Coming to America: Sudan’s Salva second visits to USA
By Kwathi Ajawin*
July 13, 2006 — As the countdown start for the second visit of Dr. Salva kiir Mayardit, great expectation is building up in the Sudanese community in USA. In spite of the mounting excitement some activists welcome the visit with mixed feelings, as there are tittle-tattle on the color of the hat Dr. Salva will be wearing when he gets to Washington!
For the concerned activists the hat’s color determines what is in the basket and who is on the delegation. Off course all activists have their own preference between coming as the Sudanese First Vice-President, coming as the President of the Government of South Sudan, or both as First Vice-President and the President of the Government of South Sudan. The rhetoric and the focus on the color of the hat is coming up for the second time as Dr. Salva visit Washington, DC.
In the November visit the SPLM office turned down the Sudan Embassy offer to shoulder delegation’s cost of accommodation and transportation, instead chose to exploit US money that could have been for other projects like strengthening and building the capacity of the party chapters in America. It is vivid that something is rotten in Washington.
SPLM, according to a press release attributed to the party Representative in Washington Mr. Ezekiel Gatkouth has the below description of both the hat’s color and the basket’s contents.
Implementation of the CPA
“Salva Kiir will discuss with Bush and US officials, the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in Nairobi, Kenya on January9, 2005 by the former rebel SPLM and the Sudanese government.”
In November visit there was very little to be assessed, but know as a year had elapsed there are a lot to be evaluated to see whether the peace process is going on schedule and what is slowing the implementation as many seems to be dissatisfied with the process. Some will want Dr. Salva to sound like someone complaining to a big brother or big mama. But that should not be the scenario as Dr. Salva is engaging the US administration as equals. Dr. Salva is engaging US Administration, as a major player in CPA and that should not be misinterpreted as a move to score some political victory over any other party. Moreover, Dr. Salva patriotism is unquestionable.
Reconstruction efforts in Southern Sudan
“One of priorities of the second trip of the Sudanese First Vice-President and President of the government of Southern Sudan will be the reconstruction efforts in Southern Sudan and how the US Administration can contribute in this enterprise while economic sanctions are still imposed on Sudan.”
According to the above utterance, we see that Dr. Salva is coming to Washington as both the Sudanese First Vice-President and the President of the Government of South Sudan. With that hat on, Dr. Salva will discuss many issues, with the focus on the reconstruction efforts in Southern Sudan and what will be the US Administration contribution in that while economic sanctions are still imposed on Sudan. The phrase (while economics sanctions are still imposed on Sudan) is well crafted and it assures those who are worried about the color of Salva’s hat that there is no discussion on lifting the sanctions rather the approach will be how to work around the sanctions. How will the South survive and the snake are in the room may be the paraphrase. It is very clear that the sanctions will be discussed and an up or down concession might be reached, as there is no way to avoid such a vital issue if Dr. Salva wants to be recognize as a National leader.
Implementation of the DPA
“The two parties will also tackle Darfur peace agreement implementation, the UN force deployment in the region, and the current deterioration of the security situation in despite of the peace deal.”
On this thorny issue it is obvious that the statement suggest that Dr. Salva will be pro- UN forces deployment since the statement acknowledge that the security situation had deteriorated. Also the issue of the holdout Darfuris factions will be discussed, especially that Dr. Salva might meet them in Asmara before heading to Washington.
Regional Security and counter-terrorism efforts
According to the statement, “the question of regional security and counter-terrorism efforts will be debated during Salva Kiir visit.”
“The US Administration has showed concern over the southern Sudan brokered peace talks between Ugandan government and the LRA rebels. Salva Kiir has to persuade Washington to back fully his efforts in this regard. On Thursday 6 July, Washington opposed amnesty for LRA rebels accused of atrocities.”
It is plain from the statement that US Administration is not happy with the amnesty for the LRA and many parties have voiced the same concern. But, Juba mediation is to bring peace and security to the region as the LRA is no longer a threat to Uganda alone but to South Sudan and Congo as well. Here Dr. Salva should focus on the mediation and leave the amnesty for the Ugandans, and that will be a piece of cake as President Museveni has sent his Security minister to ICC to withdraw the Ugandan case against Kony.
Off course it is paramount to have peace with Kony before it is too late, for no one will have leverage on him as he moves to Garamba National Park to share the habitat with white Rhinos. The statement reflect that America is not happy with amnesty but not with peace, therefore they should put their weight behind the peace process and later consider whether to keep LRA on the T- list or not.
Under the counter-terrorism there will be a room to discuss whether Sudan name should be lifted from the list of the countries that harbor terrorists. Many will argue that Dr. Slava will not be sure about the NCP terrorist links. The Sudanese Security apparatus is still dominated by the NCP so there is no way to tell if their terrorist friends have evacuated the country. US will have to depend on its judgment on this issue, as the rejection of the UN forces by NCP was displayed in bizarre panorama that echo the Hamas militant parade.
The basket contents ranged from, implementation of the CPA and DPA, Reconstruction in Southern Sudan, Regional Security and counter-terrorism and Juba mediation.
Good diplomacy has it that Dr. Salva should come as both the First Vice-President and the President of the Government of South Sudan because that will give him a wider scope and a chance to represent all. After all, the media and the American Administration will engage him on many critical issues, regardless of the color of his hat; and as we know the shape of the table does not manipulate the agenda.
Knowing the nature of the invitation could have helped us understand whether or not a few have twisted the route for their own ego.
Dr. Kiir must fix his hat, hold tied his basket and sharpen his diplomatic skills, as many will not be satisfied with mediocre achievement. In the first visit the people wanted to see a leader that can unite the people this time they want to see a leader who can get things off the ground. If at all it has any effect the hat’s color only determined who is on the delegation and the role of the Sudan Embassy.
God help Dr. Salva as many chefs in the kitchen and many captains on board await him here. Surely, his mission is complicated, as many will gauge the results according to their preference.
* Kwathi Ajawin is a Sudanese activist and a church leader based in Washington, DC and can be reached at [email protected]