Makak John Gile Yual, cittadino del Sud Sudan rifugiato in Etiopioa, è arrivato a Padova nel 2019 come partecipante di University Corridors for Refugees, un programma coordinato dall'Agenzia ONU per i rifugiati che dà la possibilità a studentesse e studenti rifugiati di continuare il loro percorso accademico in una delle università italiane che partecipano al progetto.
Makak si è laureato nel 2021 all'Università di Padova presso il Dipartimento di Scienze Politiche, Giuridiche e Studi internazionali - SPGI, e oggi è dottore magistrale in Human rights and multi-level governance.
Il titolo della sua tesi, caricata in Padua Thesis and Dissertation Archive, è Identifying the causes and implications of Murle's Child Abduction Practice, and its impact on children: A case study on Ethiopia and South Sudan, relatrice prof. Sara Pennicino.
Abstract
The aim of the study is to investigate the causes and impacts of Murle's cross-border child abduction practice and its impact on children in Ethiopia's Gambella region. In order to achieve the aims of this study, a qualitative method is used based on semi-structured interviews. Altogether, twenty-five people were interviewed, nine of whom were under 20 years old. Of the sample respondents, fifteen were interviewed in the city of Gambella and ten were interviewed outside of Gambella. This was done in order to obtain accurate and reliable primary data from all respondents. The theoretical perspectives of social cubism and of human rights conceptual are applied to analyze the dynamics of child abduction. The data obtained from interviews show that socio-cultural values and perceptions, poor living conditions, ineffective government, availability of illegal small arms and light weapons, and border permeability are driving factors that have contributed to the increase in cross-border raids. The study also shows that cross-border raiding has led to revenge violence which turned into organized crime and continued frustration in border communities. The study found that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons has exacerbated traditional cross-border relations, leading to interethnic conflict, cross-border organized crime, and civilian access to weapons.
Makak si racconta
Civil wars in Sudan began in 1955, one year before independence in January 1956. The first war (1955–1972) ended with an agreement, but the Northern regime dishonoured its implementation. Dishonouring led to the second civil war (1983–2005), which ended with another peace agreement in 2005.
My father was one of the guerrilla freedom fighters who fought against what they described as religiously motivated 'marginalization' by Muslim rulers in North Sudan. He spent his youth fighting in the war until he got married. As his children, most of us were born during wartime. I grew up in a guerrilla rebel environment with my siblings. In that guerrilla environment, we knew nothing but hardship. Besides, the colours of my father's uniforms, his gun and his rank, were things I knew best as a child at that time.
At one point the rebels decided to collect all children for what was known as "Jesh Al-Ahmer" also referred to as the "Red Army". The Jesh Al-Ahmer, also called the "Lost Boys and Girls" of Sudan, was a section of Sudan People's Liberation Army(SPLA)rebel soldiers, exclusively composed of minors. Many children were recruited, despite reservations from parents. My parents had a plan to keep us from being taken as child soldiers but it was in vain.
At an early age, I became a Jesh Alhmer of the SPLA. With other minors, we were taken to training camps. In such camps, we were divided into platoons, and given plates and cooking tins. There was firewood to collect, water to patch, and little corn to cook. We could collect straws in the forest and build shelters to protect ourselves from rain and sun.
In that process, hundreds of child soldiers lost their lives and were separated from their loved ones. In physical and mental aspects, the war deprived us of many childhood joys: no schooling, no nutritious foods, no better health, and no kids' toys or games.
Things became more worthwhile as time passed. We had decided to escape and find where the refugee camp was. Some strangers had to lead us – a crowd of minors – from war zones to refugee camps. They believe that refugee camps have schools and better protection for children like us. As a result, I developed hope for school. My dream was to become a medical doctor after seeing many soldiers walking with blood and undressed wounds. Since medicine didn't exist back then, I felt that becoming a medical doctor would benefit them.
Sometimes, however, armed groups block our access to UN camps. But we made it to refugee camps and lived.
With my family, we exhaustively fled dangerous routes and water streams. We survived days of hopelessness, no food, no access to communication, injured footage and sometimes felt sick. Several attempts were made to reach one of East Africa's country's international borders. We arrived at camp and were welcomed with a nutritious biscuit by the UN.
We became registered refugees. Indeed, in a refugee camp, I was able to attend school. After obtaining my undergraduate degree, I learned about scholarships for refugees to study abroad. My refugee status became the most valuable criterion for accessing international education opportunities, and I feel excited about it. I had to travel to Europe to pursue my master's degree at the University of Padua. Having studied for two years, I wrote my Master's thesis on children's rights.
After finished my education at the University of Padua, I returned to Africa. Throughout hard times, I could not forget the generosity of the international community, the UNHCR, and the community of Padua in particular.