Sudan in the Making (part I)...

On January 9, 2011, the largest country in Africa will climb onto the political chopping block. The southern region of the country will vote on whether or not it wants to succeed from the north. The logistical planning of this event is in chaos. The country’s president has a record with the International Criminal Court - genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The lives of millions of innocent men, women, and children all over that land are at risk.
Sudan comes to the table dragging a ridiculous amount of political and humanitarian baggage. When the British ran Sudan as a colony, they administered the northern part of the country differently than the south. This was because the south looked more like what you and I think of as Africa - it was similar to Uganda and Kenya. The north was more of a knock off from Egypt - the population was largely Arab and Islamic (think: middle east). How anyone thought this would be a good combination for a common country is beyond me.
The Arab north pressured Britain to combine the two regions. They gave in, and Arabic became the national language. More governmental power was given to the north, and the south got the short end of the stick. Sudan began it’s process of independence from the UK and Egypt in 1953, and by 1956, it was official. However, a civil car between the Arab-led north and the south had broken out a year earlier in 1955 that would last until ’72. Notice that Sudan’s very foundations were built on civil war.
In 1972, the Addis Ababa Agreement led to a ten year hiatus of the war between the north and the south. However, in 1983, the national government (controlled mostly by the north) began forcing Islamization on the country and pushed for the institution of Sharia Law. This wreaked havoc on the country and threw it into a tailspin of war. Since then, northern violence has been directed at the people of southern Sudan. Hundreds of thousands of southern Sudanese women and children have been taken into captivity, mainly into the North.
Meanwhile in 2003, the western region of Darfur is stirring with unrest. A rebel group begins to accuse the central government of neglecting their region. As a reaction, this rebel group initiates an ethnic cleansing of sorts in the region of Darfur. I’m sure you’ve heard about this particular conflict on the news in recent years. Peace agreements in the region have been semi-successful, but the tension between all parties remains extremely high.
If you’re still with me, I applaud you for wading through the historical jargon. However, I believe knowing where Sudan has been will ultimately lead you to care for it’s future. I trust you now know the grave importance of the January 9 voting in the south. The people of southern Sudan have been the victims of Islamic terror for over 50 years. On January 9, their voice will be heard the world over. Enough is enough.
Part two of “Sudan in the Making” will focus on the possible outcomes of the vote in 2011 and will be published in a few days. I encourage you to come back and learn about the catastrophic risks involved in such a decision.
Please, share this blog with your friends and family. The situation in Sudan needs as much attention as it can get. Millions of lives depend on it.