Sudan unity has been outdated by northerners
By Mustafa Shogar
June 30, 2010 — As the inevitable South Sudan referendum reaching its climax, it had already showed us how this country is beyond the desired treatment set out by the SPLM, an example of it, is that the current weird unity campaigners including Albashir’s NCP. According to my analysis thus far, from reading and listening to pro-nonsense unity thinkers and truly (deeply) understand the equality as a same country citizens; I have a reason to be strongly suspicious of term like a real united Sudan as of June 2010, and hopefully it would be a regret to those who have a cheap thinking’s.
The desired united secular Sudan for all of its citizens’ which labelled by SPLM as the New Sudan vision; has been and will be the only valuable mechanism that could have treated the mess of Sudan and its people. This new Sudan with its simple do-able conditions it could have been accepted by various northern regimes who have taken power in Khartoum. For over 5 decades the reality is a same routine regimes consist of particular northerners elites groups grasping wealth and misleading generations after generation to be used as tools to cover up for their wrong doings and sadly its still powered on, their aim is to build some sort of a group dictatorship kingdom circling between them in different forms to suit themselves and their interest. The latest NIF/NCP regime which is the worst as it has been using radicalism of a single religion ideology to rule a nation with dozens of it kinds. However due the advanced realisation by all marginalised people and growing of rebellions it has became a partner with most clear vision movement through CPA agreement to transform the country to fit all. The Southern rebellions have always been calling for a state in which the people guided by laws of its own making and can be treated equally.
These current campaigns for a unity now are inappropriate and pointless, though I cannot of course hope to illustrate this in every actual or possible case; its looks to southerners as usual cheating business. Hence the unity efforts should be tackled or forwarded to the bloody Khartoum where orders of self destructions are coming out, where the desired united Sudanese nation could be created easily by changing the fundamental issues such as dismantling the Sharia state forever and removing all the other obstacles to achieve a united country since 1956 and that has been well clarified in the CPA. Replacing this old Sudan principles that have got us into this mess and chaos to a state of equality that could bring in the unity easily; It’s unrealistic how the NCP and even some northern oppositions including northern civil societies jumping in a cheap way in term of unity and separations as if it’s just two words to be solved by campaigning for a vote in January 2011. This is the most important element of the CPA, from the part of the SPLM it has always been a unity on new basis which could have killed today’s panic if all these campaigners have understood rather than saying it. As to the southerners this is not a unity v Separation issue, but it’s a road to real freedom after northerners have refused a unity with them for decades. Simple example today, about a week ago today is (29th June 2010) there was a ceremony attended by Albashir with a Saudi Imam to open a complex called Anour Islamic Centre? in Khartoum and planned to pray in it, which it was surrounded and guarded by hundreds of police and security forces protecting them till the end of the event. The next day after that there was a prayer for a Christians in a citizen house, as usual also tens of police forces have arrived, however this time is not for protecting or guarding them to do their god business as the previous day; but they were arrested in suspicion of making a gathering without state permission?? Now my question to those calling a cheap unity (al-wihhida), what are reassurances that the Khartoum and all Sudan will not be ruled by one religious after 9th January 2011 bearing in mind the CPA was signed in 2005? This question is not raised by a southern that you are begging in this out of date unity, apparently for those who understood what is the new Sudan vision and can emphasize egalitarians as the principle and fundamental basis of the country, taking in consideration Sudan’s multi-ethnic and multi cultural diversities will not be at a state of shock to see the Sudan chattered to different countries. Hence all Al-wihhida campaigners; I would not wish to pretend that it can never be useful or empowering to do so, but what is your vision for a unity? And on what basis is the unity? We know that talks about changes appeared since forties in the last century, but remained as if talk fantasy tactics and has no basis in reality at all and continued same way by various rulers in Khartoum enable them to declare and decide wars against their people in the south without responding to the just demands of federalism as a requirement for the people of southern Sudan, taking into account the realities of cultural, religious and multi-ethnically, but regimes rejected calls from their brothers in the south, and chose wars of the oppressed and their compliance by force, even came to declare Jihad against them of course, which brought a point of bitterness and amount of pain in the soul that cannot be bypassed by talking sweet and displaying bright logos. Southerners have had tested and fought for all types of wars, and set out aspirations of unity and waited for so long.
The campaigners ideally guide their campaign to Khartoum in any means to remove these clear bridges between the nation rather than appealing to Juba in June 2010. There is little chance of these things being preserved or even achieved unless you discard the un-self-aware fundamentalism that the unity is a simple. To overcome these barriers in this society will require endurance that the role and duty of our intellectuals, politicians, citizens and leaders to be up to their standard and honest. Remember that your tears due to this separation is a fraction of bloods that had sank in ground to bring this referendum to southerners, therefore a sweet words today cannot equalise or wipe out the 5 decades of humiliation; hence keep your energy and be ready to campaign for a unity earlier for another part of Sudan in near future.
