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POST-CONFLICT SUDAN CONFERENCE
/PART ONE/
CAN THERE BE A SUSTAINABLE PEACE, DEMOCRACY, AND DEVELOPMENT, UNDER
SECTARIAN POLITICAL ISLAM?
EXPERIENCE FROM SUDAN
By
Deng Dongrin Akuany, LLB (Hons) BSc. DDA MA Ph.D.
1. INTRODUCTION
It is often said that Sudan has never experienced sustainable peace, democracy, and equitable socio-economic and political development, because, the country has been at war and in war with itself, since it achieved political independence, over forty years ago. Although different and sometimes conflicting answers and explanations have been given as the causes of the conflict, yet most Sudanese from all races and religious creed, do agree that the "Tafiya" i.e. sectarian Jallabaism, or Minority sectarian Arab Islamic national groupings, are responsible for the current political violence and instabilities.
(1)
However, the existing records have confirmed, that the political parties in question, have adopted and used among other means, Arabisation (racism)
Islamisation (religious domination) and assimilation (i.e. Arab Islamic version of Apartheid) as the bases for creating an Arab Islamic nation-state in Sudan.
(2)
Ironically, all the sectarian regimes, civilian and military, that ever came to power in Sudan, had always, adopted and imposed, racist policies and Islamic constitution, on all the Sudanese people.
(3)
As a result of the continuous, human rights violations, political instabilities, and recurrent civil wars, over two million Sudanese people have died, over five million more displaced, and several million others have been reduced to slaved based existence and destitution.
(4)
This paper describes and analyses, the above-mentioned impasse. Attempts will be made to describe and define terms such as internal or settler Colonialism, bureaucratic feudalism, oriental despotism, and Arab Islamic Apartheid and to show how each has been used, hitherto. It will be argued that a country founded on the basis of inequalities, or human rights,abuses, can not experience or enjoy, stability or sustainable peace, democracy and socio-economic progress. Furthermore, a country, which is dominantly multi-racial, multi-religious, multi-cultural, and multi-linguistic, can not successfully be transformed into any one single racial, cultural, religious and linguistic community, without holocaust being committed. In conclusion, this paper will propose that, the "Old Sudan" must be replaced with the "New Sudan", as has been proposed by the SPLM/SPLA, otherwise, the country will disintegrate, or there will not be any sustainable peace, democracy and development in the country for an indefinite period.
3. THE MINORITY SECTARIAN ARAB ISLAMIC POLITY IN SUDAN
Sectarian Arab Islamic polity may be described as a theocratic polity, under the control of Arab Islamic sects, who apply autocratic or oriental despotic policies, structures and institutions, through which the entire population is undemocratically and ruthlessly dominated, oppressed, exploited, and enslaved in the name of Allah. (5) In such a polity, political parties, or political activities are organised and operated by heads of the religious sects (or families) or through their trusted agents. The Sudanese case falls within the above described polity, whereby 12 or more Arab Islamic sects, identified as: Khatimiya, Ansar al Mahdi, Ansar al Sunni, Yusufiya-Hindiya, Tijaniya, Idrisiya, Gaderiya, Ismaeliya, Samaniya, shakiziliya, Ikuwan al Muslimeen (Muslim Brotherhood) Republican Brothers, Al Dawaa al Islamiya (Islamic Call or Mission), have been able, to establish a Minority Sectarian Arab Islamic political and economic hegemony, after having inherited political and economic power from the Anglo-Egyptian Colonialism.
The sectarian groupings mentioned above, representing less than 6 per cent, of the whole population, have been dominating the country, through the control of state apparatus, or institutions, and national resources. (6) These Arab Islamic Sects, have equally established three most dominant sectarian political parties, through which their political activities have been carried out, and they include Umma Party (under Ansar al Mahdi and other sects), Democratic Unionist Party, (under Khatimiya, Yusufiya -Hindiya and other sects) National Islamic Front (now divided into two) i.e., National Congress, and National People's Congress (under Muslim Brotherhood, Dawaa Islamiya and other sects) (7). Furthermore, all successive Minority Arab regimes, in the Sudan had been able to create, certain institutions and structures, through which an Arab nation-state has been progressively established and they include the following: - (8)
i) Internal or Settler Colonialism
ii) Oriental despotism
iii) sectarian Jallaba
iv) Bureaucratic feudalism
v) Arab Islamic Apartheid
(1) INTERNAL OR SETTLER COLONIALISM
The concept of Settler or Internal Colonialism was originally used to explain the political and economic crisis of former old South Africa, and the Celtic Fringe experience in Britain's national development. The leading theorists on the subject, maintain, that, Settler or Internal Colonial relationship: (9) " ... is conceived of as occurring between different countries, total populations, nations, geographical areas or between peoples of different races, colours and cultures." and that, "... the Colonial relationship is characterised, in a general way as involving political, economic, racial, and cultural domination, oppression and exploitation of an indigenous peoples by one foreign racial group."
