Sudan And Africa Need Unity: Does Africa Really Need Another Country? A Microcosm Of Africa
13 December 2010By Hodari Abdul-Ali
The whole trend in the world is for unity. The
European Union is an example of this. Africa needs a
strong African Union or indeed, a United States of
Africa. The last thing it needs is another country!
Does Africa really need another country? Is it in
the best interest of those of us in the Diaspora for
the southern Sudanese to vote to separate next year in
an upcoming referendum? What are the ramifications for
the rest of Africa if this likely scenario takes
place? These are difficult questions that must be
addressed as a disturbing drama plays out in Africa's
largest country.
Sudan, like most countries in Africa, is multi-ethnic,
multi-lingual and multi-religious. In some ways it is
a microcosm of Africa. Just like the United States
found a way to resolve enough of its issues to remain
one country, and later become a great power, Sudan has
a greater chance of realizing its potential if, even
at this late date, it can resolve enough of its
problems to stay united. In fact, the U.S. fought a
civil war to make sure it stayed together, but has
pressured the Sudanese to allow a vote to encourage
the breakup of their country.
Imagine if a "Gallop Poll" were taken in 1865 at the
end of the Civil War among White Southerners. Is there
any doubt they would have voted for succession? This
is the case with southern Sudanese. Many have suffered
a lifetime of war and poverty. The Comprehensive Peace
Agreement (CPA), signed in 2005, between the North and
theSouth. For the most part, it has held up and been
implemented. It contained a "poison pill," however, of
allowing southern Sudanese to vote in a referendum
January 9, 2011, on whether to keep the country
together or to separate.
Because most southern Sudanese have yet to benefit
from a peace dividend, they are understandably bitter
and anxious to have their own country. Top officials
of the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) have indeed
benefited, however, and there have been serious
charges of nepotism and corruption leveled by many
NGOs and objective observers concerning the
whereabouts of the oil revenue they do control. What
is not commonly known is that an independent
commission "signs off" on the oil revenue that goes
both to Khartoum and Juba (capital of the GOSS). So
the Southerners have had substantial income over the
past five years. The average Southerner though,
literally lives in a mud hut, and faces a life of
poverty and disease.
"Make Unity Attractive" is a phrase familiar to all
Sudan watchers and stakeholders. Those intent on
facilitating the breakup of the country are quick to
point out the government's failure to do so. What is
not commonly known, however, is that the CPA, signed
by the National Congress Party (NPC), which controls
the government in Khartoum, and the Sudan People's
Liberation Movement (SPLM), which has been the junior
partner in the national government and controls the
GOSS, mandates that they BOTH campaign and work for
unity! Dr. John Garang, the long-time leader of the
SPLM who died mysteriously soon after the signing of
the CPA, was an advocate for the unity of Sudan.
What is also not commonly discussed is that the United
States promised to normalize relations, end economic
sanctions and remove Sudan from the list of "state
sponsors of terrorism" once it signed the CPA. The
U.S. reneged on those promises, citing the newly
erupting conflict in Darfur. Khartoum was disappointed
that the U.S. recently renewed sanctions even though
the Sudanese are cooperating and negotiating with the
U.S. and the GOSS to hold the referendum and implement
the final issues relative to the CPA.
In terms of "making unity attractive," Khartoum
probably could have and should have done more. While
the United States has expended resources to benefit
displaced persons in Sudan, it as well as several
donor countries in Europe failed to deliver the bulk
of promised aid that could have helped to improve the
infrastructure of the South since 2005. Thus it had
the effect of raising and then squashing the hope of
many that may have been inclined to vote for unity.
I've been to Sudan five times since 1994, most
recently as an observer to their national elections
held in April 2010. I visited both Khartoum and Juba,
capital of the GOSS. I've traveled to over two dozen
countries around the world, and the gateway to the
South, the airport in Juba, was the most disheartening
one I've ever been to and this is the capital!
Southern Sudanese have animosity towards many of their
Northern countrymen, as a result of war and neglectful
policies on the part of Khartoum. If history is any
guide, however, they may awake a few years from now
and find that those folks they THINK are their friends
may end up causing them worst problems. In fact, they
may find out that many weren't really friends at all,
but only wanted to proselytize or get at the vast oil
and agricultural resources that the South has to
offer. Does anyone in their right mind think that the
U.S. invaded Iraq to "restore democracy"?
Often overlooked in discussions about Sudan is that
the 53-member African Union (AU) has spoken out
strongly for the unity of Sudan. Recent comments trend
towards accepting the outcome of the referendum,
likely to be separation, but clearly the sentiment is
for unity. The AU also spoke out strongly in support
of Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir against the
International Criminal Court indictment, but this too
received scant attention in the national media.
The United States publicly states its willingness to
follow the lead of the AU, but in fact, has been
working for years to help the South break away. Here
in Washington, D.C., there is an Embassy of the Sudan,
who's Charge `D-Affairs is actually from the South,
and a de facto Embassy of southern Sudan that has
functioned for years. It is almost unbelievable!
The whole trend in the world is for unity. The
European Union is an example of this. Africa needs a
strong African Union or indeed, a United States of
Africa. The last thing it needs is another country!
Let's encourage the Sudanese to resolve enough of
their problems to stay together. At minimum, let's
encourage those aiding the referendum to ensure that
safeguards are in place for those who want to vote for
unity.
(Hodari Abdul-Ali is the Executive Director of the
Washington, D.C. based Give Peace A Chance Coalition (GPAC)
and Chair of the Social Justice Task Force for the
Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA). He can be
reached at brotherhodari [at] gmail [dot] com.)
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