Sudanese leaders hint on why unity is attractive

Sept 4, 2005 (Khartoum) — Making a united Sudan an “attractive option” appears to be a long-term political objective in spite of the widespread riots after the death of the country’s First Vice President, John Garang de Mobior, in a helicopter crash on 30 July.

People from southern Sudan decided to vent their anger on northerners by looting their shops and homes, on suspicion that the Arab-dominated north planned Garang’s death.

Northerners counter-attacked to avenge the death of their loved ones and the death toll soared to nearly 100 persons. This led to fears of an unbridgeable rift between the country’s two parts.

Contrary to these fears, leaders in Northern Sudan and in the Christian and animist-dominated South have stuck to the historic peace agreement they inked on 9 January 2005 in Kenya to lay to end a conflict that had raged since 1983, which claimed millions of lives and made millions others homeless.

Garang’s Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) resorted to arms in 1983 to oppose the imposition of Islamic law (Sharia). However, all along, the SPLM said it wanted a united, but also secular Sudan.

Under the Nairobi agreement, Southern Sudan shall be exempted from Sharia during a six-year interim period before a referendum is held to enable southern Sudan decide whether to remain in a united Sudan or form an independent state.

Meanwhile, Northern and Southern Sudan have drafted an interim constitution that reflects the country’s cultural, social and religious diversities.

Senior Sudanese officials on both sides have also reiterated that their key objective of the broad-coalition government was to undo years of perceived neglect of the South.

They also declared their intention to make a truly unified Sudan an attractive option to all its citizens.

Political observers in Khartoum have welcomed the fact that both the SPLA/M and the government of Sudanese President Omar Hassan el-Bashir have decided to abide by the Nairobi agreement in spite of Garang’s tragic death just three weeks after taking office as first vice president in Khartoum.

These analysts have been impressed by the determination shown by President Bashir, his aides as well as SPLA/M leaders to make Sudan’s national unity “an attractive option” to citizens all over the largest African country.

Although the January 2005 agreement gives southerners the right to self- determination after six years of self-rule, government officials in Khartoum and the SPLM have promised to work hard to achieve a united Sudan.

To curb what they termed as “foreign intervention”, the signatories of the accord affirmed the need to make unity and co-operation between the Sudanese parts a priority.

“Implementation of the peace agreement on the ground is crucial in addition to achieving a nation-wide development and rehabilitation of war-affected areas,” stated Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Khalifa, a member of the government delegation to the peace talks with SPLA/M in Kenya.

According to Khalifa, southerners would feel confident to remain in a united Sudan if they see development projects in their war-affected areas.

“What every Sudanese citizen wants is stability and better living conditions. If the government manages to provide such things, this will lead to unity,” the legal expert underlined.

In several speeches before his tragic accident, the late Garang repeatedly said that, by virtue of the constitution, unity and social equality would prevail in Sudan.

“A voluntary unity will be established through the right of self-determination,” affirmed the charismatic leader who also vowed to ensure human rights and dignity were respected, regardless religion, race, colour and culture.

Although his stay in power was short-lived, Garang captured the admiration of a majority of Sudanese people because of his joyful, light- hearted spirit and declaration of intention to work hand-in-hand with President Bashir to enhance national unity.

Garang promised to build a strong unity government as well as to accord a special position to the three regions (Nuba Mountains, Blue Nile and Abyei) whose ownership is still disputed between the government in Khartoum and the SPLM.

Garang’s successor, Salva Kiir Mayardit, has also pledged to abide by the peace agreement under which southerners will have an equal share of wealth, particularly from the crude oil fields located in the country’s south.

“National unity can be realized through a clear recognition that Sudan should be a homeland for all Sudanese people… all citizens should participate in building Sudan without hegemony or guardianship,” said AbdulRahman Al Ghali, a senior member of the opposition Umma Party, which was in power before Bashir ascended to power in 1989.

According to him, a united Sudan will be an attractive option provided it is brought through real democratic methods, under which the people would get vital services, development and peace.

The rulers must also fully recognise the cultural rights, equality in constitutional duties and rights of all citizens.

“The interim government must confront the challenges, that include, a satisfied democratic solution to the problem in Sudan besides ending marginalization and eradicating poverty,” explained Ghali, a physician.

Members of the opposition Democratic National Alliance also stressed that the interim government policy is the only guarantee for continuation of unity in Sudan.

Meanwhile, Mohmed Hassan al-Amin, a well-known legal advisor, said that a united Sudan would only become a reality if concrete confidence- building could be undertaken in both the North and South during the interim period.

“The government and the people’s movement have a big role to play to make unity attractive,” remarked Dr. Ismail Haj Musa, a legal advisor and former Member of Parliament, adding that permanent peace paves the way to attract support for a unified Sudan.

On his part, Joseph Madisoar of the Sudan Democratic Forum, confirmed that the southern political movement has all along been calling for the unity of Sudan, and equality between the north and the south.

He cited the Round Table Conference (held to discuss the southern question) in 1947, which confirmed these demands.

The southern politician explained that unity would only be realized once wrong concepts are removed and development projects are introduced in the south through the peace agreement, particularly power and wealth sharing.

He warned that any delay in implementing the peace agreement could negatively impact on the country’s future. He also called on the government to deal with the country’s other conflicts seriously and in a transparent manner.

Contrary to these views for a united Sudan, Tayib Mustafa, a northerner and former director of the state-owned television, argued that separation between the North and Southern Sudan could be a better option given what has happened over the past 40 years.

“We shouldn’t be prisoners for this emotional look; the result of this unity over 40 years is pain, death, and distrust,” said Mustafa, a leader of the Just Peace Forum and the son of President Bashir’s uncle.

“Why don’t we let the northerners practice their self-determination right and therefore secede from the south… why are we deprived from our right in this unity?” he inquired. To him, secession was a more attractive option than a united Sudan.

PANA/ST.