The next Jihad if happen it will be very weak and will not succeed for sure for the usual old elites, as a lot of oppressed people will be ready to do reversible Jihad alongside southerners. Although the unity is the best and would be our strength! However the practical situation and the current chaos there shouldn’t be any campaign to a unity, thus campaigners should learn how to liberate the oppressed people for such long time and also to wake up all to see the reality of their country supposed to be caring for its citizens.
Shogar is member of SPLM Chapter in UK and Ireland. He can be reached at [email protected]
Paul Ongee
Sudan unity has been outdated by northerners
Readers,
Unity is a fascinating word but reflects different interpretations. The definition of unity by Khartoum and its state-owned media is completely different from the conventional one. Khartoum knows pretty well how we (marginalized) define the word in its strongest term and how it should be realistically translated into action on the ground for the benefits of all Sudanese to remain united.
Based on the record of political unity of our beloved country, Khartoum defines “political unity” as a systematic marginalization, implementation of exclusive Islamic projects regardless of cultural diversity, underdevelopment, dishonoring of signed political agreements, delay tactics of implementation of CPA, ESPA, and DPA, late (at the end of CPA-provided interim period) introduction of “unity fund projects” and finally war mongering or execution of suicide bombings. To Khartoum, these are the real factors of unity it’s advocating regardless of the changing dynamics. The successive ruling elite in Khartoum believes that these factors will certainly keep the country united but not fragmented.
Khartoum always needs to be reminded about the real meaning of the word “unity” and the “root causes of political disunity” facing Sudan since independence. Why Sudan has been at war with itself for over a century? Why did Khartoum fail to formulate a policy that is inclusive or at least democratic to avoid the current political crisis facing the country in every angle? The basic human freedom is not only for Khartoum policy makers but for all Sudanese to live in peace, unity and harmony with each other regardless of religious and cultural differences. Khartoum should not keep silent to cite Middle East countries living peacefully with their citizens of different religious backgrounds.
The Anglo-Egyptian administration granted the so-called independence of 1956 with the hope of getting it finally translated into action by Khartoum for all Sudanese to live in peace and unity. But Khartoum took it for granted and misused the golden opportunity to unify the country politically, culturally, socially and developmentally. However, the time has come since 2005 that “Sudan will never be the same.” Khartoum needs to remember that now and again that Sudan will never be the same of “outdated unity” unless a “New Sudan” is created on an equal basis.
For South Sudan, it ’s already a country in the making bordering 6 countries namely Islamic Republic of North Sudan (since the policy makers in Khartoum are obsessed with Islamic culture rather than consideration of diversity), Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, DRC, and Central Africa Republic. Khartoum should not panic when South Sudan and other regions or parts of Sudan are longing for the same basic human freedom exclusively enjoyed by successive Islamic-based governments. Being a landlocked country does not begin with South Sudan and it should never be an issue to be debated upon on the pretext of unity that religiously, culturally, socially and racially discriminates, marginalizes and deprives indigenous Sudanese of basic human freedom.
Paul Ongee
Khartoum, Sudan
John M. Atem
Sudan unity has been outdated by northerners
I completely agree with the view that the unity of Sudan is outdated by Northerners. This is true , because since Sudan got her independence from the incompetent, racist, and immorally corrupt Anglo-Egyptian colonial Administration on January,1,1956, Sudan has been mired in a never-ending bloody resources-draining political civil wars, violence, and economic deprivation. Indeed, the bloody resources-draining political civil wars, which have been fought through out the history of contemporary Sudan, were fought on basic and rudimentary principles to achieve total freedom, liberty, respect for human dignity and social justice for all wonderfully God’s created people of majestically new Sudan.
Realistically, the people of Southern Sudan and other marginalized, of the marginalized masses of Sudan have been exposed to a prolonged periods of political uncertainty, violence, and economic deprivation. Indeed,Victor Hugo had it right when he said,” there is no greater power in this entire world than an idea whose time has come”. Therefore, in this regard, the time has come for the people of Southern Sudan and other marginalized, of the marginalized masses of Sudan to extricate themselves from rusty steel chains of cruelly dehumanizing slavery, enforced political oppression and mismanagement for which they have been held hostages for so many years.
peter bedepiny
Sudan unity has been outdated by northerners
Mr. Mustaf Shogar, I am not sure which part of the Sudan you are from, but what you must understand is that we the people of the South Sudan hate this nonsense that you piece trying to convey that the independence and freedom of which they gave their indispensable blood have came because NCP was not serious about the unity.
It is disgrace to SPLM who apologetically now trying hard to win the heart of the people of the South Sudan and what is really pathetic about this shift is that is done in cheating our brother in arm in Nuba Mountains and Southern Blue Nile who fought shoulder to shoulder in camaraderie with their brother from the South.
Wake up my friend and have a clear mind does anyone knows what will become the fate of the people of both Southern Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains when the people of the South pronounce their independence. It was hope that SPLM had done their homework to make sure that these people concerns are address instead they plunge themselves in blame game by pointing fingers to NCP for all of their misery.
take care
bedepiny