Daniel Athior Atem- Courtesy

On 16th May, we commemorate a vision that began in the crucible of suffering and whose perseverance made it manifest. On the 43rd anniversary of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-SPLM, we remember those who dreamt big and dreamt bravely. The SPLM did not just rise as a political organization; it became the expression of the hopes of a people weary of injustice and yet firm in their resolve to achieve their inherent dignity, their rights and the freedom to determine their own destiny of the NEW Sudan.

For twenty-one long and arduous years, men and women of unshakeable will marched under the SPLM flag, their feet treading on a vision of emancipation, their sacrifice underpinning the edifice on which our nation stands today. The blood that was shed was a covenant, the pain they endured was a lesson, and their unwavering faith in tomorrow gave us a home, the Republic of South Sudan.

The story of the SPLM is told in the memories of every village and city; in the flow of our rivers and in the dust on our roads; in our songs and even in our silences. It is the story of communities shielding freedom fighters; of neighbors sharing their last morsel of sorghum; of teachers educating children under trees; of nurses attending to wounded souls in the dim glow of lanterns; and of mothers and fathers entrusting their children to the bushes for a future they believed in more than in the immediate comforts they provided them.

It is the story of a people who refused to succumb to the dictates of their oppressors; who firmly believed that unity, sacrifice and determination can transcend any odds. And through starvation, displacement and mourning, this belief ignited a flame that no storm could put out. Sweat and tears were shed in building the edifice of our state, but the foundation itself was made strong by the sacrifice of SPLM members who paid the ultimate price.

Although not all their names will be written in history, their legacy is enduring, reflected in every flag unfurled, every oath of service taken for the common good, and every child who can learn in peace. Their courage is worth more than our mere remembrance; it compels us to uphold their ideals of equality before the law, shared prosperity, inclusive governance and a country that cares for every citizen.

Anniversaries are a time of celebration but also of self-assessment. The SPLM that freed our people should be an SPLM that serves our people. The people did not spend twenty-one years fighting just for a change of maps; they fought to improve lives. They fought for schools that were on time, for quality education, for clinics that offered care regardless of your background, for roads that brought producers and consumers together, for clean water, for work that paid well and was safe and for a state that served and not that that ruled and for leaders that were attentive more than loud. It is our responsibility as current generations to translate sacrifice into service and victory into virtue.

We need to build strong institutions for tangible freedom: a competent civil service based on meritocracy; an independent and efficient judiciary; security forces that protect citizens rather than persecute them; and an engaged 1 legislature that holds the executive to account. We must combat corruption not just with our mouths but with effective mechanisms such as transparent budgets, competitive procurement processes, timely audits, and a system in which transgressors of the law face consequences regardless of who they are.

We must translate natural wealth into human development to make oil and minerals work for classrooms, hospitals and jobs, not for temporary glory. Development is a service translated into action. We must achieve food security through appropriate technologies in agriculture, irrigation, storage, and market access, so that farmers receive a fair return for their work. We must create power for development to provide electricity for our homes, schools, clinics, and enterprises, and also develop renewable energy sources.

We must lay roads and connect ourselves via fiber-optic cables for faster communication, to create jobs for our youth, and to enable businesses to grow. We must invest in our teachers and nurses, in vocational institutes and universities, in researchers and artists, in short, in all those people who will make us a strong nation based on skill and well-being. Reconciliation is a solemn duty.

We can disperse the shadows of war through inclusiveness and local solutions to peace and a justice that heals. Evy segerment of our society must be able to see itself reflected in the national tapestry. We must stand firm against the divisive rhetoric that breeds hate. Diversity is our greatest asset when we live by the principles of equality and shared responsibility. Let’s move from confrontation to conversation; from resentments to solutions, and from past lessons to future gains.

Youth of our country, the future authors of our stories: you carry both the legacy of struggle and the spark of innovation. We must be demanding of ourselves and of our leaders, and that will allow you to learn, code, farm, teach, nurse, create and compete. The SPLM’s memorial to its heroes is to create opportunities. Hence, your talents shine through in every form- finance to fuel our start-ups, apprenticeships to create careers, art to inspire the nation and sport to bring our people together.

Women, whose endurance was essential throughout the fight, your leadership in every sphere, from marketplaces to the executive chamber, is non-negotiable for determining our national policy and budget. We recognize that our diaspora is an integral part of our nation and, as such, plays a crucial role in supporting our families through remittances, modernizing our state through the skills it brings, and fostering investment through its global network. You are always welcome to contribute from afar and can always come back with your expertise.

Today’s anniversary is a call for the unification of the hearts and hands of all South Sudanese citizens towards building our nation. We are responsible for the preservation of our natural resources in this era of climate change; this demands that we engage in restorative wetlands management, flood mitigation and afforestation initiatives, among others, to prepare for natural disasters 2 with timely warning systems.

We must embrace solar and wind energies, safeguard our biodiversity and preserve our environment for our children. The international arena must see us as partners for peace and shared economic development; we must respect the commitments we have made to others while fostering smooth flows of goods and knowledge across our borders.

A strong sovereign nation engages with the world confident in its own strength, yet open to learning. This 43rd anniversary is not about listening to speeches alone; it’s about what we will achieve when we wake up tomorrow and go to work. The true measure of our success will be seen in mothers who deliver children safely, children who learn to read by the age of ten, farmers who produce beyond their needs, young people who secure sustainable employment within the nation, and elders who can live in safety and comfort.

Our success should be measured by fewer long queues at water points, shorter hospital stays, fewer unresolved disputes, and an overall better quality of life. The torch of the SPLM has moved from the battlefield to the construction site, from the long march to the ministry buildings, from the trench to the classroom.

We now need that torch to shed light on corruption, guide us toward reform, and rekindle trust among our citizens. This is a revolution of responsibility, it is the reward for discipline, and it is what we owe to those we lost along the way to freedom. We pledge action to remember the fallen. We promise dignity to the survivors.

We promise care. To the dreamers, we pledge space to create and room to rise (the many rooms in father’s house). May we be one people, many cultures, and united in purpose. May our leaders be humble in victory, steadfast in service, and courageous in truth. At 43 years of age, may the SPLM be the guardian of the foundation laid in blood, and a bridge to a future blooming with the fruits for which our people struggled for 21 years, an enduring peace, a lived justice and a shared prosperity.

With HOPE, forward, together – faithful to the past, faithful in the present, faithful for the future. Happy 43rd anniversary. May the Labour of liberation become the harvest of a nation. May God bless South Sudan.

Daniel Athior Atem, the Author was the World Bank Blog4Dev2019 Winner for South Sudan||A member of the World Bank Youth Transforming Africa||Mandela Scholar||Opinions writer. Can be reach via; atemathior@gmail.com 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, Daniel Athior Atem, and do not necessarily reflect the views, editorial position, or policies of Eye Radio.