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talkpoliticsOn Saturday a digital clock in Juba counted the last minutes to the birth of the newest country in the world. The Republic of South Sudan celebrated all night its secession from Sudan with flying flags, dancing people and honks. This was a result of a long struggle, a civil war which lasted for five decades, hundreds of thousands of dead, millions of displaced people, lots of tears and pain. And a peaceful referendum in the end. That was possible thanks to the efforts of the international community. Eventually Sudan had to accept the will of the South Sudanese, and their choice was almost unanimous - nearly 99% voted "Yes" on the referendum.
So what now? OK, the most immediate needs of the new country may be the new passports, post stamps, a national currency, anthem, an internet domain, phone code and a flag... It actually got its flag already. Oh, and of course its own soccer team. In fact the first official international match of South Sudan was played in Juba against a Kenyan club, Tusker. And though the visitors won 3-1, it didn't spoil the party of the enthusiastic crowd.
So far so good. The way the whole process happened may serve as a lesson. The South seceded thanks to a popular referendum, which was closely observed by the international community. For decades the largest African country was torn by religious and ethnic conflicts, because the population in the North is Arab and Muslim, and that in the South is Nilotic (black) and mainly animist and/or Christian.
The independence of the oil-rich South Sudan from the central power in Khartoum was paid for with blood and tears - 1.5 million victims of the longest war in Africa. The referendum naturally followed the course of events which started in 2005 with the peace treaty that put an end to the bloody civil clash and defined the southern part as an autonomous entity.
In case you are still wondering where the hell South Sudan is (and in case you care somewhat), here:
The president of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir allowed the referendum although he initially insisted that the country should stay intact. OK, he initially promised double citizenship for the South Sudanese but then he backpedaled on his promise. By the way at the moment he is in a delicate position because the international court is accusing him of genocide in Darfur, another troubled part of Sudan. And the UN and the US have imposed economic sanctions on Sudan.
The unofficial information is that Obama's administration has offered him some concessions, including a dropping of Sudan from the list of terrorism sponsoring countries, restoration of the relations with the West and sending some aid, if al-Bashir agreed to let the South go. This raises some questions if the US is doing it just for the love of peace, freedom and democracy, or they want to establish a base in the Upper Nile through South Sudan, and take over most of the oil there. This will be seen in the next years. On a side note, one has to acknowledge that South Sudan reached this success thanks to the efforts of the previous US administration. Yes, GW Bush might have another statue built for him in Juba, after the one in Pristina (Kosovo). :-)
South Sudan has more than one similarity to Texas, the oil-rich state in the south of the US. It has approximately the same size. 3/4 of Sudan's oil reserves are there, and Sudan heavily relied on oil. But meanwhile this is one of the poorest and least developed regions, lacking schools and hospitals, and with a high rate of death from starvation (OK, the similarities end on the previous point). The South has been neglected by Khartoum for a very long time. Some have called this a hidden genocide of the Arab North against the Nilotic South.
The years of bloody fights have opened a wide gap between the Arabs and blacks in Sudan. But they will have to work together now, whether they like it or not. Because the oil pipelines will be starting from the South but passing through the North.
A potential danger of a new conflict is present in the Abyei region on the border between the North and South, and its statute is still unclear. Both have claims on this territory. The battles in Abyei and another border region (Kurdufan) have driven 170,000 people away from their homes. Last month an agreement was made that both sides should withdraw their troops from there and leave a 20 km buffer zone along the border. Now when the oil fields start to get drilled and the pipelines built, this may turn out more complicated.
The stats for the new country look like a shock. One in 7 kids dies before completing 5 years. South Sudan is one of the places with the highest death rate of pregnant women - one in 7 mothers dies of pregnancy complications. More than half of the children between 6 and 13 don't go to school. 84% of the women are completely illiterate. Only 6% of the girls who start school are able to finish their education. Meanwhile, South Sudan is torn by internal conflicts - over 1500 people have died this year alone in armed clashes. All this means that after the country gets over its party hangover from the great historic moment of secession, it will be facing a ton of huge problems. And it will need the support of the international community which it has enjoyed so far, and thanks to which it was able to get its independence. So the job is not done yet.
So what now? OK, the most immediate needs of the new country may be the new passports, post stamps, a national currency, anthem, an internet domain, phone code and a flag... It actually got its flag already. Oh, and of course its own soccer team. In fact the first official international match of South Sudan was played in Juba against a Kenyan club, Tusker. And though the visitors won 3-1, it didn't spoil the party of the enthusiastic crowd.
