From: Paul Oranika <oranika@yahoo.com>
Date: 9 July 2011 15:43
Subject: NigerianID | Congratulations to Republic of Southern Sudan--An Essay
To: NaijaPolitics@yahoogroup.com
Congratulations to Republic of Southern Sudan
Today July 9th marks a new beginning for the new nation of Southern Sudan which becomes African's newest nation, the 54th country in the vast continent of Africa. I want to cease this opportunity as an African to send my warmest greetings and congratulations to the president Salva Kiir Mavardit and people of Southern Sudan on this occasion of the celebration of their independence. For more than two decades, the people of Southern Sudan embarked on a struggle for self determination from their oppressors, the Arabs from the North who migrated to the African continent long time ago.
In a show of unity, the people of Southern Sudan voted in the secession referendum held on January 11, 2011. In that popular referendum, South Sudanese people voted 98.83% to secede from Arab dominated government of Al Bashir, whose administration have decimated the South Sudanese people and countryside with its Janjaweed militia who inflicted genocidal attacks on poor and innocent peasants of South Sudan. The word Janjaweed is an Arabic colloquialism which simply means "A man with gun riding on a horse"
The members of the Janjaweed militia are mostly drawn from nomadic Arabic tribes who for long time have been suppressing the African families and tribes mostly farmers who lives in Darfur provinces of Sudan. The historical conflict in Sudan originated in Darfur partly due to scarcity of water and land resources necessary for farming and animal husbandry. The Janjaweed have been known historically as horse riding bandits who would intimidate non Arab farms to rob and steal their cows and resources.
With independence South Sudan's example has illustrated the problems and difficulties between Arabs and native Africans. The Arabs have often considered themselves superior to African people, it was such feeling that led to the trans-Saharan slave trade where local African people were sold to Arabs as slaves, and some were forcibly conquered and taken into slavery. South Sudanese people have demonstrated that despite their lack of military resources yet they were able to withstand the armed soldiers of the North in their bid for self determination
What are the lessons and Implications of the South Sudanese independence for the Sudanese people and for much of Africa? Well the problem of Arab domination is over in Sudan, and the African natives can now carve their own destiny. The main tribe in South Sudan is the Dinkas, and South Sudanese are mostly Christians with other Animist African religions.
Unlike much of other African countries that achieved independence without war, the South Sudanese independence was achieved with decades of war, and hence the South Sudanese independence has stirred much patriotism among their people and hopefully such nationalism would impact on their nation positively. Yesterday I watched the South Sudanese TV on the International Satellite Networks, and the level of nationalism displayed through the program was extraordinary.
There was a parade and march showcasing the Sudanese war veterans some with no hands and limbs, and were hopping along in the parade route. This group was followed by women widows whose husbands were killed in battle. It was very important that this level of nationalism was also echoed by the new administrators of South Sudan. One official acknowledged that this independence was won through the heroism and bloodshed by the Sudanese people. He concluded that the South Sudanese Government would take good care of the veterans and widows who made the victory possible.
On building the nation, it is not going to be easy, but with determination the South Sudanese would triumph on this as well. With little infrastructure in the South, the major industry and employer in Sudan today is the South Sudanese Liberation Army. With the abundant oil resources, the South Sudanese should learn lessons from the problems of other African nations such as Nigeria and try to diversify their economy from the start. While oil drilling is expected, the South Sudanese people should also endeavor to develop its agriculture as sole reliance on oil exports does not generally lead to improved standard of living and industrialization as demonstrated in countries like Nigeria and other oil exporting countries. Perhaps the South Sudanese Government may better manage their oil revenues to impact more of the Sudanese people as opposed to benefiting mostly their upper class.
Here are some economic realities of South Sudan. The new nation has more than 80% of Sudanese oil wells; crude oil is traditionally exported through oil pipelines and ports in the North. All the oil refineries are also located in the north. Sudan currently produces about 490,000 barrels of oil per day exported mostly to China. and the new nation receives about $100 million in aid from the United States annually.
In conclusion of this essay, I have to draw on the points made by one of Africa's foremost political analysts who was interviewed by the Russian Television (RT). Prof. Nua Akuete of Ghana was asked to appraise the economic chances for South Sudan comparing it to that of Nigeria which the team considered as a failing state. Prof. Akuete said the economic development chances for South Sudan are very good and its dynamics differs remarkably from that of Nigeria. Akuete mentioned that unlike Nigeria, the Christian/ Muslim divide is not going to hamper the economic development chances in the country as South Sudanese are mostly Christians with other native Animist religions. Prof Akuete also said that unlike Nigeria, the South Sudanese have committed early to develop their democratic institutions right from the start with much help from the United Nations, the United States and other developed democracies. So in a nut shell the chances for South Sudan are good, if and only if the country stays united and focused. One must also remember how easily power struggle ensues among African nations, and hopefully the South Sudanese example will be different from others.
Paul Okechukwu Oranika teaches at Grand Canyon University
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