Grounds of Conflict in South Sudan: A Call for Truth and Unity
According to a social media post that has resonated across the country, South Sudanese rapper K-Denk Wangnath has called for honesty and reflection on the ongoing conflict in South Sudan. Addressing the nation, he emphasized that acknowledging the roots of the war is crucial if the country is to find a path to peace.
”Let’s stop lying to ourselves,” Wangnath wrote on his Facebook timeline. “Calling the ongoing struggle a ‘Nuer movement’ is either ignorance or deliberate dishonesty.” He pointed out that the conflict began with the December 15, 2013 massacre of Nuer civilians in Juba, a tragic event that many in the country still debate and downplay.
Wangnath underscored that the war’s origins are rooted in a brutal genocide, stating, “You don’t erase genocide by denying how a conflict started.” However, he argued that the current landscape of fighting has evolved beyond tribal lines.
”This struggle no longer belongs to one community,” he emphasized. He highlighted the current leadership structure within the SPLM/-IO, South Sudan’s main opposition movement, which features leaders from diverse regions.
“The Commander-in-Chief of the SPLM-IO is now Nathaniel Pierino Oyet from Eastern Equatoria,” Wangnath explained. “Its military command, under Thuok Chuol Luak, and the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Lt. Gen. Wisley Welebe Samson from Equatoria, have ordered forces from all directions to move toward Juba. They’re working with almost all major opposition forces.”
He pointed out that various opposition groups, including NAS led by Thomas Cirillo and UPA under General Pagan Amum, have joined the movement, signaling a broader coalition than many realize.
The rapper highlighted recent shifts in allegiance among opposition forces, especially in regions like Kitgwang and Lou, where commanders such as General Gatwech Duel and other former enemies have switched sides to join the SPLM-IO after rejecting the previous leadership’s efforts at integration.
“If SSOA is joining the government,” Wangnath quoted General Muoch Dak Banang, “it’s because they see the opposition fighting for a common goal: regime change.” Forces under General Buay Rolnyang, which include military elements from UPA and leaders like Paul Malong Awan, have also voiced their support for ending the current regime.
He posed a provocative question: “Does it really look like a Nuer revolution in this day and time?” If the movement were truly tribal, Wangnath argued, why would Nuer leaders hand over leadership to non-Nuer figures?
”Leadership is not tribal,” he insisted. “Any capable South Sudanese can lead.” He challenged the status quo, asking how many times President Salva Kiir, from the Dinka community, has voluntarily surrendered power to leaders from other tribes.
”Never,” he declared. “When his power was challenged, he responded with violence, turning the country into a graveyard of civilians starting in 2013.”
Wangnath urged the nation to focus on unity and accountability, emphasizing that calling for national cohesion is not treasonous, nor is demanding justice tribalism.
”Reject ethnic politics,” he said passionately. “This is no longer about who started the war. It’s about who is ending the suffering.”
He concluded with a stark warning: “South Sudan must choose truth or collapse under lies.”
As South Sudan continues to grapple with a complex web of political, ethnic, and military tensions, voices like Wangnath’s serve as a reminder that the path to peace requires acknowledgment of the painful truths and a collective effort to move beyond tribal divisions.
“The future of South Sudan depends on our willingness to confront the real issues,” Wangnath affirmed. “Unity, accountability, and truth are the only way forward.”
©MCK, 2026
