Do not distort South Sudanese long Struggle for Independence

By Roba Gibia

January 2, 2011 – South Sudan’s struggle for liberty and independence doesn’t start today but prior to Sudan’s independence. And that was evident in Juba Round Table Conference in 1947 when South Sudanese were calling for an independent South, but unfortunately they were forced into unity with Arab north by British colonial rule and after independence of Sudan in 1956, Southerners are left under the new domination and colonial rule of the so called Arabs in north. Thus, South Sudanese people have been fighting for independence more than half century, and have sacrificed more than five million lives for the course of liberty. The reasons for South Sudanese long struggle is known to the entire world except Arab and Islamic countries tend to deform the real causes of South Sudan’s struggle, by terming it as western conspiracy to divide Sudan.

Therefore, as the world is currently focusing on the historic South Sudan’s referendum, there are some malicious Egyptian writers with neo-imperialistic mentality, are still trying to deform and downplay the just course of South Sudanese long struggle for independence! Like Egyptian writer Hesham Abdo Al-Rauf, who wrote an article on Saturday, January 1, 2011 in AL MESSA, WEEKLY ISSUE NO, 19604 titled “Fate of Eastern Timor Awaits South Sudan” – Hesham Abdo Al-Rauf went on intentionally faulting Salva Kiir Mayardit, as separatist since his first days as Chairman of SPLM/A and his support for separation became unveiled when he warned recently Southerners that they will become second class citizens in united Sudan. The writer continued with its false accusation that there are confessions about SPLM’s relationship with Israel, and you can not dismiss establishment of diplomatic ties with the emerging country of South and Israel. According to the writer, this statement from SPLM has caused lots of discomfort among Arab countries, despite the fact that it was not first time for SPLM/A to come up with such statements. It seems the writer has got no backgrounds of south-north conflicts or deliberately trying to support Khartoum on Islamic and Arab grounds, and wanted black South Sudanese Africans to remain under domination and mercy of Arabs to be Islamized, Arabized, enslaved and above all looting of South’s resources. I think I have to remind writer here that Egypt is having diplomatic relationships with Israel because of its national interest, then why not emerging country of South Sudan! The entire world is having diplomatic relationships with Israel except some Arab and Islamic countries! Then what is South’s problem with Israel, Southerners are not Arabs but are black Africans and have got no enmity with Israel. Then, why denying South Sudan’s rights not to establish diplomatic ties with Israel?

Hence, I would like to plead wise and great thinker writer to have a good look at the South Sudanese photos which he published at the top of its article and written under it “People of South Sudan are supporting separation!”, and visualize as whether they are Arabs or black Africans? Let writer know that, nor him or anyone in this globe will enforce or impose its will on South Sudanese people, because any country in this world is pursuing its national interest only, which is geo-strategy and geo-politics.

The writer stressed that at the end the division of Sudan is a conspiracy from western countries, and went on without shame but myopically writing that it is not Garang or Salva Kiir or many others but are apparatus, just like some Muslims who joined and accepted to hold high ranking symbolic positions in SPLM/A to cover their radical, ugly and hideous face. The maliciousness and detestation of writer and racial discrimination against people of South Sudan has blinded him from seeing the truth of SPLM/A’s vision, which has been adopted by many learned Arab professors in Khartoum who are not myopic like writer but seeking best solution to Sudan’s conflicts, like the closest relative of Omar Hassan al-Bashir, Dr. Mohamed Yousif Ahmed Al-Mustafa when he said “Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM) vision is the only guarantor of Sudan remaining together as one country otherwise certainly we are going to lose Sudan. It is not only South that will go, but Darfur, the Beja area and the far north. Then at the center we will fight as clans. The SPLM’s vision is more relevant to the north than to the south. If they (Southerners) break away, their chances for holding together are higher than ours in the center. The center is the source of oppression, even if the SPLM drops that vision, I will still hold onto it because it is pertinent to my existence”. Not that only but Nafei Ali Nafei said that if South Sudanese are going to vote for the unity of Sudan based on SPLM’s vision, it is better for them to vote for separation! Then, who is dividing Sudan, Arab and Islamic conspiracy or western countries? Why always Arabs and Muslims wanted to consider western countries as their hanger to hang on their iniquity doing and problems? The minority of the so called Arabs and Muslim fundamentalists in Khartoum has hijacked Sudan into an Arab and Islamic country, while majority of Sudanese black Africans are termed minority in Sudan! So, the black South Sudanese people wanted to secede from the north Arab to preserve their African identity instead of imposing Arabism and Islam on them. Thus, at this juncture, I beg writer Hesham to read Al-Ahram newspaper of Friday, December 24, 2010 in which Osama Saraya, Editor in chief of Al-Ahram newspaper blamed Khartoum for the country’s likely break up. Besides that UAE-based Al-Bayan newspaper quoted Libyan official saying that “Our brothers in Khartoum have a responsibility to bear which is Sharia law, fighting and declaration of Jihad on the south”. These are the high knowledgeable and learned people who are not considering matters on emotional and bias bases but on realities, and are not insulting and selfish like most erudite writer Hesham.

