As the Republic of South Sudan (RoSS) gears toward its independent in less than three weeks on the July 9th 2011, the country will be the newest nation: will be Africa's 54th nation, and a world’s 194th nation on earth. The Republic of South Sudan has already formed diplomatic relations since 2005 after CPA and will continues to establish strong and new relations with all countries in Africa and in the world as it becomes a new and youngest family member in the world. These relations are importance to be establish based on a clear mutual respect and benefits with any country that it’s inters into diplomatic relations with. As a new state with so much inexperience to be able to deals with some experienced states (such as the US, the UK, in theist), it matters significantly for the RoSS not to be caught up in a state of relations where so much benefits goes to other states whose interests are bound by hypocrite relations of which they pretends to be honest in their relationships but they turned their true colours once a state pursues its own national interest, economically and politically.Due to nature of states' unpredictability, the ROSS must be very vigilant and critical as it starts to engage with other nations within the international system of 'anarchy' where states are bound by the quest for "self-help". In such situation it is so crucial for the RoSS to understands the environment its operating in as an environment that give state limited or less protection and no other states will look after her regardless of whether it is a young nation that need help before it could stands on its feet.
As the system of anarchy is concern, I argues that, the ROSS must be selective while it establishes it's foreign relations with other states since all states are bound by ‘self interest’ which could disadvantaged its both statecraft and national interest as a young nation: economically, politically, and strategically. The ROSS must join the world with a clear knowledge that it has to be independent from any country pretending to nurture it as a young nation that need helps; however, it must slowly develops such relations without rush and that could place it in a better position to know who are the best friends that it can trust though it's very difficult for states to trust each other due to ‘security dilemma’ of international system of anarchy.
As a nation born from almost two centuries of bitter struggle for freedom from its Ottoman Empire and colonial rulers since 1820-1955.The same states (such as the UK, Egypt, Russia and the US) are still engage in their own agendas in different forms (in the contexts of 21st century slavery and marginalisation) either in form of economic marginalization and development supports facilitated in a very dishonest forms of diplomatic relations with various countries. These dishonest relations are evidenced in the situation of South Sudanese people's struggle against injustice in the last 191 years since 1820- 2011 as history can tell, where some countries have been changing their relations styles based on national interest. For such reasons the RoSS has to be very critical in its diplomatic relations with all these states that seem to be of a good benefit to her particularly the US whose interest end up to destroy other statehoods if its interest is not guaranteed by a state like the RoSS as it is now happening in the Middle East.The RoSS must be watchful of any exploitative diplomatic relations as it establishes its foreign relations with various countries in the region of Africa who are puppets of western countries. For instance, a state such as Uganda that would-be the strong ally and a neighbour that shares common issues with the RoSS is the best example known that the nation of South Sudan must be watchful of its relations as it serves double-edge-interests of its own and other countries like the US and the UK particularly. This exploitative diplomatic relations is explicitly demonstrated by a mystery death of our late leader Dr. Garang whose death left people of South Sudan with many questions unanswered on who is behind his tragic death at the time he left Uganda on the 30th of July 2005. For this reason, the RoSS has to be very watchful with world's canny states like the US, the UK, Egypt, Russia and the rising China (that is bound by quest for resources)that have no other agenda but self-interest.
For this reason, the RoSS should employs selective strategies as it invites the world into its untapped natural world otherwise it will face consequences of exploitation from the advanced nations who pretend to be the best through their hypocrites alternative assistance that are offered informs of development and good governance supports.In this case I strongly argue that, the RoSS' national interest must prevail first more than the interest of individual leaders of the Ross or of any state that it enters into relation with. These relations must be based on mutual respect and on the national interest of South Sudan people from any country that the RoSS develops diplomatic relation with. Since states exist in an anarchical system, the RoSS must understands that it has and must be independent from any country including those states that are going to recognize its independence whose motives are so blurred at this time of South Sudanese history. These countries' interest must be assess critically and be scrutinize well to ensure that they do not exploits the young innocent nation(RoSS) from its natural resources and national security since some of these countries have been against the freedom of Southerners and along history proved itself.
However, having said that, it is acknowledged that for the RoSS to develop as a viable nation and a respected member of international community by all means, it has no choice but to builds diplomatic relations with states such as the US, the UK, France, Germany, China, Japan, and Russia because it’s one of the conditions it cannot avoid for its survival, but such relations must not be in the expense of its security. In order not to be exploits of its resources due to its inexperience, the Ross has to continues the agenda of protecting the interest of people of South Sudan regardless of what it takes and it must know that no other state will come and tell it what to do for its successes and failures, all will dependent on its leaders who should not put the country' interest as second from their personal interests which could determines which country the RoSS enters into relation with.With this concern in mind I strongly think that it is the responsibility of every member of South Sudan to make sure that our government is engaged in a very constructive, honest diplomatic relationships, and to understand the reality of the international system its entering into. A world of anarchy with no global police or other state to pick up the phone in the middle of night when the RoSS ring for emergency phone once it is in trouble with other states that cheated or threatening it survival. Individual leaders particularly in the foreign relations department must cortically understand the nature of system wherever they lead people of South Sudan to.
The author (Nyok Achouth Gor) is a graduate student of International Affairs and Diplomatic Studies at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia, the views presented here are solely from the author, and he can be reached at:
nyokachouth@gmail.com or nyok4sudan@yahoo.com.au ( Lived in Canberra Australia).
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