Sudan: A Country on Fragile Foundations

By Savo Heleta
Published in Islam Online
January 6 2009

In 2002, the government of Sudan and southern Sudanese politicians began peace process to end the north-south conflict that began in 1983.

In more than two decades of fighting over 4 million people were internally displaced, 600,000 took refuge in neighbouring countries, and 2 million died from fighting, starvation, and diseases.

After three years of negotiations, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed between the ruling National Congress Party and southern Sudan People's Liberation Movement in January 2005.

Now, four years after the peace agreement was signed, many reforms specified in the CPA are behind schedule. Even without considering the current conflict in Darfur, the future of Sudan is uncertain.

If the international community does not take interest and put serious diplomatic pressures on both sides to fully implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and hold free elections this year, Sudan may plunge into yet another north-south war and destabilize the entire region.

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Comments: 10

EM JAY (Gather Director of Chaos & Uprisings) W. Jan 14, 2009, 10:15am EST

Why do you think we don't hear much about the Sudan? Is it that we're overextended by the middle east or just that we don't care about African countries? Is it racism or ignorance or a bit of both?

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Savo Heleta Jan 14, 2009, 1:00pm EST

MJ, when the negotiations to end the north-south conflict were going on, the international community completely neglected the first year and a half of the Darfur conflict (those were two worst years). Then, when Darfur became top news, everyone began neglecting the implementation of the south-north peace agreement.

I think there are many reasons people in the West don't hear much about Sudan - being in Africa is one of them. Also, Darfur used to be top news... now with Gaza, it's hard to find anything about Darfur in the mainstream media.

I just hope north-south conflict does not resume - in the last conflict, over 2 million people died in two decades of fighting....

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Debra C. Jan 14, 2009, 4:18pm EST

I wonder when someone will recignize that stability on the African continent is important to world security? It is often treated like more of a 5th or 6th World -- and this, unfortunately, makes it likely this agreement will not be addressed in time to avert another destabalization.

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Savo Heleta Jan 15, 2009, 5:05am EST

Debra, I fully agree with you. The world will never be stable while billions live in extreme poverty and without freedom and security.

I am also afraid that, due to other conflicts and the global financial crisis, the implementation of Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement may not get enough attention; this may lead to way more destruction and suffering than what's happening in Darfur since 2003.

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