South Sudanese holding key leadership positions were urged to open up to young returnees and give them an opportunity to put to good use professional skills acquired in the diaspora to build the country.
The appeal comes from by Dan Eiffe, a war veteran with SPLM/A for the last 25 years, and currently serving as Political Advisor to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).He expressed deep concern about the attitude of South Sudanese leaders towards returnees they marginalize under the pretext that they did not participate in the liberation struggle.
Mr Eiffe urged South Sudanese to rise above their tribes, kith and kin, chastising tribalism, nepotism and other forms of dominance which militate against the spirit of patriotism among South Sudanese leaders.
He warned that either the returnees are well integrated in the society or South Sudan may face civil war again.
Mr Eiffe said the process of building the new nation will take decades.
He insisted that older SPLM leaders should retire to give a chance to the youth.
He added that he was concerned about the reluctance on the part of the elderly leaders to relinquish their positions to qualified youths returning from the diaspora.
Mr Eiffe is an Irish national married to a South Sudanese woman.
He was actively involved in the liberation struggle alongside late Dr John Garang, President Salva Kiir, Kuol Manyang and other SPLM leaders.
He founded the Nairobi-based “Sudan Mirror” newspaper.