Episode 34: Voice 64 Podcast - Beyond the Big Men: Can South Sudan Decentralize Power and Still Hold Together?

Episode Meta Description:

Beyond the Big Men: Can South Sudan Decentralize Power and Still Hold Together? In this thought-provoking Voice 64 episode, Mathor Wan examines South Sudan’s chronic over-centralization of authority—where power flows from the presidency downward—and asks whether true federalism could finally bring equity, peace, and accountability. Through history, policy, and lived experience, this episode explores whether devolving power can unite rather than divide the nation.

Keywords: South Sudan decentralization, federalism, governance reform, state autonomy, Voice 64 podcast, Mathor Wan, democracy in Africa.

Episode Summary:

For decades, South Sudan’s politics have revolved around “the big men”—those at the top who command loyalty, wealth, and weapons. But can a country built on hierarchy learn to trust its peripheries?

In this episode, we unpacks the promise and peril of decentralization in South Sudan. He traces the legacy of power concentration from liberation movements to post-independence governments and asks what a truly people-centered system might look like.

Through stories of neglected counties, frustrated youth, and local administrators without real authority, Mathor Wan challenges listeners to imagine a South Sudan where leadership is earned locally and accountability flows upward from the people—not downward from the palace.

Show Notes:

00:00 – 03:00 | Opening Reflections Setting the stage: why the “big-man” culture defines governance across Africa—and how South Sudan inherited it.

03:00 – 10:00 | A Capital Too Powerful Exploring how Juba became the center of everything—from decisions to development—and what that means for distant states like Upper Nile, Western Bahr el Ghazal, and Eastern Equatoria.

10:00 – 18:00 | Federalism or Fragmentation? Unpacking myths: does decentralization risk disunity, or could it be the foundation of lasting peace?

18:00 – 27:00 | The Local Power Dilemma Stories from local administrators and citizens who feel voiceless under central command structures.

27:00 – 33:00 | Lessons from Other African Models What South Sudan can learn from Kenya’s devolution, Nigeria’s federalism, and Ethiopia’s regional autonomy—successes and cautionary tales.

33:00 – 35:00 | Closing Reflections — “Power to the People” Mathor Wan’s final call: building a system where every county matters, every citizen counts, and governance starts at the grassroots.

Key Themes:

• The “big man” political culture and its costs

• Decentralization vs. national unity

• The economics of power concentration

• Local governance, service delivery, and participation

• Lessons from African federal systems

Call to Action: 

If you believe that power should serve people—not control them—share this episode. Visit Voice64.com for more details. Join the Voice 64 community on Facebook, X, and YouTube to continue the conversation on what a decentralized democracy could look like for South Sudan.