In distorting South Sudan’s image, the shrewd writer on Sudan affairs Hesham Abdo Al-Rauf went on stressing that Southerners believe that as soon as they secede from north, the comfort or development in all areas will start falling on them from all directions, despite the fact that South has never seen any kind of development since signing peace agreement in 2005. Writer Hesham wrote that the South’s oil share goes into individual GoSS officials’ accounts abroad and equipment of SPLA forces. He went on writing that South Sudanese people will finally find themselves like people of Eastern Timor, as after eight years of separation from Indonesia people are still living in deep poverty. He concluded his article by writing that Salva Kiir has to find a solution for the war between SPLA, George Athor and David in Jonglei. While he has forgotten that most of Egyptians are still living below poverty line, clean your house before you could talk about others houses. Do not forget that freedom cannot be granted, and if you do not have freedom you have no value and dignity but you are bond to write to please your government and mislead millions of people about the reality.

In conclusion, it seems writer Hesham has never been to Juba after signing peace agreement in 2005 but depending on leftover news to gather its information about South Sudan. Marginalization and lack of development in South was one of the reasons that led south to wage war against Khartoum, because south’s resources are being exploited to develop north. The oil share writer is taking about is from south but not run by Southerners but by the brothers of Dr. Hesham Abdo Al-Rauf and only 25% is given to south! South Sudan started from scratch but what it has done since 2005 to this date, has never been done by Khartoum in south since Sudan’s independence in 1956! Then what is your argument Dr. Hesham, leave South Sudanese people alone and mind your own business because you have got no credible knowledge as why Sudan has been in war with itself for more than half century? Thus, I would like to make it clear to writer Hesham that South Sudanese people first
want to deliver themselves from servitude and oppression of the so called Arabs in north, and be a free nation because all the chaos and tribal conflicts in south is being ignited by Khartoum and people like you. Second, Southerners know that South Sudan as an emerging country has got lots of challenges but with resolve and steadfastness, they will overcome it. It is only egocentric people like you and your partners in Khartoum who do not wish betterment and liberty to the others. And that is evident, as at this juncture all the parcels and goods that are being shipped by passenger planes directly from Cairo on transit to Juba is been detained at Khartoum airport customs, and the receiver of parcel or goods has to be phoned in Juba to fly to Khartoum to pay custom duties and clearance charges, while neglecting Juba airport customs, and then the parcel or goods re-shipped from Khartoum to Juba with another charges to its final destination to Juba, which has to be re-charged at Juba airport customs! Is this logic? This is not happening in any country in this world but only in Sudan! Thus, I wonder as why all this inhumane mistreatment to Southerners, and why the so called Arabs in north is doing this to black African South Sudanese people in South! Is it because of covetousness or deprivation or South Sudanese people are not worth to be treated as human beings? Is it western countries, America and Israel conspiracy, I personally do not have any genuine answer, but I leave it to the honorable readers to try to have their view and insight about such satanic behavior.

Roba Gibia is a Sudan Tribune opinion writer, he can be reached at: [email protected]