Fifth Column!

 

The Situation in Sudan is becoming, with everyday pass towards the elections more complex . It seems the National Congress Party(NCP) made some changes to the agreement it had with SPLM regarding referendum for Southern Sudan independence and Abyei area.

When the bill presented to parliament it was different to what SPLM agreed to, SPLM claims. This led to SPLM to withdraw its MPs from parliament till further notice. The main disputed issue is “Who has the right to vote?”. The SPLM demand, only those who live in Southern Sudan have the right to vote, while NCP want this right to include Southern Sudanese in the north too. In my opinion this is a very important issue which should not taken lightly.

Most observers agree that Sudan will not stay a one country and the Southern are more likely to vote for independence. There are certain issues which North and South should need to discuss for a smooth independence to take place without any civil violence or disturbance. Issues like borders, trade, customs, international foreign dept, and what concern me more is the fate of northerner in the South and southerner in the North.

After 20 years of civil war, the number of people displaced from south of Sudan to its north is quite significant. it is estimated to be around four millions displaced people in north Sudan(IRIN, April 20, 2006). What happen to them if South Sudan got its independence? some of them well settled in north and call it home. so far only according to the UN(Reuter, 17.3.2009), only 2.37 million returned to the South. The situation will turn ugly if leaders from both sides did not address this issue urgently.

Southern Sudanese will be a minority in the north. If south Sudan separation did not go smooth and resulted in clashes, even temporary, this will affect their life in negative way. The northern community already will have its doubt toward their loyalty, the black Monday already fuelled northern fears toward southern. Southern in the North have always been considered as a fifth column during the civil war.

It will need a leader with a vision in the north to stop things from going in that directions. Southern in the North should be part of the divers North, they should be incorporated in the community with the hope to start a new era where the aim is development and improving living condition. The only platform where this can happen is a true democracy in the north and the rule of law.

I do not think such leadership exist in the NCP or other northern political parties. The SPLM northern division will be so weak after separation to the degree it will disintegrate. The NCP will the dominant power in the north, it will be more extreme in implementing its ideology now it has no opponents.

Next week will witness the return of referendum bill back to the parliament, The SPLM in cooperation with other minor southern parties are heading to the street to protest against the Bill. it will be an interesting week.

 

Related articles by Zemanta

• South Sudan referendum law back to parliament (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• http://www.alertnet.org/db/crisisprofiles/SD_PEA.htm?v=at_a_glance (alertnet.org)
• South Sudan leader calls for southern secession (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Sudan's leader says south may to choose to split (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• South Sudan leader urges split (news.bbc.co.uk)

Around the World in 80 Trades

Reference:

IRIN Film & TV | SUDAN: From North to South: Sudan's displaced head home | East Africa | Sudan | Refugees/IDPs | Film. (April 20, 2006). Retrieved December 27, 2009, from ttp://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=61003

Reuters AlertNet - South Sudan fragile peace. (17.3.2009). Retrieved December 27, 2009, from http://www.alertnet.org/db/crisisprofiles/SD_PEA.htm?v=at_a_glance