When the people of South Sudan voted overwhelmingly for independence fifteen years ago, they did far more than establish a new state. They embraced a historic opportunity to build a nation founded on freedom, justice, equality, and human dignity. Instead of confronting it with honesty and responsibility, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), entrusted with leading the world’s newest nation, chose a different course. From the moment it assumed power, the SPLM departed from the path of freedom, justice, and human dignity that had guided the liberation struggle. The future of South Sudan will not be secured by defending past failures or glorifying past victories.