South Sudan is a relatively new state, becoming independent from Sudan in 2011. However since then the fledgling country is yet to hold elections, with incumbent President Salva Kiir set to retain his office at least until 2018. In addition to this he has shown signs of consolidating power around himself, by firing multiple ministers, including the most recent firing of South Sudan's Interior Minister. In addition to this, Kiir is believed to be establishing a cult of personality around himself, notable by his constant wearing of a hat, gifted to him from then incumbent US President George Bush.
My question is, how does such a new country, formed because of the injustices of it's past state, go on to continue to abuse human rights, and make moves towards an arbitrary government?
Sources:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-14/south-sudan-fires-interior-minister-as-security-law-implemented
Sam Mani
Good question, Sam. But it's depressingly common. Most of the new countries of Africa in the 1960s, after decolonization, went in precisely this direction. When the rules of political competition are new and untested, they are likely to be violated.
ReplyDelete