Sudanese Opposition Forces must unite or perish!
By Isaiah Abraham
September 4, 2012 — The political classes in the Republic of Sudan have missed a
rare political opportunity to topple the government in Khartoum during
students’ uprisings. The then economic conditions faced by the government there
could have been used as a good ground to forge an alternative, and bring down
the system peacefully. Alas, Northern political forces have wasted golden
chance to unite and bring about the change every Sudanese has been yearning
for. They had difficulty trusting one another or group trusting another on
power. The dogged problem has always been who should be who first; they did it
before the ‘animal’ was finally killed. The Umma Party, the Democratic Unionist
Party (DUP), Popular Congress Party, the Communist, the SPLM-N has a daunting
task now to change the system in Khartoum. Unity for the opposition forces is
paramount, if the threat of removing the current government in Khartoum is to
become real.
By unity they could form a formidable force that would be
reckoned with against the long worn out party called the National Congress
Party (NCP). The NCP fortunately or unfortunately is regrouping, and so long as
they will be again in partnership with South Sudan’s Sudan People’s Liberation
Movement in the South, the lot has already been cast in favor of them. Sooner
or later the economy of the Sudan will pick up as there will be billions of
dollars flowing into their Central Bank from South Sudan. Sudanese as they are known
have short memory. They will resume their lives, despite irreparable
socio-political damage brought about by ruthless regime in power (Khartoum).
The Sudanese people have paid the brunt of Khartoum brutal
policies and it is time the country move away. The clique in power has no
intention of leaving power under any circumstances unless the opposition
extraordinary to change tact. South Sudan has escaped narrowly, but Western
Region of Darfur, Nuba Mountains and South Blue Nile have become next targets
for the regime in Khartoum. Time and again, the world was warned that Khartoum bends
to shed more blood of innocent human beings in the country, but the powerful nations
were indifference and still like that. It becomes worse under President Barack
Hussien Obama of the United States of America. I pray he loses the election in
November! People thought that the world is moving closer, and if there is an
outcry at a certain corner, others shouldn’t be indifference, but hurry to put
off that fire. There is no hope under President Obama; rhetoric alone isn’t
enough, rogue regimes will finish others.
Sudan needs world attention, especially now that it is more
incline to clear any living being off the land of the Nuba. The Main Opposition
forces haven’t lives up to the expectation of the people of the Sudan. Their
sectarian orientation goes against new order. It has alienated many, and
somewhat work in favor of the dying regime in power. Why don’t these people
unite or seek genuine intercourses and alliances among themselves. For Khartoum to go therefore, the main traditional
opposition forces must make unity attractive to other political forces. They
got to join hands with the Sudan Liberation Movement factions, and the
SPLA-North so to quickly bring down the government. There is chance to do just
that.
Alliance is the way to go! Political marriage for all is
overdue, so to squeeze life out of the NCP. Time to do it is now. The
leadership issue must not be given much attention at the moment. Imam Sadiq El
Mahdi has proven to me that he is a nationalist figure and should be respected.
He came up with a clear cut strategy that could have helped had it not that his
idea of uniting all forces under certain project was shot down in its infancy. Other
prominent groups rejected outright, and no consultation and communication made
to those with arms in the bushes. Great ideas are conceived by a few and later
to many. I don’t think it was right to throw away the baby along with the
water, simply because the messenger was a wrong one. Opposition Groups are
becoming weaker and irrelevant unless they try something new.
I urge Imam El Mahdi to continue to be on the front line for
change in the Sudan. He must define problems faceb by the Nuba Mountain and the
Blue Nile, and fight for their rights. The same must be true with the region Darfur.
They too deserves peace and political consideration. Dr. Abdallah Al Turabi was
vocal, and has since gone underground.
The underlying issues are well documented and differences on prospective shouldn’t
divert attention away from forging for unified front. The Ansars and Ketimiya are
still forces to be beat on the political field; they got to set national agenda
for the small Sudanese political parties to follow. Islamic extremism slows
down the country shift; Sudan has to settle down after ages of strife and war.
Compromise is a necessity if President Al Bashir is to be retired. He was a
good man, but somewhere lost his stamina and should be removed. There is time
for anyone, and Sudanese deserves more.
Northern Opposition Forces have no any excuse not to topple
the government in Khartoum. They have experiences, shared practices/policies; they
have one objective, and are in fact the majority. What stands between them and
that goal is lack of trust as to power struggle. Once they put that behind and
move towards their main goal, the smooth will be their going.
But why unity? Well, unity of the opposition parties will lead
to peaceful removal of the regime, and this in turn will relieve the country
from external and internal pressures. We all know all that don’t us? Externally,
the country will regain its lost glory among world powers, and dignity of the
country will be restored. Internally the current map of the Sudan won’t temper
with. Agenda for areas under trouble politically will be crafted. The
government will stop fighting its people. Regionally, there will be bilateral relationship
between the two former Sudans (South & North). The two people of the two
countries have many in common; as the border will be reopen for social and
economic activities. There will be peace and then development for both
countries. Northern Opposition must unite or perish!
If change is effected in Khartoum, the dangerous man on
earth will have no place to lay his head. Dr. Lam Akol sanctuary will end; he is
fighting a losing war, a misguided man who thrives through treacherous schemes
in the name of being intelligent. His militias under him will be subdued by the
mighty SPLA. Renegade Major, David Yau Yau will be a past tense in few weeks or
days to come after his grisly attacks against civilians and the SPLA forces. No
one has ever escaped SPLA hands after spill their blood. Juba shall forge a different approach, and dissidents from
both sides will have no ground to fight from either North or the South.
You must wonder what makes this author so nosy to Sudanese
affairs when there are plenty of matters to write about in his home country
called South Sudan. In another word someone is confused what makes Southern
based writers jumped to the affairs of another country. Like everyone else, I
have an interest and my interest is peace and stability. Stability of the Sudan
is our stability in the South. Remember the iconic sayings that ‘injustice
somewhere is injustice everywhere’, and ‘war is contagious’.
So the writer isn’t campaigning for anything closer to unity
between the countries, the Sudan and the Azania/Nile Republic (Uncle Lagu and
the group love to call it South Sudan). Our divorce was mutual and definite or
forever.
On the side of South Sudan therefore there is need to search
soul and take serious Hon. Dr. Luka Biong Deng premonition about the country’s
relations with traditional allies in the North. Our leaders are becoming
lukewarm these days of issues beyond the borders, something so strange and
unacceptable. South Sudan must not shy or make any mistake to abandon these
people under any pressure. We must not be ashamed to support Nubians and the
Funj people in their hour of need. They are under threat socially and
politically. Darfur case came late into equation. Let the United States of
America or any other group talk, we have a duty to stand in solidarity with our
brothers and sisters in these areas. The NCP is merciless; the white man will
realize things when they are too late about these.
The author lives in Juba; he [email protected]