South-North conflict has moved into their pockets

By Isaiah Abraham

February 24, 2009 — In the latest turn of events in the Sudan, the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) have taken their differences deeper; a situation in which one party refuses to release money to the other. You may have probably come across this twist of events, namely the delay of Southern oil percentage or cash from the Central Government under the Northern control. It actually started last year and culminated in December the same year. It began that year when the Government of National Unity (GoNU) attempted to address economic crisis that has engulfed the world. The Federal Finance Ministry put across lame excuses one of which was the drop of oil price in the world market. The other was the cut to about 35% from the Southern quota to compensate for un-levied duties from the developmental agencies serving alongside young Government in Juba (the Government of Southern Sudan).

Here we have civil servants and many other needs begging for cash since December last, what does this lead for the agreement popularly known as the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)? Its not any secret that Dr. Awad Al Jaz (the Northern Finance Minister) has made it his intention to starve Southern Sudan on the basis of sheer malice or political reasons.

The action by Dr. Jazz has never been without a clue as to what causes the change of mind by one important signatory of the Naivasha Accord (CPA). In December, it cost our beloved Vice President H. E. Dr. Riek Machar temper to break the deadlock when he personally shouted the loudest to Islamist (Al Jazz) to release the money. From that time to date (though the signs are matured that he had done something or actually the money should have been reflected in our Central Bank in Juba, from last week). Imagine the efforts by our leader H. E. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit have fallen on deaf ears in the Presidency in Khartoum. As expected he recoiled and went into hiding leaving the powerful man (Dr. Machar)- whose brain that government exists, to juggle between Khartoum and Juba in his usual trademark to serve.

So the crisis now in its brewing stage, how do you associate this with other development around us? Should we called it a violation or impact on the implementation of the CPA? Of course all of the above. But calling it violation, shall only serve an interim meaning or focus, which is in essence is generic; while impact is the results of that violation. I mean word ‘violation’ is abstract and descriptive unlike ‘impact’ which is an indicative of an action.

Let me not bore you there. There is more than interpretation of those words and here I have one. There is nothing that comes out of nowhere; an action must have a cause as the law of physics says it. The NCP/North Minister isn’t acting from nothing or just doing something (refusing to pay the South) out of his own personal volition. He is under an overall scheme from enemies of CPA and only executing what the North had agreed to do against ‘parasite’ known as the South through the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS). The plan comes as a no surprise at all. The South was reading nothing out of Khartoum insistence that GOSS ought to strengthen its revenue bases, particularly taxes.

Khartoum in addition wanted Juba to cooperate on matters of international and domestic importance. Unfortunately GOSS looked away and the North/NCP raided or invaded the Central Bank of Sudan doing the necessary to toe them.
Today, our streets are full of whispers as to what had really happened or been the problem. There is a political reason behind this crisis, its repeated being whisphered. The fall out between the NCP and the SPLM was imminent after Mr. Amum decided to go against his leader and the people of Southern Sudan who prefer leaving with the devil they know than the angel they don’t. Since this man and others have jumped to bed with the Darfuris on the expense of their peace partners the NCP, the NCP is saying it in bold that ‘am going to show you who am I’. That means, they are punishing the SPLM for not being faithful to them in the middle of NCP crisis. The NCP takes the South and the SPLM as one and the same thing.

But truly 95% of Southerners aren’t ready to buy Dr. Al Khalil’s, Yasser, Pagan, Mansour and the company the American new Sudan vision of unity, equality and justice. We won’t be equal or united whether by force or consience; the North is for the North and South for Southerners! No ambition to annex any territory anywhere here on the ground. Southerners have accepted to live peacefully with the North on matters of territorial mutual respect and cooperation.

Refusal by Dr. Awad Al Jazz to release Southern quota is a blessing in disguise to borrow Dr. Lam Akol’s phrase. GOSS economic advisors or decision makers shall think twice about their dependency on Khartoum for Southern survival. Unless we pretend, Khartoum shall do everything in its power to ensure instability in the Government of Southern Sudan. Southern Sudan in this situation needs to do more in its income generating boards; a need to expanse tax basis and a total revamp of its levies methods. If for instance it means to increase taxes for PIT (personal income tax) to 30%, so be it. The same could be applied to other macroeconomic regulations, be it interest rate, excise duties, VAT etc.

