Wunjubacel is Southern Sudan’s name in waiting
By Alier Ayom
January 21, 2011 — Since the tipping point of voting has assured separation of South Sudan from the North Sudan, it is in place that we should now toy with possible names to provide suitable pick before promulgation of the country come 09/07/11.
Given argument of Steven Wundu that proposed Nile as a new name for country of present South Sudan (The Citizen, 15/01/11) and less expanded name of South Sudan for the country as suggested by Dr James Okuk (The Citizen, 18/01/11), I would like to chip in in the debate.
Our country should be named Wunjubacel, an acronym drawn from the first letters of names of the ten South Sudan States plus Abyei, Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile to reflect shared participation. The name also implies that the Southern Sudan is father to capitals of Juba and the proposed Ramcel. Wunjubacel will provide lessons learnt: that periphery can reorganise to stand up for its rights if the centre trends sustainable marginalisation. Wunjubacel is an achievement of Southern Sudanese and marginalised groupings through armed and political struggle since 1858 and until its logical conclusion on 09/01/11.
Anyway, whether the country is called Nile, South Sudan, Cush, or Wunjubacel, the international community will hold the world’s 193rd country innocent unless it commits crimes of its own. This is a fact. Let us not create relative position for the country lest it strengthen the resolve of camouflaged unionists to work for future reunion of South and North Sudan. That is unacceptable for now and in future. We must avoid comparing separation of South from North Sudan to that of South from North Korea, East from West Germany or Northern Ireland from Ireland. Sudan is microcosm of the then Soviet Union, and is bound to disintegrate if its centre does not make conditions right. Whereas the separation experienced in Korea, Germany or Ireland was strategically external, the case of Sudan was fundamentally home-grown and finally ended democratically. The vote for separation clears any hangover to re-unite. If North Sudan has learnt the hard way to resist further disintegration it may remain like South Africa where you cannot get another country called North Africa or it may rename itself Sudan like what India did when Pakistan and Bangladesh broke away.
Moreover, none of us wants to be subjected to organised marginalisation or reminded of second class citizenship or “aboudiya”. Such policy and offensive terms have gone with the wind since 09/01/11 and will not be heard of in Wunjubacel shine or rain. It will be miscarriage of self-determination if we call the country South Sudan which may have connotation of possible re-union with North Sudan. North Sudan needs South Sudan not vice versa; it rejected the South on its own terms. There is no going back! Who is there not to wallow in new found dignity? We shall neither miss Sudan nor become darker/light skin if the country is given a name other than South Sudan, Nile or Cush. Sudan has been a very shaky bridge between Africa and the Arab World and the separation of South from North Sudan was only way to overhaul it.
In a match relay, the final runners win the trophy. This is similar to protracted armed and political struggle that the fighting Sudan had been through since 1858 and so far. Wunjubacel is the trophy of martyrs and the living of the then fighting Sudan. It will be distinct, capture the imagination and cause all the participants to feel recognised and valued after achieving the creation of Africa’s 54th Country which also will be the World’s 193rd Nation.
The author is the former director of Southern Sudan Releif and Rehabilitation Commission (SSRRC) in Juba. He can be reached at [email protected]