So far so good. The way the whole process happened may serve as a lesson. The South seceded thanks to a popular referendum, which was closely observed by the international community. For decades the largest African country was torn by religious and ethnic conflicts, because the population in the North is Arab and Muslim, and that in the South is Nilotic (black) and mainly animist and/or Christian.
The independence of the oil-rich South Sudan from the central power in Khartoum was paid for with blood and tears - 1.5 million victims of the longest war in Africa. The referendum naturally followed the course of events which started in 2005 with the peace treaty that put an end to the bloody civil clash and defined the southern part as an autonomous entity.
In case you are still wondering where the hell South Sudan is (and in case you care somewhat), here:
The president of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir allowed the referendum although he initially insisted that the country should stay intact. OK, he initially promised double citizenship for the South Sudanese but then he backpedaled on his promise. By the way at the moment he is in a delicate position because the international court is accusing him of genocide in Darfur, another troubled part of Sudan. And the UN and the US have imposed economic sanctions on Sudan.
The unofficial information is that Obama's administration has offered him some concessions, including a dropping of Sudan from the list of terrorism sponsoring countries, restoration of the relations with the West and sending some aid, if al-Bashir agreed to let the South go. This raises some questions if the US is doing it just for the love of peace, freedom and democracy, or they want to establish a base in the Upper Nile through South Sudan, and take over most of the oil there. This will be seen in the next years. On a side note, one has to acknowledge that South Sudan reached this success thanks to the efforts of the previous US administration. Yes, GW Bush might have another statue built for him in Juba, after the one in Pristina (Kosovo). :-)
South Sudan has more than one similarity to Texas, the oil-rich state in the south of the US. It has approximately the same size. 3/4 of Sudan's oil reserves are there, and Sudan heavily relied on oil. But meanwhile this is one of the poorest and least developed regions, lacking schools and hospitals, and with a high rate of death from starvation (OK, the similarities end on the previous point). The South has been neglected by Khartoum for a very long time. Some have called this a hidden genocide of the Arab North against the Nilotic South.
The years of bloody fights have opened a wide gap between the Arabs and blacks in Sudan. But they will have to work together now, whether they like it or not. Because the oil pipelines will be starting from the South but passing through the North.
A potential danger of a new conflict is present in the Abyei region on the border between the North and South, and its statute is still unclear. Both have claims on this territory. The battles in Abyei and another border region (Kurdufan) have driven 170,000 people away from their homes. Last month an agreement was made that both sides should withdraw their troops from there and leave a 20 km buffer zone along the border. Now when the oil fields start to get drilled and the pipelines built, this may turn out more complicated.
The stats for the new country look like a shock. One in 7 kids dies before completing 5 years. South Sudan is one of the places with the highest death rate of pregnant women - one in 7 mothers dies of pregnancy complications. More than half of the children between 6 and 13 don't go to school. 84% of the women are completely illiterate. Only 6% of the girls who start school are able to finish their education. Meanwhile, South Sudan is torn by internal conflicts - over 1500 people have died this year alone in armed clashes. All this means that after the country gets over its party hangover from the great historic moment of secession, it will be facing a ton of huge problems. And it will need the support of the international community which it has enjoyed so far, and thanks to which it was able to get its independence. So the job is not done yet.
(no subject)
Date: 21/7/11 13:54 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 21/7/11 14:46 (UTC)I think a better way to put that would be, a popular referendum ratified South Sudan's secession and made it official. As you mention farther down, secession was a result of years, almost generations, of civil war and genocide leading to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005.
(no subject)
Date: 21/7/11 15:07 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 21/7/11 15:17 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 21/7/11 18:52 (UTC)I think I got confused by the memory of this:
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(no subject)
Date: 21/7/11 18:59 (UTC)It's great too see...
Date: 21/7/11 21:47 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 22/7/11 01:36 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 22/7/11 07:54 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 21/7/11 18:32 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 21/7/11 18:55 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 21/7/11 19:00 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 21/7/11 19:26 (UTC)It's about time!
Date: 21/7/11 21:54 (UTC)I wish South Sudan the best in its future endeavors.
(no subject)
Date: 22/7/11 00:00 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 22/7/11 06:15 (UTC)