Our Souls Between Neglect and Injustice

✍🏾 Linda Victor

After the Madani tragedy and the government's shocking response to it—especially for us South Sudanese—we now find ourselves facing yet another catastrophe. Once again, we are dying due to limited resources and technical negligence, just as in the recent tragic plane crash.

These are not just isolated incidents but rather reflections of a painful reality in our country, where disasters keep recurring without fundamental changes in infrastructure or emergency response mechanisms. People's lives are lost due to incompetence and negligence, while talk of reform remains mere promises that never materialize.

In the most recent tragedy, a plane crashed in Unity State, northern South Sudan, killing at least 20 people, according to the Minister of State for Information, Gatwich Bipal Both. The aircraft was carrying 21 passengers, with only one survivor. The crash occurred shortly after takeoff, just 500 meters from the airport (Sky News Arabia).

This is not the first such incident; it is part of a long series of aviation disasters that have plagued the country in recent years, raising serious concerns about air safety standards and the government’s commitment to strictly monitoring airlines. Poor infrastructure, lack of routine aircraft maintenance, and inadequate oversight all contribute to making air travel in South Sudan an unpredictable and hazardous venture.

Beyond aviation disasters, South Sudanese citizens continue to face other life-threatening dangers. In Wad Madani, several South Sudanese nationals were killed, sparking widespread outrage due to slow investigations and the lack of accountability for the perpetrators. The government has called for expedited procedures, but justice remains elusive (Alrakoba).

These recurring events highlight a grim reality: neglect and corruption are claiming innocent lives, while promises of reform remain empty words. No nation can progress or achieve stability when its people lack basic safety and justice.

The government must take responsibility by implementing structural reforms, enforcing strict regulations in the aviation and transportation sectors, and ensuring justice for victims. How much longer will our lives remain suspended between state weakness and the injustices of circumstance?

For more details on the latest incident, watch the following report:

Plane Crash in South Sudan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8fQGZ9Dm_w&utm_source=chatgpt.com