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| Joyous scenes in Juba heralding the Independence of South Sudan on 9th July 2011 Source:BBCNEWS |
On the morn of 9th July 2011, Mother Africa
went through the throes of natality and South Sudan was born! Joyous crowds
greeted that day in Juba, Bor, Rumbeck and Wau. Much joy was found from the
Upper Nile, Jonglei; East, West and Central Equatorial States, all of which
will now make up the world’s newest country.
It has been a long bloody journey to independence.
From the initial independence of the Sudan in 1956, the peoples of the South of
Sudan had fought a war against domination and Arabization. Dubbed Africa’s longest
contiguous/running civil war, a truce/peace deal was signed in 1972 giving a
break from the Anya Nya
rebellion that had began about 1956.
Yet the underlying issues that led to rebellion not being
addressed, the South (dark skinned, non-Arab and mostly Christian) culturally
and ethnically different from the North; against a governing/dominating Pro-Arab
Muslim North, the South in 1983 once again descended into a rebellious
conflagration with the government sending John
Garang (a Southern army officer) to quell the rebellion.
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| John Garang |
Garang instead allied with the mutinous forces and
forged the Sudan’s Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA), the armed wing of the Sudan’s
Peoples Liberation movement (SPLM); thus launching a full scale second round of
rebellion. Beginning in 1983, the war raged amid series of peace moves and
finally a Comprehensive
Peace Agreement deal was done in 2005, ending 22yrs of war. Under the deal,
South Sudan was to be allowed self government for a six year period culminating
with a referendum for self determination in the sixth year.
For all the troubles of John Garang, he didn’t live to
enjoy the dividends of the peace deal as he died in a plane crash in July 2005;
barely 3months after signing the deal. A crack seemed to simmer among the ranks
of the SPLA/SPLM. Turning a rebel movement into an active political/governing
force over a territory that has only known war, pillage, cattle rustling,
marginalization and underdevelopment was no easy deal. The South made up of the
Dinka-Ngok, Nuer, Shilluk amongst several other minorities began to simmer in
ethnic tensions.
Though evident during the rebellion in the defection Peter Gadet and his
militia from the SPLA to the side of the Sudanese government, a power struggle was waiting to happen after the death of charismatic Garang; with the highly educated
Riek Machar and militarily vibrant Peter Gadet (both from the Nuer ethnic
group) against a less educated military commander in Salva Kiir (from the Dinka
ethnic group).
The lines of differences between the actors was bridged
before the referendum which ensured independence. Plagued by ineptitude and
corruption, the SPLA government made a poor start failing to learn lessons from
older independent nations. Peter Gadet once more defected from the SPLM, kick
starting a rebellion in the troubled Unity/Jonglei region which was flanked by
General George Athor. These differences played into Sudan and barely months
after independence, South Sudan and Sudan were at odds. Sudan occupying
disputed Abiyei and South Sudan occupying the oil fields of Heglig (Panthou). The world watched
as both sides verbally sabre rattled at each other with President Omar
Al-Bashir calling the South Sudanese government ‘Insects’ that must be
flushed out.
With both sides struggling to contain internal
rebellions, all out conflict was certainly not an option and overtime the
conflict seemed to progress by proxy as both governments accused each other of
supporting their respective rebel groups. Oil ceased to flow from South Sudan
and both governments became cash strapped.
Tensions continued to smolder in South Sudan;
defections, discontents culminating in the sack of the entire cabinet by
President Salva Kiir. Then came heightened violence referred to as a coup
attempt.
Once again, South Sudan is split along the lines of
previous rival rebel movement- Peter Gadet and Reik Machar seeming to align
against the main stream SPLM lead by Salva Kiir.
For years, these have fought side by side against the
government of Khartoum and united by the cause of getting an improved status
quo for the Southern Sudanese. Though there have been splinters in the past,
upon getting their desired aim, it is up to the power players in South Sudan to
make their nation great.
Like most African countries, independence leaders seem
united at the onset fighting a common enemy in Colonialism. Upon independence,
it has been the custom of most independence leaders to stifle opposition,
promote nepotism, ethnic tensions and ultimately cement their places in power
by declaring a one party state.
Such has been the pangs and throes of independence in
Africa which has relegated most African Countries to third world statuship…. Miles
behind the Asian Tigers who started the independence journey with most African
Countries.
It is sad to note this trend in South Sudan. Barely
2yrs into independence, the country is embroiled in the same circle of violence
familiar with SubSaharan Africa.
A Nation was born in South Sudan; young, ruddy and
potent! She must learn from her elders else another failed state in the making!
And who says secession is a solution to Africa’s ethnic/cultural mangle?.....
see South Sudan!
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