Have Southerners learnt eating Kisra or still drinking milk?

By Watts Roba Gibia Nyirigwa*

Feb 9, 2006 — During the Juba conference in 1947, Chairman Robertson said, if Sudan is ever really to become self-governing and self-dependent, it must not be divided up into small weak units. He said the belief is sincerely and held by Northern Sudanese, and they hope by including Southern Sudanese in the future assembly, the process of unification will be hastened. The Chairman said he was confident that Northern recommendations based on the very high motives, was not seeking opportunity to exploit Southerners. And went on to say that, it is only economic and educational development that Southerners can be equipped to stand up for them-selves in future. The conference discussed unity and unified education system, trade and setting up of Advisory Council in south with link to north, which would be the southern representatives in the northern assembly. But Southerners were reluctant, saying that they can send representatives to assembly just to sit and learn, because a baby had to drink milk before could eat “Kisra”, some said that they have to study in south until they were clever enough to go to north, and went on to say, you can’t send untrained recruits into battle until they know shooting! One of Northerners said why south shouldn’t take part at assembly just like other outlaying regions in north and spoke for their own people? Southerners based their arguments on the ground that Northerners had been through class one and were going to class two, but south had not been through class one yet, and it would be absurd to put them straight to class two. This gap between south and north was partly due to isolation of south, late start of education in south, and profound suspicion and mistrust between south and north, as Southerners were suspecting that Northerners wanted to dominate and exploit them while Northerners were suspicious that Southerners want to separate from north.

This deep rooted distrust and gap which was widened by more than two decades war between south and north still exist today, and until the later proves and narrows this gap by deeds, not words that they had undergone a change of heart, and work faithfully in absolute partnership with south, the gap will continue to broaden and prevalence of non-confidence and mistrust. The Southerners in forties had their own situation, but are the Southerners of today still drinking milk, and had not been through class one? I believe there have had been great change among most of Southerners if not all, and learnt eating Kisra. But do they eat Kisra like Northerners? This is the core of the issue, and as we had witnessed in the formation of the government of national unity, Northerners still believe that despite the fact that Southerners have learnt eating Kisra but not as they were eating! And that was apparent in the federal ministries headed by Southerners, as the ministry’s policy executioners, senior and junior officials were exclusively from north. The 28% recruitment share as set forth in peace deal from the SPLM and south have not yet been in force! Thus, you can imagine how hard the task of Minister and this concludes that the Minister is just emblematic, but who actually does the job is experienced Kisra eater.

To date Northerners believe that Southerners are inexperienced to handle institutional or national affairs, and this believe deepened by their suspicion that south stands for secession, and that south shouldn’t be given any opportunity of having knowledge in eating Kisra! And that was evidential on national congress reaction on the press conference of First Vice President of Sudan, President of South Sudan and Chairman of SPLM, when he spelled out the controversial issues, that the peace deal process extremely slow, have not received oil share, NC refuses to disclose produced quantity of oil per day to SPLM, geographical locations of oil fields, to reveal the real prices of oil and exact number of productive wells. He said I want to know the private prices of the oil of south and the border of the productive areas in south. Kiir went on to say that, whenever there is new discovery of oil well in south or they talk of oil, the border of the south dwindles from its normal demarcation of 1956! The Federal Finance Ministry swiftly alleged that south has already received its share of 702 million dollars and the balance 42 million dollars will be remitted to GOSS account once last month’s exports revenues are received. And uttered surprise on Kiir’s comments, and went on to say that southern government lacked capacity and experience in the field of accountancy, banking and monetary processes, and said as a result GOSS not able to draw up a budget for south and was depending on foreign expertise! This is deliberately style of diluting, devaluing significance and influence of Kiir’s press conference speech, and smartly throwing ball back to the GOSS playground. It is obvious that any money transaction and transfer should be detailed, and concerned ministry has to be notified upon transfer or unless transaction executed after Kiir’s press conference! As Vice President of South Sudan, Riek Machar declared in its interview with Khartoum Monitor on January 27, 2006 that “there are no doubts. So far, we have not received our oil share for the year 2005. Oil revenue stands at 500 million US dollars and perhaps more”. Here we have to hold our zeal for a while and have to have perception of the entire process, as whether truly the row over oil share was purely due to the GOSS incapacity and inexperience in the field of accountancy! And what that has to do with the real price of oil, exact production quantity per day, why NC still controlling oil production areas after peace agreement, why not to make the production and oil prices transparent to SPLM/GOSS and why kept in secrecy, and why border commission was not formed till this date! You can’t fault me falsely while you are ambiguous, bogus and your heart full of detestation and egoism. Make your book open to me and fault me if I failed to digest, but not by twisting hands and demonstration of muscles! Where was the reply and justification of national congress on extremely slowness in peace deal process, oil prices, exactly oil production quantity, Abyei rule and on the formation of border commission? Is it also due to the inability, if yes, whose incapability? I presume, as partners, there is equal accountability and obligation regardless who is smart and not, but both in one boat, and if the boat capsizes both sides would bear the fault or otherwise no need for partnership. Thus, there should be joint efforts and coordination to train and assist GOSS cadres in various fields without prejudice and envy if we truly love ourselves and country, and want equitably advance, genuine allocation of funds and overcome suspicion among Sudanese sons and daughters. Hence, equal opportunities and free expression of opinion shouldn’t be confined and barred, and same applies to criticism which we have to accept it with open hearts, but not whoever criticizes or voices his/her dissatisfaction and resentment, is against or incompetent! As through appropriate criticism we can see ourselves and rectify our behavior and move our country forward in a right direction. Salva Kiir with its cool and emotionless face, exhibits unique icon of Southerners which were not familiar to Northerners, as Southerners were always being described by their quick tempered form to any event. But Kiir with its military discipline and field experience, is always calm and shows no sign of disappointment or anger, but profoundly attentive to every issue. And when he outlined those controversial issues, is due to his concern and devotion to peace agreement and tranquility of the entire country, and that is the true ethics of leadership and not hypocrite one. But his speech was misinterpreted by some pro-national congress Northerners, and considered it as threat and ultimatum to national congress, and said that it should be taken seriously and not just a mere statement! And this is no odd because the truth is always painful and not easily accepted in third world countries.

Juba conference also discussed fears of Southerners, and said that if any law was proposed and south doesn’t agree upon, they have to reject it. But Southerners said that as minority at northern assembly, the law will be passed any way! One of Southerners voiced his reservation about the unity of Sudan, saying that he had not discussed the issue with his people. And said however, a girl who has been asked to marry a young man usually wants time to hear reports of that young man from other people before consenting. And went on to say that, the ancestors of the Northern Sudanese were not peace-loving and younger generation claims that they mean no harm, but time alone would tell that! Despite differing opinions among Southerners, at the end of the conference, the unification of Sudan was agreed and south Sudanese predictions and reservations become obvious. When President al-Bashir visited Juba on January 10, 2005 he tied a white cloth across him and held aloft white bird in his left hand symbolizing peace, and vowed to work for peace, but what was his heart holding? Peace-loving heart or approaching Southerners in Shepard’s gown while pinching south Sudan resources by his right hand! That was apparent in the row over the run of oil sector and its geographical locations. The fear of Southerners at Juba conference has become true, and the intentions of Northerners have become reality, they are not peace-loving people but exploiters with dominance concept and not equal opportunities.

* Watts Roba Gibia Nyirigwa is a Sudan Tribune columnist, he can be reached at [email protected]