Sudanese Peace Initiative is a Northern affair

By Isaiah Abraham

October 20, 2008 — We had argued somewhere here that Darfur crisis and its resolution is within Sudanese political horizons and therefore importance for others to understand it and respect this country judgment. Now the Government of National Unity (GoNU) and majority of political players or parties have joined hands to put to rest that matter in the West of the Sudan. Despites its earlier skepticism due to the National Congress Party (NCP) selection methods or criterions for participation and suspicion that perhaps the NCP had actually framed an agenda only out to sell it (to be rubber stamp or bless), the Kenana initiative or move for Darfur will surely deliver what would otherwise be impossible to achieve in Qatar.

The highlights are that: there would be compensation for the victims and constitutional accommodation that might actually work against the current Vice President (Ali Osman Mohamed Taha) as well as complete cessation of hostilities and the returns, one approved by the House are somewhat solutions to the crisis at hand. However the issue of unifying three states for Darfur remains hanging and chances are not near; it might not see light due to its implications and translation on an over all federal system in the country. The fear perhaps could be that others might join on this quest (unifying their regions) and clearly this is so complicated for the survival of unity in the country. That is just a guess. Do you read the right of self determination there? That is the dissection and of course none would run away from it if actually we mean plural society. Sudanese leaders must walk slowly towards this end, because one pillar of an open society.

Then within this argument how is Southern Sudan going to benefit when that arrangement happens? In another word, if one of Darfur leaders (Al Minawi, Khalil, Al Shafi, Suleiman, Ahmed, Al Nur etc) becomes the Vice President of the Sudan in the place of Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, what difference would it makes to us as Southern Sudanese? There would be two Northerners against one in the Presidency and that means we shall still be where we are now, isn’t it? But also what if the compensation takes place for Darfurian victims, should Southern Sudan victims be part of the compensation arrangement; victims of genocide for the past 50 years? The CPA talks about it mildly in that an aggrieved party (person) has the right to sue anyone/anything including the state. There are implications however contexts and need not to go in them. Now that door has been open, could Southern leaders renegotiate that element in the CPA since the agreement is poise to be reopened for the sake of justice, not necessarily for peace?

How about the interim constitution, how does the North want to reform it without an infringement on Southern gains in this Constitution? What of the election next year and the referendum thereafter, do Southerner politicians know that these two issues won’t take place on time if the constitution is amended? Do you want us to argue? Here we go briefly: politically (power sharing arrangement), there is nothing like amending the constitution without amending clauses in the South-North Peace Agreement (CPA). The compromise would be two ways not just about the NCP but also from the SPLM. That means that anything between the two sides (the NCP & SPLM) must not be dogmatic or it was written, since the third party named as Darfur must get its space in the pact even that of their own referendum whether to stay as one state within one Sudan or break away as an entity or state on their own.

The NCP in this might ask the SPLM for some seats on its 28% representation in the National Cabinet or Assembly because here the Census suggests (unofficial yet) that the South Sudan population is similar to Darfur. After all the Kenana initiative is all about Sudanese not just the NCP issue anymore, it’s argued. Two to three SPLM ministers are likely to be sacrificed in the interest of Darfur; isn’t that benefiting the North against the South? Our case moreover as Southern Sudan would take a second fiddle as it has become and everyone attention has been focused on Darfur in terms of development. South Sudan hasn’t benefited from National Development funds since the agreement was signed 3 ½ years ago. The South only receives its state 50% oil quota even doubts hanging over the actual production figures. Unfortunately, the world is taking no attention to what the North is doing against Southern Sudan, only interested in peace without dividends.

Hon. Bona Malwal projected an important argument on Wednesday on the same and this time the people of Southern Sudan must not just close their eyes and think everything would be alright when others their noses on Southern interest. There are no concrete assurances again from the outside than from within. We have been singing it here. I don’t see us talking too much about economic aspects (wealth sharing impacts) here but politically we Southerners and three traditional areas would be marginalized by the North as they have been doing it since the agreement was signed.

The point therefore is that whatever that happen between Sudanese political actors; let them treat matters independently and at their own nature. Darfur needs a political solution yes but on its own nature and peculiars. There are issues everyone knows but we often pretense that they aren’t core issues in Darfur. Do we know that Darfur problem is all about competition on resources and land? If this is not done, any political solution in Khartoum such as offering of the Presidency seats won’t stop blood from flowing in Darfur. Again we are all aware that there is oil underneath in Darfur; that oil has attracted foreign interest and if that foreign interest isn’t satisfy, there would be blood letting in Darfur. That is Northern issue anyway and Southern Sudan isn’t interest in any of those whatsoever. But Northerners must watch out, we are sick and tired of ‘joking’ (compromising) and we won’t do it again! The North is free to do whatever they want to do to sort themselves out but never touch any comma or dot on the CPA. President Salvatore take care!

Isaiah Abraham based in Juba; he can be reached at [email protected]