Questions on SPLM interest in the Sudanese Presidency

By Isaiah Abraham

August 3, 2008 — As you may have heard, the Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) Political Bureau has resolved to go for the Sudanese Presidency and promised the Sudanese masses, political parties especially the National Congress Party to be prepared for a grueling battle for power ahead in the next year general elections. H.E. Lt. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit has been placed in the ring as the top party flag bearer per the SPLM Party Constitution to face it out with Sudan National Congress Party (NCP) Chairman H.E. Omar Hassan Ahmed El Bashir. Foot soldiers such as Hon. Pagan Amum, Hon. Yasir Saeed Arman and the company are beating their chests in confidence that this is going to be a sweep leap to power since the current head of State has a rope place on his neck by Lawyer Louis Moreno Ocampo of the International Criminal Court (ICC), over his handling of Darfur conflict.

They have made real their threat when the same men during Garang Memorial in Juba put a gauntlet and bravado to challenge other political parties to join them in the struggle to take over power in order for this party to “stop Antonov planes from bombing women and children, raping and pillaging/displacing of innocent Sudanese from their original homes”. Lofty idea and only wish them good luck there. But the candidate (Mr. Kiir) steered clear and offered instead to honor his colleague in the Service. Everyone was waiting to hear him say little about his campaign plans but he didn’t, though you could read whirl of ‘conspiracy’ on the air. I then applauded him for making the occasion memorable and devoid of controversies.

But is this plan easy said and done at the same time? I will answer this in inferences later. But granted, political parties exist for sole reason of taking over power and hence it’s in place for any political organization to pursue that course regardless of where they come from or who are behind them. SPLM has every right to go for anything in this land; you call it pluralism and democratic right, fine. Sudan as a country in fact needs an over haul in its deep political ‘architecture’ and every political party that came to power since independence only squelch in the murky waters of political direction that has always been about identity, religion and sectarian competition. Mr. Amum and his team are excused for any move. The problem however is whether they should have put their house in order and concentrate on what is popularly needed.

It has been stated hundreds times that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) is just a process until it becomes of a necessity to come together again as a country as one. That is then its natural to talk about an overhaul. That means, the interim period calls for reorganization and confidence building; the two important components for viable governance. We are just mid way and almost to start another journey next year; but looking at the past as to whether we are organized and indeed trusting each other for coexistence, the answer is in the negative. We aren’t organized or prepared enough to take power or trusting each other with our brothers in the North. We are far from reaching there. So, what do we do?

The process of change did start in Naivasha and right there in the Interim Constitution of the Sudan. We have for the first time opened up specific positions to others when this was nearly impossible for any Southerner or the like to get in there. That change will take a bit of time and efforts and therefore curious to read theories other than actual practicalities from Mr. Amum interest in the Sudanese Presidency at this point.

Let’s head straight to the argument. The whistle has been blown about taking over power using the marginalized people, how sure are they that this time round the said victims (marginalized people) shall heed the call and come in large numbers to vote in SPLM party and the leader? Remember this is not the first time for this call to be made, right? From Anyanya One through Deng Nhial senior and again from 1983 from Garang even today this call never cease from being heralded and as usual the callers receive subdued response and in other case an outright rejection.

Do we need examples to prove this piece of argument? Certainly not; we have heard the partnership but is it base on what? If that is the situation what makes Mr. Amum so certain to galvanize voters in the North to come and support the SPLM at this point in time? Look, the East has their umbrella (Eastern Front). The West has SLM/JEM and so on. The South has several other parties; how could these parties phase out or dismantle in favor of the SPLM or simply unite to topple El Bashir when they have been competitors together with the SPLM for the same reason- power? If Mr. Salva becomes Sudanese Presidency would that change anything here in the South? He is second to Bashir did that make meaning to southerners or changes their lives? Southerners are specific. They know what they want!

To reiterate my previous argument, it’s not uncommon for political parties to cease from political competition; they are there to seize power through persuasion (election) or coup de tat. The bottom line though is whether the party could actually do what they have been saying in their manifestos. I challenge the SPLM on matters of governance, to be precise. As earlier as 2005, we waste no time to remind the SPLM that general election will surely come and if it comes they must not give any excuse of any sort when voters turn to other political parties. They had the opportunity and it was up to voters to judge and give the verdict. Respected leaders of this party have wandered from their dreams of sowing equality and justice across their paths. Their true colors have changed and some are now corrupt while others are disillusion with power. These men weren’t like that before.

