full utilization of the talents, Republic of south Sudan will become a complete nation. Let us hope for the same. I end with wise poem I learned in high school.
 
 “Youth is like a fire
   It crept forward.
  A Spark at first
  Growing into a flame
 The brightening into a Blaze”

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of CNA

Yiey Wan Teny: What is on your mind?

There are a lot on my mind, the shaky ceasefire, the extrajudiciary killings of the people of Unity state, the bombadments of people of Uppernile by hired gunchiefs, the current attacks of Tayar Port by President Kiir forces are not disturbing only but heartbreaking. President Kiir should say no in the first place not to ink the documents in which he will not respect and honour. In short he would have said no to the documents. It is almost two weeks since he signed the documents. But nothing has materialised. Will there be peace? Ofcourse there will be peace because nothing lasts forever. someone said.

Is President Kiir still commander in chief of forces or someone else is in control? If he is not than he would have not signed the documents, the generals who are running the operational theatre would have signed them.That 's mean he would have resigned first and call it a quit. Or If he signs it as he did, he would have told the current chief of general staff stop attacking opposition forces and let 's our forces be where they are. However,the regime is still attacking opposition forces' positions through the rivers, on land and through the air. Are those mobs who are against peace going to survive again while they are kicking the last kick of a dying horse?

For the last 20 months or so, it has been hard for opposition forces to present their case before the IGAD PLUS and the international community. Both parties have been blamed equally. Are they going to be accused equally too by the so called IGAD-PLUS and the international community which has picked up the bill of South Sudan government since the current war broke out? Diplomacy can not be soft, it can call a spade a spade. It does matter bad it sounds.

People of Unity state , Uppernile have been terrorised, displaced, traumatised as we speak. Yet, whatever the IGAD-PLUS warnings are fall into deaf ears. This week, they attacked Mayiandit, a village called Kak, and murdered one of the chiefs. Sad thing to hear indeed. People asking questions, Who is telling the generals in Juba go ahead with the war we will go ahead with the papers? Did IGAD-PLUS mean to bring peace to the people of South Sudan really? If yes, what is their take on the current aerial bombadments, current rivers attacks, ground troops attacks? Why the world is watching still while the danger is clear? If South Sudan became independent state because of International community supports, don't they have the right "them international community", to say no to South Sudanese not to mess up with international community given state? It is a known fact that South Sudanese were not the one giving themselves the state they are destroying, it was through super powers approval. President Kiir, General Malong and their likes should know and respect the will and the spirits of the people if they are fair dinkum south sudanese.,Indeed I will bet my last dollar if they are. They should realised by now that, they are not powerful, though their Godfather Museveni is telling them, USA, UK, EU TROIKA warning are lipservices. Bringing foreign troops to fight along side your troops is an embarrassment that has no name. Both President Kiir and his generals should be honest to the people of South Sudan. They should not have it both ways like Hon. Marial Benjamin. They should say yes to the documents or say a big NO to the signed documents. If those of Gadafi, Hussein Saddam, Murack Hosni, Osama Binladen disappeared because of their own making, will President Kiir and his groups survive?

Question, what did President Kiir tell his generals and Jieng council of evils before he signed the documents? One could say, I am going to sign those documents but I dont mean to sign them, I just want to lessen sanctions that will affect our wealths? Hopefully Peace is coming albeit it is being disturbed on its way to South Sudanese people by President Kiir and his groups.

What the world and "everything in it" should know, Juba is not ready for peace. Indeed Sanctions are not enough if they want to save the remaining lives of South Sudanese. It is a fact that the regime is interested in military solution something that will take generations to be achieved by both sides. You can tell the regime has convinced itself that, it can not reward defeated rebels on the grounds with power sharing. Songs which have sang by ambassador without portfolio aka Gordon Buay, current Nueer wew general Bapiny, Nyuon Jok Kam to name a few. They said, let fight till them opposition forces surrender. Something that will be "wishful thinking" of our time.

They have tried with their all might to disintegrate the opposition forces sending intelligent in the name of defection, like Gatwech Puoch to convince the like of Generals Gatdeet, Gathoth, but they have failed big time. They are terrorising civilians in every corner of Uppernile Region so that the civilians despise opposition forces, they are failing still. They mobilised the Nueer wew recently who betrayed their likes because of money, now those Nueer have tasted the "acid test" of being a traitor to your community. Those who died in the barges a few days ago, were Nueer. Something that frustrates the like minded Nuer such as Tito Tut Pal,Duol Kun Thian, Yiey Wan Teny, Peter Chot Deng, Elijah Deng Simon, John Gatluak, Gatluka M. Nhilal, Gatluak War Jock, Turuk Riek, Kuem Machar, to name a few if not many.

Question,When are those Nueer going to learn that, President Kiir and General Malong are using them for their own benefit? Why are we being used? What is essential in Dinka community that is not essential in other communities? Why are those Dinkas who are with the opposition forces not destroying their community and we know for fact that they dont like they way President Kiir is managing the Country affairs? What if peace comes as it will come no matter the odds?
The regime should choose from the two, either it accepts sharing power with the opposition forces or give a rude finger to the IGAD-PLUS and international community that sharing power with IO is a grave concern and keep fighting as they are doing.

Equally, the opposition should also be aware about the activities being caried out by the current regime. They should ask themselves, what "If" peace fails? All in all there is Something encouraging, and most of my friends will agree with it even the opposites, though President Kiir dishonoured his commitment to peace, it is still good for opposition forces, if he is still respecting his commitment, it is indeed good for us. President Kiir and his "Nueer wew" can run but they can not hide.

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of CNA