South Sudan is embarking on a referendum on whether to stay a part of Sudan or declare independence from the Khartoum government. The big event is scheduled to take place on the 9th of January 2011. President Omar –Al Bashir says he “will not accept an alternative to unity”. The south and through various spokesmen do not see an alternative to holding the referendum on its scheduled day. Abyei is one of the areas holding the referendum, and it’s believed to have a sizable oil reserve, making it the biggest point of contention between north and south. If this impasse continues, it can permeate another conflict that could turn Sudan to another Somalia with grave consequences for the region and beyond.
The big question facing the south and the north is: can the referendum go ahead despite the objection of the north, and risk a devastating civil war which will affect everyone but those who in power? With Al-Qaeda figthers lurking in neighboring Yemen, any civil war in Sudan could spill into the capital Khartoum and create another failed state, where Muslims infighting and a Muslim-Christian fight could rage. The world cannot afford another failed state in the Mid-east or Africa. Mr. Al-Bashir who came to power as a result of a military coup will cite myriad reasons as to why the referendum should be delayed to better prepare for it and its outcome.
While I lament Mr. Al-Bashir’s lack of good governance, his denial of many of his countrymen and opposition the right to challenge him in fair and free elections. He is right on the question of unity. Sudan must stay intact; the southerners must keep pushing and garnering support from the international community and from the people of the north of Sudan and to remind their brethren, that Al-Bashir and his policies have been abominable for the two brother tribes. The Sudanese opposition cannot sit idly by and let Al-Bashir sacrifice away their sons and daughters in an adventure to keep power and money. The people of south Sudan deserve an equitable share of the wealth beneath their feet; the people of the north should not die in the process, whether by gun or sanctions– if the sanctions hyper-west decides to put any on the government of Khartoum.
North and South unite!