Communal Lateral Violence
- Nyabuoy Gatbel
- Jun 16, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 16, 2024
Since the beginning of time, humans have been competing for resources, people and power that can enhance their society in terms of longevity and having the means to sustain the population. In Africa, where life began, it is no surprise this problem persists today. In current South Sudan, the current regime is poorly governed. It has not allocated wealth equally among its impoverished population, stagnated, and been a victim of perpetual colonialism and bad governance. South Sudanese people suffer from issues rooted in poor management, misallocation of funds entitled to them and lack of opportunities.
In South Sudan, the conversation is around tribalism, clannism and communal lateral violence. Tribalism is defined as, ‘’tribal consciousness and loyalty especially: exaltation of the tribe above other groups.’’ (Merriam-Webster). Tribes and their diversity is not the problem in South Sudan, but not investing in them and using them to hurt each other to prolong political, economic and societal stagnation is the actual crime. What they need is the celebration of their uniqueness and the longevity of their indigenous black African cultures. That can only be possible if capital is readily available to said communities to invest in themselves and the well-being of their people under proper governance.
Clannism is a result of tribalism unaddressed. Clannism is what colorism is to racism. It is a manifestation of a bigger problem. Clannism better known as clannish, is defined as, ’’ tending to associate only with a select group of similar background or status.’’ (Merriam-Webster). Among tribes and clans, communal lateral violence exists, and that’s a result of a scarcity mindset due to a lack of resources in the community as a result of poor governance and a lack of opportunities for work and school in those communities. Communal lateral violence is defined as, ‘’organized, harmful behaviours that we do to each other collectively as part of an oppressed group, within our families, within our organizations and our communities.” It simply means hurt people hurt other hurt people. Due to poor governance in the South Sudanese community, many feel powerless and take out that powerlessness on other vulnerable people in the same situation.
In conclusion, all of these problems are a manifestation of poor governance and lack of investment in human capital and the different sectors of the economy that can provide jobs and opportunities. Humans are simply hurting in South Sudan, and it’s because their nation hasn’t lived up to its revolutionary promises. Idleness comes with greed, poverty, hatred and exclusionary practices and cultures because there’s simply nothing worthwhile occupying people’s time.
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