My road from the bush to parliament – SPLM woman

By Jemma Kumba

Aug 28, 2006 (WASHINGTON) — In addition to the ongoing crisis in Darfur, Sudan suffered through a 21-year civil war. Jemma Kumba is a former fighter and now a member of Sudan’s Parliament of National Unity, where she serves as the chairperson of the Permanent Committee for Economic Affairs. She describes why she joined the fight — and why women’s experiences during the war make them good leaders in peacetime.

I wanted to be with my husband because I wanted to be part of the process that would bring change to Sudan.

I wanted to be part of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), because it was perceived as an agent of change that would bring democracy, justice and equality for all. In order to achieve that objective — and to make sure that women are part of that process — I went to the bush.

I came through Kenya and I had the opportunity to come to the United States and stay there. I also had the opportunity to stay in Nairobi as a refugee.

I looked at myself and looked at what I wanted. I realized that the bush was where my contributions were needed to bring change — and for my children to live in freedom and live in a situation where justice will prevail.

Difficult conditions in the bush

I lived in the bush in very difficult conditions. It is a situation where you don’t have any electricity, no water, no potable water, no good food and no health services. But living like that was part of my sacrifice to bring change to Sudan.

Thus, I experienced a situation where my children were hungry and I could not provide for them. A child can get sick — and you want to die because there is no service. Women are maimed by land mines, because they are the ones to go out and get firewood. Even small children are affected by bombs, by land mines and various other dangers.

An effective parliamentarian

Because of this experience, I became a peace ambassador, and because of this experience, I am member of Sudan’s parliament today.

My experience in the bush will make me an effective parliamentarian. My entire focus is on making sure that laws and policies that are being developed will ensure democracy, justice, equality and economic and social justice for all. We also want to ensure that our policies will enhance the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement.

I also believe that during the war, Sudan’s women were able to manage their communities in extremely difficult socio-economic conditions. They managed to sustain their families — while their husbands were on the war front.

Women participating in government

If women in a war situation can sustain their families and households, and if they are able to sustain their communities in the absence of a proper government structure and proper social economic policies, imagine what they can do in the context of an established government.

All of these experiences are why I want to see women participating in government. And that’s why the world should want women’s voices to be heard loud and clear, with a full share at the table, in everything that’s happening in Sudan and beyond.

Adapted from Jemma Kumba’s remarks at the Initiative for Inclusive Security Policy Forum Luncheon in Washington, DC, January 20, 2006.

(The Globalist)