A prominent South Sudanese analyst has spoken out against the proposed anti-gay bill in Uganda, stating that South Sudan does not need similar legislation. Professor of anthropology at Syracuse University, Jok Madut Jok, has noted some homophobic sentiment in South Sudan following the bill’s passing in Uganda but insists that the LGBTQ rights debate has not been raised in the young country.
Unlike South Sudan’s neighbors, Uganda and Kenya, where anti-gay legislation has been introduced and debated, Jok argues that South Sudan does not need a bill on homosexual behavior or marriage. Speaking to Nabeel Biajo, he emphasized that the anti-LGBTQ bill passed by the Ugandan parliament, which has yet to be signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni, has political motives behind it that serve the long-running Museveni administration.
Jok’s comments highlight the differing attitudes towards LGBTQ rights across Africa and the complex political landscape in which such debates take place. As the international community continues to monitor developments in Uganda, South Sudan’s position on the issue is likely to attract increased attention.
