Foundation Statement – Nuba Mountains Democratic Forum For Justice and Equality
FOUNDATION STATEMENT
It is now almost half a century since Sudan gained its independence in 1956; however, all the national governments that came to power during this time have completely failed to bring justice, stability, peace and development to the Nuba Mountains region. These governments have also failed to find tangible solutions to the country’s most chronic problems instead they played a major role in destroying the infrastructures the country’s economy and forced many Sudanese to leave the country, among them highly qualified individuals which the country needs. In addition all these governments have engaged the Sudanese people in continuous civil wars that have created nothing except destruction of the country, division among communities and political instability, since independence up to the present day.
The successive governments which have ruled the country, including the present regime in power in Khartoum, have all embarked on a deliberate policy of ‘divide and rule’ between the Sudanese people. They have also created racial prejudices and religious intolerance in a diverse country – not to mention the deliberate policies of political and economic marginalization of certain indigenous groups in Sudan. When the situation reached boiling point and became intolerable the people of these regions resorted to arm struggle, defending their collective and legitimate rights. Among these groups are the people of the Nuba Mountains, who have been economically and politically marginalized as well as discriminated against on religious and cultural grounds. The Nuba have had no option except to take up arms and sacrifice themselves to achieve their full rights as true indigenous people in a diverse country dominated politically and economically by a small number of elites. The people of the Nuba Mountains are still committed to the struggle to regain their fundamental rights and to restore their dignity. The struggle in the Nuba Mountains took different, legitimate, approaches, including lobbying and advocacy campaigning regionally and internationally for the plight of the people in the Nuba Mountains region, which resulted in the international community’s eventual recognition of the Nuba cause.
Despite all the efforts exerted by the Nuba people and the considerable sacrifice made by them on behalf of their cause, the issues that concern them have not been addressed properly by Naivasha Peace Agreement, signed by the Sudan Government and the SPLA/SPLM. The Naivasha Peace Accord has failed to address the most important issues paramount to the Nuba Mountains cause and many issues were left unresolved. The Agreement reached in Naivasha on power-sharing for the Nuba Mountains gave the SPLM 45% and the Government 55% of regional power, which means the two Parties have given themselves the right to divide the region between them without consulting or taking into account the views of the people of the Nuba Mountains. This is dangerous precedent that could lead to the Nuba Mountains region being divided between a Northern and Southern state, particularly if the people of the South chose to opt for separation at a referendum. In conclusion, the Naivasha Agreement had totally marginalized the Nuba Mountains. We believe that the coming interim period will be a difficult and a treacherous one which will require the people of the Nuba Mountains to be united in face of challenges ahead. They need to come together to stand firm against any policy designed to marginalize, or weaken or divide the Nuba Mountains region.
For the sake of maintaining our ancestral lands, our collective rights and the right to protect our diverse cultural heritage from being destroyed by the central government’s policies, we have decided to establish the Nuba Mountains Democratic Forum (NMDF). This is a further initiative in the series continual struggle of the people of the Nuba Mountains to achieve their basic rights in Sudan. NMDF is a political body for the people of the Nuba Mountains of different political shades, ethnicity, and religion, social and cultural background. The Forum’s prime aim is to unite and bring together the people of the Nuba Mountains to stand behind their cause. NMDF aims to bring together the views of the people of the Nuba Mountains to achieve democracy, social justice and equality between the people in the region. The Forum will also work to regain the basic rights taken away from the people, including the historical name “Nuba Mountains”, which represent the history and heritage of the region.
This Forum is established on clear and solid aims and one of these aims is that the Forum will be a platform where people can debate and articulate their political issues. And most importantly to bring people in the region together, particularly during the present time when people in the region are so disunited due to the regionally divisive policy of central government.
The Forum will be a non-partisan platform to promote open and democratic political debate within and among all the peoples of the Nuba Mountains; a platform where the people of the Nuba Mountains can start to define a common agenda and build a shared vision for a better future.
Nuba Mountains Democratic Forum is a political organization. It is open to all citizens of the Nuba Mountains regardless of their ethnicity, religion or political affiliation, who are committed and concerned about the future of the region. And who also believe in the principles expressed in the Manifesto, which is geared to unite the people of the Nuba Mountains and work for the promotion and the prosperity of the region and its people. NMDF will work in collaboration with organizations and bodies of the other marginalized areas which have similar aims, to achieve democracy, justice and equality in the Sudan.
Long live the struggle of the people of Nuba Mountains and long live the struggle of the Sudanese people for freedom, justice, democracy and peace.
Signed by:
– 1. Suleiman Musa Rahhal – (United Kingdom)
– 2. Musa Ghandeil Ali Kuku -(United Kingdom)
– 3. Ahmed Zeiber Rahhal – (United Kingdom)
– 4. Moawyia Habib Aldaw -United Kingdom)
– 5. Ishraga Abdel-Allah Jumla- (United Kingdom)
– 6. Amir Yousif -(United Jingdom)
– 7. Hassan Ali Sharief -(Canada)
– 8. Nour Tawer Kafi A/Rass -(Canada)
– 9. Shaker El-Amin -(Canada)
– 10. Kuku Jagdoul – (USA)
– 11. Salih Yousif Kaki -(Holland)
– 12. Amal Samoura Jumain -(Holland)
– 13. Mohammed Hussein -(Holland)
– 14. Amna Hassan Naji -(Holland)
– 15. Awad Hagar Sukkar -(Holland)
– 16.Monir Abdel-Allah -(Holland)
– 17. Guma Kabashi -(Holland)
– 18. Abdel-Aziz Diga -(Switzerland)
– 19. Mustafa Kins -(Switzerland)
– 20. Sa’adia Ahmed Ismail -(Switzerland)
– 21. Meirghani Kamil Somit -(Switzerland
– 22. Sabir Baser -(Switzerland)
– 23. Abdel Rahman Anjlo -(Germany)
– 24. Khalid Idris Kuku -(Germany)
– 25 Philip Kuwa -(Germany)