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Miyar De'Nyok - My Blog
Miyar De'Nyok - My Blog
Self-determination politics: the South Sudan
Related to country: Sudan

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South-North CPA: the Principle Guiding Document for Peace-Roadmap by Miyar De’Nyok or Akurdit
Year 2005 will be memorable year in the history of the Sudanese more than the independent eve of 1956. Although Sudan was given independence by Britain, Southern Sudanese were still fighting for self-determination and the independent led by Joseph Lagu in 1955-1972. The stake of a peaceful Sudanism was not defined by that time. Even though there is war at present in the western region of the Sudan, Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) has envisioned democratic transformation of the Sudan and so all parties in the Sudan are stakeholders in the agreement regardless of their non-signatories. 2009 is the year of real action for the implementation of CPA protocol chapters, leading roadmap to fair and free referendum 2011, determining feasibility and possibility of South secession, addressing “popular consultation” contentious for Nuba and blue Nile regions and encouraging the vision of united Sudan if that works.
Factor 1 Upcoming 2009 Election Challenges
When strategies are planed and framed, it is very easy to agree onto the paper-document. But the actual translation of the signed document into real action is another challenge that is harder and harder to implement, and that ties a knot on the protocols agreed upon by the parties. There is always dissatisfaction and contention to be overcome and challenging opportunities to divert the intended meaningful peace settlement. In the beginning of 2005 of CPA delivering by both parties the National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM), it was a hope for all the Sudanese. However, after seven months, the death of late Dr. John Garang de Mabior was the beginning of the challenges and patches on the CPA.

Hitherto, the CPA observation and implementation has not satisfactorily been followed as planned and agreed upon by the NCP and SPLM, both parties have the biggest role and influence to implement and observe CPA protocol. One of the reasons is that SPLM and NCP are partners in the Government of National Unity (GoNU); therefore, they should fully cooperate to follow the plan and framework of the CPA constitutional policies. However, SPLM distanced itself and asked NCP for CPA implementation, this is the hardest debate all the Sudanese are trying to comprehend. The two parties are fighting for powers and control of the specific regions. Will that help the people of South Sudan and the unity of Sudan as a region? The deadlock on the contentious issues of lacking to implement CPA continues to divert interest and hopes of all the Sudanese.

The upcoming election is another CPA inaugural promising event that is going to pave way to the voice of voiceless local-citizens in the Sudan. However, there is fear on the fair and free election since it is the first time for the Sudanese to case their votes. The example of unprecedented African post-election violence has been observed and the ramification on socio-economic development is the worst one could imagine. With the violation of some CPA articles that have led to blood shed in Abyei region is the best instance of fear that intrigue despair among the Southerners. Issues of bad weather, lack of resources and census result for the Southern Sudan population, war in Darfur and ICC indictment are the contingences upon in which the election results will be legitimized.
Factor 2 Corruption and Tribalism Challenges
Corruption and tribalism are the most challenging factors that will either destabilize peace, intrigue violence, and implant prejudices on voting rights and election result conceding. Corruption and tribalism are not only considered to be manipulated in terms of material mutual benefit, but they are used in terms of ethnicity or tribe, religion, power control and decision-making, as well as fatigue of conflict and hatred among the fellow citizens. I think these challenges possesses key eclectic drawback of the peaceful Sudan and participatory democratic Sudanized nationalism.

The conflict in the Sudan has ingrained hatred and what has become a stereotypical trait among the Sudanese of seeing themselves in terms of ethnicity, religion and culture. Corruption and tribalism will affect 2009 election in terms of religion and ethnicity. Most people will vote according to their ethnicity and religion. This creates the issue of self-identity by increasing religious stereotype, political manipulation and tribal conflict. Therefore, the anticipation of fair election will be one that is decisively opinionated in either optimistic or pessimistic approach. That mean the NCP has to break its records of political manipulation and transform its image in the world as a part of change and liberty. NCP together with its political partners’ parties should encourage the Sudanese to find peace and prosperity by implementing CPA, meet the demands of the marginalized communities in the Sudan and conceding the 2009 election results without intriguing post-election violence.

Factor 3 SPLM Leadership Challenges
Is SPLM prepared to contest the 2009 election? SPLM is prepared to contest all the positions country wide. SPLM has to enforce its message of either uniting Sudan or seceding for South Sudan in 2011. There is no clear position the SPLM is taking right now. This affects the separatists’ position for secession of Southern Sudan, creating dilemma among the Southerners. SPLM should define its position whether to maintain the vision it has been fighting for, the vision for “new Sudan vision,” or not.

Another, dilemma SPLM is having now is the challenges from the separatists and unionists within the party as well as Southerners. The marginalized communities like Nuba and Southern Blue Nile have no clear message to either vote for SPLM or not. The party’s core ideologies have insignificant influence over its clients. I think SPLM should try to preach and define their position before election so that voters will know whether SPLM is pro-unity or secessionist. Other challenges may include charges to the party on account of tribalism and corruption.

Conclusion
The NCP and all the parties in the Sudan should have equal opportunities to try their political mechanism and intelligentsia to reach out and sell their vision as to why each party should be elected to the office. The ruling party should change its political strategies of intimidating other political leaders and the manipulation of the media without allowing other political parties to sell their seminal ideas.

The NCP and SPLM plus all other political parties should pay attention to CPA as their guiding constitutional will for solving contentious issues in the Sudan. Southern Sudan census should be released before the election even though many Southern Sudanese IDPs were not counted. Above all, if there is a way in which corruption and tribalism can be eliminated then that will be very great for the accountability of justice, transparency, equal distribution of resources, freedom of media, fair election results and inclusion of the marginalized communities. The fruition of a peaceful campaign will result into sustainable stability and participatory democracy by eliminating insinuated treatment and derogatory political manipulation.

Miyar De’Nyok or Akurdit, email mi.akurdit@gmail.com : a student from the University of Waterloo, majoring on Environment and Resource Studies, minor in Sustainable Local Economic Development

January 18, 2009 | 11:32 PM Comments  0 comments

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