Without fear or favor, the gray-haired man spoke boldly, as though he had already secured millions of dollars from the proceeds of the sale of Aida Hotel International. When will the old men of South Sudan stop lying and stealing peace from the younger generation?
It is, however, alleged that he was compelled to announce these futile elections so that the remaining two million dollars from the purchase of the office could be siphoned away.
The tragedy of South Sudan is not merely the absence of development; it is the abundance of promises. Every election season arrives with speeches, declarations, roadmaps, and assurances. Citizens are told that tomorrow will be better than today. Yet, year after year, the ordinary people remain trapped in poverty, insecurity, unemployment, and uncertainty.
Young people, who form the majority of the population, continue to watch their future being negotiated by leaders who have held power for decades. They are expected to trust institutions that have repeatedly failed them. They are asked to believe announcements without seeing preparations. They are encouraged to participate in processes whose outcomes many have already begun to question.
A credible election is not announced by words alone. It is built on public confidence, security, transparency, civic participation, and independent institutions. Ballot papers do not create democracy. Democracy is created when citizens believe their voices matter and their votes count.
Many South Sudanese are not asking for miracles. They are asking for honesty. They want roads instead of excuses, schools instead of slogans, hospitals instead of propaganda, and accountability instead of endless promises. They want leaders who view public office as a responsibility rather than an opportunity.
Gray hair should represent wisdom, foresight, and integrity. It should inspire hope in the younger generation. But when elders use their positions to recycle old promises and old politics, they transform a symbol of wisdom into a symbol of disappointment.
The future of South Sudan does not belong to a few powerful individuals. It belongs to the people. No nation can progress when truth is treated as an enemy and deception is rewarded as a strategy. The young generation deserves leaders who speak honestly, govern responsibly, and leave behind institutions stronger than themselves.
Until then, many citizens will continue to see grand political declarations not as signs of progress, but as another chapter in the long story of gray lies.
Sir. Abunerry BLOGCAST
Writer Critic and Poet
Note: Hand written, AI edited.
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