Political vacuum of the Sudanese democratic forces
Editorial, The Sudan Tribune
August 30, 2006 — Since the inception of the government of the National Unity there was a question over the capacity of the Islamist ruling National Congress Party to move the country towards the democratic transition of the political institutions of the Republic of Sudan. According to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the participation of the all Sudanese political parties in the National unity government should lead and facilitate this transition.
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement was part of a large coalition of the democratic forces in the country: the National Democratic Alliance. The late John Garang de Mabior was very keen to assure the participation of his partners in this government to that end. With his death the project of the democratic transition is dead also. The SPLM is now busy with its proper divisions. And his current chairman is more occupied by his political leadership among southerners than any thing.
Worse than that, the NCP was more than happy with the death of the great Sudanese hero John Garang. Because he was the hero for every oppressed Sudanese not only as regretfully some people try to present him as a representative of one region. His national dimension was felt by northerners who murmured after his death “Garang death is a considerable loos for us, because he was the sole able to deliver us from this tyrannical regime”.
Now it is quit clear that the National agenda of the current SPLM leadership is dead; it is crystal clear that the so called democratic forces after 16 year of opposition are very weakened and divided. The emergence of the Sudanese Tribune, as a purely claiming movement reflects this political crisis.
With the Darfur crisis, the political future of the country is very opaque. To some extend, one can say that the NCP is the sole beneficiary from this crisis because its permanence would even allow this regime to halt the hazardous implementation of the CPA.
If the southerners console them selves by saying they are waiting for 2011 referendum, what is the reason that retains some NDA ministers and notables to stay in this government. This regime again is leading the Sudan to a now confrontation with the international community over Darfur crisis in the same time Darfur people are questioning them selves why our compatriots in the rest of the country see this regime committing all these atrocities against us and they are doing nothing, “they become accomplice of his regime in his crime”. This resentment reminds what southerners feel now and why may seek separation.
It is high time for the Sudanese people to do something any thing but not to stay in this political vacuum.