Why amend the Sudanese nationality laws, Now?

By Luke Kuth Dak

November 3, 2008 — Isn’t it ironic that the Sudan peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM) is still silent about the Arabs influx, especially the Egyptians into Sudan? And what more evidence do we need to prove our point that, the Islamic National Front’s regime of the embattled President Omar al-Basher, is diligently working to change the country’s demographic picture, by importing Arabs into the country.

According to Sudan Tribune and al-Ray al-Aam Arabic language newspaper, arrangement are being undertaken by the regime, to amend the existing Sudanese Nationality laws, to make it even more attractive and easy, for the Arabs to become Sudanese citizens, if they have been living in Sudan, for about five years, instead of ten !!

But why now? And how does the nationality amendment- all of a sudden- become such an urgent topic, at a time when our country is at war at all fronts? Well, unless one is out rightly fool to answer to those questions! The regime’s goal- pure and simple- is to increase the Arabs present in Sudan, especially as the elections are nearing, and the referendum is just next door.

Chairman Salva Kiir Mayardit, a champion on may courses, must take a long and a hard look at this situation. We all recognize that his hands are full with problems, as he tries to establish a state. But, the Arabs influx into Sudan, is a matter of national security, and should not be taken lightly.

A few months ago, I wrote the following article in Sudan Tribune, to alert the (SPLM) leadership of the danger that comes along with the Arabs influx into our country. Here it was:

WHO IS BEHIND THE EGYPTIANS’ INFLUX INTO SUDAN?

June, 30, 2008- The Southern Sudanese people are in a state of chock, bewilderment and uncertainty, regarding the reasoning the Sudan peoples Liberation Movement-SPLM, and it’s executive branch- the government of South Sudan-GOSS, allowing the infinite influx of Egyptians, Palestinians and other Arab nationalities into the country.

As we speak, the preparations are well under way, for the migration of five million Egyptians into Sudan, under the pretext of returning live to the notoriously failed al-Jazzeera Cotton Scheme.

As a result of this move, one might rightly think that, the largest country in Africa, is in fact, short of smart and ingenious people, who can get the job done, or learn how to do it. But the fact of the matter is that, there are millions of the marginalized Sudanese people, who are in desperate need for work, and millions more scattered all across the globe, who love and cherish their country, but were forced to leave, when the current Islamic regime of tyrant Omar al-Basher muscled themselves into power, in 1989. The majority, if not all of those refugees, would have loved to return home and participate in it’s development, but can’t simply due to the fact that, nothing has really changed, in terms of the laws of the land and the civil liberties. To this day, other Sudanese people, especially from the marginalized region (south, west and east) are still being subjected to racial profiling, harassment and arrest. All for no wrong doing other than the color of their skin.

So, if Sudan is indeed a one nation for all it’s people, then why is it that one side of the coin could arrive at such a drastic and highly suspicious immigration decision, without first consulting with the general public or it’s partners in the government of national unity. Indeed, infusing this large number of Arab nationalities is particularly suspicious, and it should be alarming, considering the elections and the referendum are nearing. More disturbingly, the Sudanese nationality is no longer that sacred document it once was. Under this extremist regime, it being issued even to those who actually didn’t ask for, let alone qualified, as long as they are Arabs or fanatic Muslims.

Clearly, the arabized-minded north is suffering from an inferiority complex of their own. It’s a disease I have seen- first hand- here in my adopted country, the United States of America, where the blacks have been made to believe that being black is ugly. Certainly, the importation of Arabs into Sudan, is just yet another desperate attempt to depredate the country’s complexion, and rob it-even more- of its African identity.

The evidence couldn’t be clearer. Just take look at the television screens, dark-skin Sudanese from south, west and east, are no where to be seen. They also have a zero chance of finding jobs in which they are qualified for, because of some traits out of their control. The same can be said about entering the military and police colleges, where color of the skin and not the qualifications, plays a major role.

The game couldn’t be clearer than that. What is taking place in Sudan, is pure racism against the majority of the African people, from the marginalized regions- South, west and east. Further more, why is it that, the extremist media of al-Intibaha, al-Rayul al-Aam and Akhir Lahza, are tight-lipped about the importation of Arabs, but infuriated and vehemently denounce the present of only a few Africans, from near by Kenya and Uganda, who are seeking only temporary employment in South Sudan? Well, my guess is that you do not have to have a degree in political science to figure that out.

In the end, there is no other force in Sudan, other then the Sudan peoples Liberation Movement, who must rise up to the occasion and makes it’s position crystal clear, that the Arabs influx into Sudan, is a matter that undermines the national security.

The author is a former anchorman at Juba Radio. He can be reached at [email protected].