The unchanged position of NCP

By Watts Roba Gibia Nyirigwa*

Jan 4, 2005 — There is no doubt that the national congress ruling party managed with its tiny strong ruling circle during the past 16 years to consolidate and reshape the entire Sudanese institutions exclusively according to its own doctrine. And the rest of the political institutions have been sidelined from the Sudanese political ring. The national congress party is the only player on the Sudanese internal and external affairs even its peace partner, SPLM has no role and voice in the national affairs of the country. And it is clear that the power of Foreign Ministry has been bestowed to the State Ministry for Foreign Affairs, which was vice versa before the formation of government of national unity! Here we have to wonder why, and who is actually shaping and executing the foreign policy of Sudan, State Minister for Foreign Affairs or Foreign Minister? Regardless who is but one thing is certain mistrust and bogus partnership. And the national congress party is determined to retain grip of power within its own circle to carry on exclusively and unilaterally execution of its policies without any flexibility and compromise on any issue.

The NCP with its tremendous and highly experienced members and agencies knows exactly how to maneuver and manipulate its partners and opponents. And that was apparent in handling SPLM leaders and officials, as they were kept busy with cosmetic issues and distanced from their actual tasks and goals. This is the real situation which our leaders have to understand, as who actually is controlling the entire process! Yet I do not want to believe that our SPLM leaders have abandoned the principle and vision of New Sudan, and seized to continue with struggle and fight for the realization of hopes and dreams of the marginalized people! The SPLM has been paralyzed and dormant on the Darfur peace negotiation, and has no active role in the whole process, but rather its participation has been positioned as an observer. Now what will be the stand and role of SPLM in the eastern Sudan after relinquishing from Hameshkorib town as set in the agreement? As according to Beja Congress deputy (Abdullah Mussa) that “our forces will not pull out and surrender the town to the government simply because it is our town, and SPLM are obliged to withdraw because they have agreement but we do not have such agreement and not obliged to pull out”. Here is going to be yet another escalation of violence if the situation is not handled in good faith. But the current signing of an agreement in Tripoli between the NCP and Rashaida Free Lions and the imminent return of its leader Salim al-Mabrouk to Sudan was a great victory to NCP by splitting and weakening the Eastern Front, in other words the art of divide and confuse.

The NCP is an experienced excellent player, and knows when and how to dodge around its opponents on playground and score a goal. And that was obvious in its conduct with SPLM prior and after signing peace agreement. Creating problems here and there is a tactical and premeditated plan to divert the regional and international attention from the real problem, and to give her path to concentrate on one issue diplomatically and deal with the other militarily. And that was apparently what happened during its negotiation with SPLM in Kenya, as when the situation became tense in Darfur, Ali Osman Taha decided to drop out of the peace talks in Kenya after gaining ground as a peace architect, and returned to Khartoum and launched his vision of how the situation would be best handled. And indeed he managed by mobilizing popular defense forces and Arab militias (Janjaweed) to deal with Darfur situation without interference of the international community. Now the conflict between Chad and Sudan has become the focus of regional and international community, and the misery of Darfurian people and peace process in south were being sidelined. In his interview with Al-Sharq al-Awsat November 1, 2005, Kiir said that “peace country’s first priority”, but is the escalating violence in Darfur is the government’s readiness as peace country’s first priority? In south Sudan there was little peace dividend on ground one year after signing the peace deal. And I wonder, what kind of speech Kiir is going to deliver to marginalized people and Southerners in particular on January 9, 2006, as till today Kiir has never visited other towns of south Sudan except Juba, Rumbek and Yei! And this is clear evidence that insecurity still prevails in vast parts of south Sudan. And the south Sudanese community deserves an explanation from its leadership and to know the actual problem facing the peace process.

Since signing the peace agreement on January 9, 2005 the NCP leadership has been vocally urging in every occasion that, the unity of the country would be made attractive to Southerners, but without taking any drastic or tangible measures to reaffirm their commitment. At his speech on the occasion of the golden jubilee of independence, President Bashir repeated same statement which in fact has become monotones to all Sudanese, and vowed to make the national unity as an attractive choice for both north and south! And went on to say that soon there will be peace in Darfur! But are we going to make national unity attractive, by escalating violence in Darfur, continued attacks on large-scales against civilians and the continued rape of women and girls by armed militias, burning of villages and driving thousands of civilians from their homes? I think we have to be perspicuous with ourselves and have to be up to our words and translate it into reality, and value our people, and be devoted to our country, and try to lift our people from pit of penury and misery.

I think as Sudanese, we have to have a comprehensive look into the whole situation in our country, before we could say that Sudan is not independent due to the presence of foreign troops in Sudan! But we have to ask ourselves when the foreign troops arrived to Sudan? What brought these foreign armies in Sudan? Did they come as invaders and occupiers or they came on request of international community as stipulated in the peace agreement between south and north, and to protect the civilians in Darfur? And who created tens of militias in various parts of Sudan to cause destabilization and to torn the country apart? What have Sudanese done 50 years after independence? Nothing except war, penury, escalation of violence, murder, sedition, brutality, torture and turning one group against another, in other words, Sudan was profoundly in war with itself. Thus, as Sudanese we failed to resolve our own problems, and always turning blind eyes to our core problems and hardships of our people, but rather smart in hanging our problems on others, distortion and confusion of the public opinion.

* Watts Roba Gibia Nyirigwa is based in Cairo – Egypt.
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