Secondly, GOSS needs to reduce its wastages or reckless spendings. The government should tighten its expense outlets and ensures that our little income goes for intended purposes. The Majut’s Uganda’ Project type of assistances must cease. Finance Minister hands are to be tight and cartel: that man economic experiences are begging. There is further need to strengthen and even appoint Auditor General from renown or serious economists who are currently residing in Europe or America. Creativity is lacking here. There has to be interrelation between this office and that of the Attorney General (Legal Affairs Ministry). Auditors Chambers mandate is devoid of ‘jam’ that could have link them together. Anti Corruption Bill again should be hasten by Parliamentarians to allow this unit to carry out its mission with urgency. Once the two bodies above take off, we shall see big heads rolls and perhaps the return of chunk of money they have looted from public funds.

GOSS Offices that were literally turned into bars and restaurants are eventually going to revert to their original purposes-offices. How do we intend to be productive and rebuild our land when our offices are becoming ‘hotels’? Imagine a set of large TV, a fridge stuff with all kinds of drinks (beer included) and food and a huge space for idlers to gossip, what do you really think is happening in that office? Waste of resources and hence good that the money is delayed to help our government change its unproductive habits. That was just ‘by the way’.

Third, leadership need to speed up demobilization within our regular forces. There are men and women who shouldn’t be there in those forces but eat up large budget unnecessary. Some are too old and others are young or untrained; they should be given other opportunities to help themselves and leave our force free from underlings. I’m not talking here about wounded heroes, but those who never fit to have uniform, even others who just join army on economic reason. If for instance we have around10,000 of them, during Referendum time in 2011, we should have saved 116 m (29 months@ 400$@ 10,000).

We got to look at money value. Dr. Pius Subek (Juba Commissioner) destruction of markets in Juba is an example of economic ignorance of our leadership in Juba. Those shops could have been tapped to pay our services and as its not enough the government could not think of compensating individuals who lost millions of pounds in the demolition. After all nothing is going to fix on those places in the short run. Another by the way.

Let’s hypothise further just to wrap up: what if the NCP extend their ‘sanction’ to six months, what would happened in the South? Many things and on top is the collapse of GoSS; where will the CPA be? I believe you can agree with me that anything is possible under the sun so long as human being has interest to satisfy. To declare an independence, or shout at our roof tops or curse won’t change our presence situation that is connected with Khartoum. That is a reality check!

Khartoum holds our future and prudent that we court their attention and partnership. We must not live in the denial that nothing will happen if we continue to pinch, conspire or play double standard against Khartoum. Therefore, its incumbent upon us to remember wise words from a brilliant thinker in the person of Dr. Riek Machar that our partnership with the NCP is strategic and a necessity. Dr. James Okuk has echoed on similar line for a need to have both peace partners walk together. I urge then our radicals to keep their ambers under control and keep limping with the NCP party. The journey is almost over, and its time to lean on each other. If one partner is in trouble, the other should stand up to support until at a time when we shall all be convinced that the journey is indeed over. Its time to tune down and leave Al Bashir and Kiir to complete the journey.

We jave important issues to address collectively by both parties. Issues that concern the whole country not part of it. Both sides need to show political and leadership over census results and process leading to election. They got to close up their differences over Abyei International Court of Justice case and the border demarcation impasse. There is no time to waste.

Some politicians (Northerners mainly), pretenders, spoilers and electrical or media houses opposed to the NCP who are relentlessly campaigning to destroy the CPA are ask to go slow. They should use their resources including time on matters that build up and restore peace for the whole country. Nothing is going to change even if the arrest warrant is issued against the Sudanese President; they might as well be shocked. No amount of press releases and shouting shall stop Al Bashir from finishing the job he has started. He will still rule next year and after. People are tired of monotonous headlines about ICC; that body will plunge our land to turmoil.

The author is based in Juba; he is reachable at [email protected]