Premature for South Sudan to celebrate Obama

By Isaiah Abraham

November 9, 2008 — Last week election in the United States of American in which Mr. Barrack Obama emerged as the winner after a bruising political competition with his rival from the Republican Party John McCain- that took him exactly 18 months to materialize- brought a momentarily excitement and joy to many Southern Sudanese. The Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) party in the Sudan has been quoted as planning to stage a party in celebration for an American elect President Mr. Barrack Hussein Obama. The leaders are making final touches for the occasion that is scheduled to be launched this month in Khartoum. In Juba the leaders whether in parliament or in the executive were seen and heard sending congratulatory messages to the United States of American (USA) President elect and his team for the successful victory against their Republican rival Senator John McCain. The mood looks the same across Africa, especially in East Africa where the Obama senior came from.

There are several factors as to this mood and this is normal. People hug, shed tears and dance spontaneously especially in Kenya. Change though is an abstract in its real term, so many people didn’t buy it but the fact that the unthinkable reality if not notion of black man occupying the Oval House resounds strongly in the minds and understanding of many Black Americans and majority of Africans. Everything there is in place and no one denies those feelings from that democracy in that great part of the world (United States of America). People start to think twice about themselves and the world around them as far as individual achievements are concerned. Everyone hails US stable democracy and its power and system.

Everyone at least I know on the morning of Wednesday was wearing a radiant face of happiness but I kept no secret of my unreserved support for John McCain. The reasons? Senator John had what I need to pull me out of my political quagmire with the North. Does that sound selfish? Not really, the author is after his interest as Southern Sudanese. Senator (then) Obama am afraid is another Clinton in extension. Clever and articulate but calculative and risk shyer. May be am alone; but talking sense alone or lip service doesn’t make sense to me at all. I believe in action; perhaps a leader who would look at my enemy in the eyes could have brought that difference! Under Republicans President then the North started to talk the talk. The North has started to croak defiance now even before President Bush leaves office- read President Al Bashir rally last week in Eastern Sudan.

But also internally, President Obama priorities would be stretched due to world or say American financial meltdowns among others. He would be engaged with his top economic advisors on how to fix his (world) trouble economy first and then possibly put forward strategies to pull US troops out of Iraq within 16 months from January 2009 when he assumes office, as he pledged. Taliban and Al Qaeda elements again in Afghanistan and Pakistan are posing eminent security headache to the new American Administrative. Mr. Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev of Russia is also forcing his ambition of unifying Russian Empire before the watch of the United States new Administration; there is no time to talk about hosts of other world problems Mr. Obama would inherit from his predecessor, do we expect attention from this leader at his crowded problems? Absolutely not. Moreover, he has been heard during his campaign as a believer in multilateral approach opposed to unilateral. That means, he would take his time to talk to China and Russia in their Security Council veto block before he intervenes anywhere in the world incase troubles erupted. Khartoum is relishing to this kind of approach as this shall always provide opportunities for escape.

But directly, what do you think President Obama would offer us different from what the Republican had offered Southern Sudan? Republicans are accredited with something for us, in the person of CPA, why didn’t the SPLM organize a party for George Bush second term in office? Senator John to my judgment was unfairly treated and unlucky chap, I must step there to say it. I started seeing him going down right from July when many political pundits in the America known media houses started to desert him. The World Street Financial crisis makes it even worse for his party not necessarily him. But Senator John fought hard and tough and went down a real man to beat. Senator Obama was shifting until polls portray him ahead of Senator McCain when he began to ‘settled’. To me in short, the whole thing after the results favored Obama made me think may be this was a beauty contest between the two gentlemen. But who am I when millions of Americans voters chose their leader. I wish them good luck as our President (Gen. Kiir) had sent a congratulation message on our behalf.

In general term, there is that curiosity as to the unwritten relationship between Arabs and Democrats; one can’t just wish it out or forget it easily because a black man came to power in the US. Unless the President elect meant what he has been saying for a year (change), there is no hurry to celebrate Obama victory in the US Election here in the Sudan. It’s a bad idea. Obama is clueless and I have a conviction that he won’t stand with us during tough times when Khartoum starts misbehaving. He won’t be himself the same way I would expect Republicans to react to our cry. At least that is the assumption; may be he would turn to be the opposite. We shall wait and see without getting carried away (celebrate) by euphoria brought about by a single achiever surrounded by the same people who never stop Murahliin (Arabs nomads) from marauding Dinka and Nuer villages in the 1990s. Our time to celebrate will come in 3 years times. SPLM must concentrate on issues to do with election next year, such as the need to form an election commission and electoral vote education among others.

The author is based in Juba, southern Sudan. He can be reached at [email protected]