The following are some two areas the SPLM should have put more in puts in the South other than power for the sake of it. One has been the balance of power or distribution of Southern national cake. The party didn’t do enough on this. They still have time to rectify it however. It’s a crisis. The SPLM Government was expected to be far more representative, balanced and highly disciplined party ever to come to power in Africa. Leaders of this party were seen as models to make our ever suffering people enjoy the fruits of their hard won achievements. There is too much hate and greed at the moment. Jobs are dish out to who knows who in the system. It came about because the government is dominated or tilted towards certain group or tribe. Advisors of the President never applied what their leader Garang has been saying. I wish these men free our President to dish out jobs on merits and only meritocracy.

The other is the resource management plans. We need thriftier to allow our little resource to get in to public intended purposes or use. Dr. Pauline Riak, Mr. Stephen Dieu, Mr. Gabriel Changson, Dr. Achol Marial, Dr. Alfred Lokudu just to mention a few are tested members of our society when it comes to resource management plan. We have money but we aren’t conscious of it’s value. No waste that comes back. Foreigners are smiling all the way back to their countries because of loop holes in our financial regulations and systems. Foreigners are still occupying logistic positions in the plum and rich international organizations in the South as if we don’t men/women qualified to run these positions. I don’t know whether they are being taxed or not. Is that a governance style Mr. Amum wants to apply in Khartoum and the whole Sudan? Who doesn’t know SPLM pickings? Mr. Amum should have proved to Southerners their abilities in governance other than just aspire for power and show off.

We have men and women of integrity who aren’t utilize. This is an area of great concern and hence unthinkable for this party to jump from failing to manage little things to manage big ones. The National Congress Party (NCP) will not leave power the same way Mr. Amum and the group are dreaming of it. When we dig deep others cast doubt at it and smear shoddy to justify their shallow thinking assuming that by being heroes in bashing over the internet they will gain back their charred past of abandoning us during the war and ran to acquired questionable decrees. The little boys moreover rattle at what they know little all about and have no problem with them. They don’t know how the war and the peace were staged and achieved. SPLM as an organization is firmly established by its founders but leaders who are managing now are true let downs.

In short, the world is all about interests and if any one thinks otherwise then I challenge that person in his face. Things have change and if we are still after the international community then we must be prepared for a rude shock. It takes a little faith yes to believe that the NCP is not invincible but the situation in this country is not all about the NCP; there are other powers who are also interested in changing Sudan on their own terms. The attention therefore should be the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). If overthrowing NCP and El Bashir is part and parcel of the implementation package, then I must be pitied. To me its not!

Removing Al Bashir and his party will make other political in the North to unite against the South under an Islamic agenda. If I am making it up then ask Dr. Khalil Ibrahim, Sadiq Abdul Rahaman Al-Mahdi, Osman M. Marghani, Dr. Abdalla Hassan Al Turabi, Musa Ahmed or Abdul Wahid M. Al-Nur, whether they have it in their script to have a Christian ruling them or this country. If anyone thinks there is any short cut for Southerners to freedom then am afraid that is a pipe dream. You can declare independence many times as you choose but this will not give you recognition.

So, what is it all about the New Sudanism others are chanting out there? That is pure politics and here it’s fair for Mr. Amum to listen to himself and us before making his monotonous and rhetoric about’ Darfur’ ‘Darfur’ ‘Darfur’ and ‘failed state’ ‘failed state’ ‘failed state’. These statements have not changed situation in Zimzam, Abu shook, Ardha Matta etc. Non in this part of this world (the South) have an ear and eyes to allow the nook back to its misplaced spot when we are just months away from deciding our destiny. If Mr. Amum won’t listen and insists on being an Arab in Southern skin, the blood of our martyrs shall haunt him and his associates; we know how to deal with him! Our President must be left in the South to see us through in 2011, not chasing after utopias.

The author is living in Southern Sudan. He can be reached at [email protected]