US consulate in the South, a positive development
By Peter Lokarlo Marsu*
Nov 13, 2005 — The news of setting up of the American consulate in Juba – South Sudan is a monumental, exhilarating and a positive political investment in the light of the current, turbulent settings in that country. All South Sudanese should appreciate and welcome this bold gesture of goodwill adopted by the State Department in Washington in setting up a second diplomatic representation in the country.
The consulate among other issues is well positioned to act as a watchdog and to monitor the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in its entirety from a closer proximity in the first place, as Washington helped brokered this important agreement, and also to discourage the ruling National Congress Party from its inclination and strong urge of undermining the CPA. This sends a clear signal to Khartoum and its staunch backers elsewhere that it does not at all pay to defy this important document written in blood of Southern Sudanese and other marginalized people in that country.
The presence of this consulate would maintain a pivotal position in promoting massive economic development in a region long excluded from development by deliberate choice. We would certainly expect the Americans to have a centre-stage role in the oil industry in South Sudan.
Time is also ripe for the government of South Sudan to assert its prerogative and critically examine and develop its foreign connections and officially invite a country like the Republic of South Africa to take up the example already set by Uganda, Kenya and now the USA. We would derive huge benefits by having South Africa on board.
In less than six years we would be readying ourselves for the historic referendum, it would be worthwhile having not only the international supervisors on the ground but also importantly permanent diplomatic representation in the form of consulates that would give additional testimony to the result of the scheduled referendum.
*Peter Lokarlo Marsu, a Sudanese resident in Australia.
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