The Political Showdown In Sudan

By Lero Odola

October 22, 2007 — Sudan is the largest Country in Africa with so many problems that its size could not contain. Sudan already underwent two bitter long Civil Wars since its independence from Great Brittan on January first, 1956. Northern elites have been ruling Sudan ever since with iron fist that caused the Southern Sudanese massive loses of lives and properties. That was and is still a brutal system. The results of such bad system destroyed all Southern Sudan cities, towns, villages, and streets. They were the war theater. Thereafter the oil was looted and still being looted even under the so-called 50-50 wealth sharing.

Marginalization of Southern Sudan is not new. It has been the policy beginning from the British rule. Hence, there is no comparison between South and North in terms of development in all sectors of development of infrastructure and human resources. What are observable and hard to believe exist in Southern Sudan till today such as lack of general public basic services. For example, the absence of proper healthcare services, running water, sanitation and educational systems. The bad practices are still imposed today in the form of not implementing the CPA to the letter and spirit. It is not surprising that the GoSS lead by the SPLM took action to show the NCP that there is no such easy path to ruin the CPA. The CPA is not Bashir’s property. It came because the SPLA/M showed logical principles to save the masses of Sudan to follow the path of struggle to freedom. The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement has the responsibility and authority to safeguard the CPA. The Arabs must not pretend that they will not lose if the CPA derails. It is to their good if they implement it to avoid separation if they want to stay happily in the Sudan.

If this is a political showdown the Arab diehards must be careful. The Southern Sudan is not what they have known all their lives. The SPLA/M is different and more elite this time around. At this time of standoff the SPLM is firm and confident. The masses of Southern Sudan, the West and the East are behind it. Marginalized Northern Sudanese are behind it and all their related parties. The protest must continue until all key elements of the CPA are delivered to bear dividends. The SPLM has not wished for war. Let the Bashir begin it if he does not want to continue as president for some time. The results and impacts of his own actions will go against him and his cliques.

Current political showdown is not a new phenomenon for those who have been watching the Sudan politics with keen interest. It is an expected occurrence. Since the founder of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement died in mysterious circumstances, called helicopter crash, on July 30th 2005, Bashir began playing rough cards thinking of taking advantage of the new leadership. He didn’t realize that H.E Mayardit is a veteran of two Sudan’s Civil Wars. Bashir’s hallucination to spoil the CPA is a failing exercise. The CPA is alive today because of the SPLM leadership, patience and devotion.

The cause of the death of the former rebel leader turned politician remains controversial with the ghost giving nightmares to certain quarters. Some political analysts have wrongly predicted that the death of Dr. Garang was the end of fifty years of Southern Sudan struggle for justice, equality, democracy, and freedom. The analysts forgot to realize that there are more than a million strong Garangs today in the South carrying out the vision of the new Sudan across the whole Sudan, not only in Upper Nile, Bahr El Ghazal or Equatoria. Garang’s vision is in every corner, in the valleys of Abei, on top of the Nuba Mountains, on top of Angassna Mountains in Blue Nile, in the waters of the Nile and the air. Countless support for withdrawal from the GoNU is mounting. You cannot hide from it.

The reshuffle of ministers and advisors has never been the top priority nor is it an important key element of the demands. The Notational Congress Party is trying desperately to play the old game where they used to offer positions to greedy Southerners to persuade them to kill their brothers. The author believes this will never be the case this time around. The National Congress Party’s attitude reflects the so -called ‘Arabs of Sudan unwillingness’ to comply or conform to international treaties. They have been doing such horrible things for decades behind the scene and in the open. They are addictive to violating and dishonoring agreements. This behavior caused the Southerners to form the SPLA/M which became the medicine for their addiction. Is that not enough? What else does the NCP want to prove?

I want to talk to the vultures and hawks of the Southern Sudan whether individuals or fake parties. All the people of the New Sudan heard your voices in the form of writing and press releases. Do not think that the SPLM will disappear for you to take advantage. You have stayed in the middle for a long time wishing for some miracle to occur to derail the CPA. Sorry. It has not come and will not come in the may you wish. If it does it will be in form of Southern Sudan automatic independence, which is not good for you. That time you have no place anywhere because the Arabs will discharge you. Your way to South will be a big adventure to attempt because the clock has stopped against you. If you do not fall into the cracks you are lucky. The day is near when the Arabs will have no use for you. You can dance against your own people now while the Arab parties and people are mobilizing behind the NCP. This would have been the time for all Southerners, parties or individuals to gather momentum, show solidarity and look Bashir in the eye as the SPLM leads us in this crisis. Will your party liberate Southern Sudan? You cannot claim you support the CPA while hating the SPLM that brought it to you in the first place. If you have been paid to make noise, this is not the right time for you. The opportunity is not there for you. If you cannot put differences behind at this time then you are ready for your doom. It is the NCP that will finish you up at the end of the day.

Going back, the SPLM and GoSS leadership must rest assured that all marginalized people are ready behind you. The action you took is timely and appropriate. The NCP has taken things for granted for a long time. Keep the pressure. The Arab regimes work better under pressure. We have seen them do it many times. The NCP is sure of defeat at elections any time. Their present game with the CPA is a trial and error one. They want to buy time against the census and forthcoming elections. All their talks about millions of money lost in the South are ploys to demoralize the Southerners. All the discussions about slow development are ploys to demoralize the Southern administration. We are beginning from scratch. The Arabs regimes did not destroy the Southern infrastructure in one day or year. Similarly, the infrastructure cannot be erected in a short time of three years with all the sabotage behind it all.

Let us keep it up. The hard ball is in their court. Kick it back harder if they fail to do the right thing. This political showdown must be considered the remedy to cure Sudan political diseases.

Lero Odola is Southern Sudanese activist residing in the US; he can be reached at [email protected].