The Sudd Institute in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme or UNDP is on Wednesday conducting a public debate in Juba on South Sudan’s national identity entitled: The interplay between fragmented social structure and the elites’ power and wealth race.
The debate that would be moderated by the Vice Chancellor of University of Juba Dr John Akec, aims to provide insights that would be instrumental in designing policies that promote national identity and peaceful coexistence.
Sudd Institute Researcher and a Policy Analyst Abraham Awolich is expected to present a paper that suggests that the conflict resulted from the interplay between a fragmented social structure characterized by localized identity, ethnic and greedy elites’ wealth race that deceitfully used false names to access free wealth and power.
The central premise of his paper would also tell whether the South Sudanese national identity faltered as a result of negative elites’ competition over resources and state power.
Discussants during the debate include Torit Catholic Emeritus Bishop Paride Taban, University of Juba Centre for Peace and Development Director Dr Luka Biong Deng, Dr John Garang Memorial University Vice Chancellor Dr Julia Aker Duany and University of Juba External Relations Director Dr Leben Moro.