As we approach another anniversary of our independence—a day we once marked with pride and deep emotion—I stand before you, not only as the Leader of the Opposition but as a fellow South Sudanese who shares in the pain, the struggle, and the disappointment felt by millions across our beloved nation.
We voted overwhelmingly for independence in 2011, not just to change flags or borders, but to change the very conditions of our lives. We believed independence would bring freedom, dignity, peace, and opportunity.
But today, we must confront an uncomfortable truth:
Is this the independence we fought and died for?
Thirteen years later, South Sudan is still held hostage—not by foreign colonizers, but by failed leadership, broken systems, and the betrayal of public trust.
The reality speaks for itself:
• Gunfire still echoes through our villages. Entire communities live in fear of armed violence and displacement.
• Our hospitals are under-equipped and understaffed. People are dying from preventable diseases.
• Our children sit under trees for school—or worse, receive no education at all.
• Our civil servants go months without pay, while government elites live in luxury.
• Corruption is rampant and unchecked, draining the resources meant for public services.
• Unemployment is widespread, especially among our youth—the very generation that should be driving our development.
• Access to clean drinking water, reliable electricity, and basic healthcare is still a luxury, not a right.
• Political freedoms have been stifled. Opposition figures are harassed, intimidated, or detained without due process.
• Our national economy remains dependent on oil, with no clear diversification or development strategy.
• Refugees and internally displaced persons are still unable to return home in dignity and safety.
Tribal divisions are being exploited for political gain, rather than healed through reconciliation.
These are not isolated issues. These are systemic failures. This is not what independence was meant to look like.
We cannot allow another year to pass where independence is celebrated with military parades and speeches, while the people continue to suffer in silence.
We must ask: Who truly benefits from independence today?
Certainly not the mother dying in childbirth because the clinic has no medicine.
Not the graduate who can’t find a job.
Not the displaced family sleeping under trees.
Not the youth harassed for speaking out.
This is why, on behalf of the United Labour Party of South Sudan and all citizens who believe in true democracy and justice, I say with clarity and conviction:
Enough is enough.
We demand:
• A credible national dialogue—not a scripted one, but inclusive, transparent, and genuine.
• The restoration of political space and protection of human rights.
• Public accountability for corruption and abuse of power.
• A national development plan that prioritizes jobs, education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
• Investment in agriculture, technology, and industry to diversify our economy.
• Peace and reconciliation, not just between factions, but among communities, regions, and generations.
• Empowerment of women and youth as equal partners in leadership and progress.
We in the opposition are not here to destroy—we are here to rebuild.
We do not seek division—we seek unity based on truth, fairness, and national interest.
To our young people: you are the future of South Sudan. Do not lose hope.
To our soldiers and civil servants: serve your nation, not individuals.
To the international community: stand with the people, not with those who oppress them.
To our fellow political leaders: the time for pretending is over. The people are watching. History will judge us.
Let this independence anniversary be more than just a memory of the past.
Let it mark the beginning of a new national awakening—where citizens demand their rights, leaders honor their duty, and South Sudan begins to fulfill the promise that was made in 2011.
South Sudan deserves better. Our people deserve better. And we must not rest until they get it.
Thank you, and may justice, peace, and prosperity guide the future of our nation.
PRESS STATEMENT BY ERNEST OGWARO
Leader of the Opposition
United Labour Party of South Sudan (ULPOSS)
Date: [Insert Date]
Location: Juba – ULPOSS Headquarters
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