Are there actually no marginalized areas in Sudan?
By Watts Roba Gibia Nyirigwa*
Dec 6, 2005 — If anyone visits or watches on television screen the areas in northern, eastern, western and southern Sudan and compared to the central or three sister capitals Khartoum north, Omdurman and Khartoum, there is great difference and no comparison, and it is a clear indication of disparity in economic and social development in Sudan. It demonstrates with no doubt the ignorance of the central government towards those areas, and the imbalance in the development and resource allocation. During the Nemiri rule, a sugar factory was built in the heart of northern desert without proper planning, and later was abandoned due to the luck of supply and availability of the raw materials in the area, as well as the non-availability of the manpower, water and electric supply. This is the typical indication of government’s fund mishandle and bias in allocating the projects without an adequate studies.
In his speech at the starting of the harvest festival in Gedaref Saturday, December 3, 2005, President al-Bashir questioned the integrity of the people who are calling some parts of Sudan as marginalized! He said that we do not have marginalized areas in Sudan, and he pointed out that the far the area becomes, the more the concern and interest of the government becomes! But if you look at the faces of the people al-Bashir was addressing, you can see the misery and dissatisfaction of the people to the duties of government towards them. They have no say and quite contented with their destiny and the little services extended to them, and were used to the empty and vocal promises from their leaders and politicians. The illiteracy and poverty of Sudanese people is being exploited to the maximum by the politicians and leaders, and also under the cover of religion. The citizens themselves were ignorant about the duties of the government towards them, and the vice versa. As it is the duty and responsibility of the government to care about its people, provide basic services and suitable living conditions to its citizens, but not to ignore the large portion of its people living in absolute poverty, and yet continuous to build and modernize its military capabilities to committing atrocities against its own civilians instead of defending them! When we say Sudan, we are not referring to the three sister towns, Khartoum north or Omdurman or Khartoum but the country Sudan. Thus, we should not be myopias and bias, but should be patriotic and have a genuine vision in equitably development and resource assignment to the entire advance of our country. As stated by Garang that, we have to bring the towns to our people instead of people coming to the towns.
If traveling by train from Khartoum to Wadi Halfa, you can witness the actual living status and agony of the people in the area and at the railway stations. And this scene is seen in various marginalized areas in the entire country. Hence, one is wondering, why we are always denying the facts and reality, as we have to confess that the overall majority of Sudanese people are marginalized. And unless we accept this painful reality, we would not be in position to address our problems, as to solve the problem, we have to first diagnose and identify the real cause of the problem, to find a suitable solution and medication. If we look at the reasons of war and conflicts in south, west and east, they are all identical and if not with little variation but with one major reason, which is marginalization, inequality and discrimination, imbalance in development and resource allocation and ignorance of those areas by persistent Khartoum governments.
I really wonder, as whether the real problem of Sudan is color, peoples of Sudan are all blacks, or the problem is between the dark and light skinned people, as just in Egypt, both dark and light skinned are termed samara or blacks. Then, what is the cause of Sudan’s problem, is it religious problem, as it had taken a shape in the two decades war in south Sudan, which led to the mobilization of Jihad and Moghahideen against Southerners? Or the cause of Sudan’s problem is between non-Arab and Arab descendents, as it has taken a form in the Darfur conflict, bearing in mind that Darfurians are Muslims! Thus, the conflict in Darfur is being widely perceived as between African and Arab tribes. And that was evident in the various reports filed by the UN and interviews contacted with victims of rape and the words articulated by the backed government militias Janjaweed that, you blacks and slaves, we will get rid of you all from Sudan!
The marginalization in Sudan is not only confined in parts or areas of Sudan, but it is also evident in various key positions in the government institutions. As it was apparent during the past sixteen years, national congress party and national Islamic front managed to built and consolidate its position and power based on its own ideology and followers, by implementing its policies by marginalizing and removing its opponents or everyone who does not belong to NCP/NIF. And that was obvious to date in their unbowed ruling circle, and running of key economic sectors and institutions such as army, military intelligence and security organs in the country. Yet after signing comprehensive peace agreement, the national congress party continuous with its policy of marginalization in various institutions, even to its peace partner. The new planned oil refinery was also allocated in north south of Khartoum! This is a clear strategy and mentality of marginalizing and distancing Southerners from taking part in this critical oil sector, by not building any oil refineries in south despite the fact that the three large fields as well as the overwhelming oil reserves lie in south! Believe me, make no mistake that NCP government in Khartoum is an expert at playing the games, knows very well at which point has to be flexible and adamant, but will never duck, and will continue to implement and execute its philosophy and policies of deprivation and marginalization of Southerners regardless of CPA.
From all these unfolding events, it is apparent that the real problem facing Sudan is the marginalization in its various forms, inequality and discrimination, imbalance in development and resource assignment, whether being in west, east or south is the genuine struggling course of the marginalized people. Thus, the real peace will never prosper in every corner of Sudan unless if there is transparent and good democratically governance, respect of human value, equitably distribution of resources and redress of economic and social development imbalances and transformation of Sudanese attitudes and mentality.
* Watts Roba Gibia Nyirigwa a Sudanese based in
Cairo – Egypt. E-mail: [email protected]