(10) "... Typically the Colonisers exploit the land, the raw materials, the labour, and other resources of the Colonised nation, ...to maintain this subordination"(1l) Although the contents, structures and the application of Minority Settler Colonialism may differ from country to country, the effects caused by it, are quite the same, for they all aim to marginalise, or alienate, exploit, dominate, oppress, dehumanise or enslave and colonise, the indigenous peoples. (12) For example, in former South Africa, the Minority White Settler Colonial authorities had considered the indigenous Africans, as inferior and therefore, adopted Apartheid system of rule, based on segregation, discrimination and marginalisation of the African majority, on the grounds of race and colour. And that Africans were organised according to their Homelands or tribal groupings, where they were divided oppressed and colonised (13) While in the Sudan, the Minority Arab Settlers have depicted the African majority as inferior people without culture, religion, and civilisation, and claim that it is the right of the Arab national group, to Arabise, Islamise, assimilate, enslave and rule them, by all means, if necessary through force.
(14) The Sudanese case, is actually similar with that of the Minority White French Settler Colonialism which was used in the West and North Africa during the Colonial period. The French type of Settler Colonialism like the Arab's, considers itself as superior and civilised and depicts the victims as inferior being, in all aspects, and that it was (and still is) the duty of the Frenchmen or the Arabs, to control the national political and economic resources, and use them, to civilise, transform and assimilate the Colonised subjects, in order to make them believe and accept fully, the Arabism-Islamism or Frenchmen culture, traditions and language, as their own. In both cases, the victim is totally denied basic human rights, kept alienated or marginalised, oppressed, poor and dependent, on the very oppressor. (15) For the indigenous African Sudanese, what the SPLM/SPLA describes as "the Minority ruling Clique", in the "Old Sudan", is in fact, a "Minority Arab Settler Colonial ruling clique, which has adopted and continued to use various Colonial and racist policies, institutions and structures, to keep the African Sudanese under its absolute control (16) (II) ORIENTAL DESPOTISM
Oriental Despotism is used here to refer to a system of rule, in which the leader claims a divine right to rule. In both theory and practice, the oriental despotic ruler; "... tends to present himself, whether as high priest, son of heaven or Son of God, as the intermediary between men and the divinity or even as God himself, in as much as he is the trustee of life and death, the guarantor of fertility of the World." (17) and that, "The concentration of so many powers, economic and political, religious, moral, civil and military, in a single individual is one of the unmistakable cultural traits of oriental societies." (18)
The above mentioned features are applicable to the Sudanese case, where leaders of the Arab Settlers, have proclaimed themselves as imams, khalifas, or divine rulers, or Prophet-kings and representatives of the Prophet of Allah on earth. Here the oreintal despotic leaders, in Sudan provide the ideological base, or the spiritual, economic and political guidance and protection for the sectarian communities, and strong links with outside world, specially the Arab Islamic countries. (19)
(III) SECTARIAN JALLABAISM
The notion of 'Sectarian Jallaba' is used herewith to describe a class of merchants in the Sudan. This merchant class consists of those who are engaged not only in commerce, but also in various activities including, political, religious, security, and military as well. This notion is based on the three related reasons, being held by majority of the marginalised, and oppressed Sudanese people, and are as follows: (20) 1) Firstly, the founders of the Islamic religious sects, and merchants capital (Jallaba) are Arab Settlers, who entered the country in various ways and capacities ranging from peaceful migration and to direct Colonial military conquest. 2) Secondly, almost all the members of merchants capital are members of various Islamic Religious Sects, who are simultaneously engaged in commercial, political, military and religious activities, and 3) Finally, members of Islamic religious sects, merchants capital, and dominant Arab and Arabised ruling clique, share common ideology, and interests and have been able to make various alliances among themselves.
For the African National Group, Sectarian Jallaba is any member of the Arab or Arabised Sudanese who is either engaged in full time Commercial activities or employed by the State in its institutions or services, to carry out oppressive anti Africans policies. Therefore, a Sectarian Jallaba may even be a police or an army officer, a security, a Medical Doctor, an administrator, a Judge, a imam, etc., who in many cases, tend to discriminate, alienate, oppress, enslave or undermine the interests of the African Sudanese in all areas of specialism, specially in the commercial sector industries and government institutions. (21)
(IV) BUREAUCRATIC FEUDALISM
Bureaucratic Feudalism refers to a system of state of power in which specific families permanently control the state institutions, in a similar manner a landlord may control his serfs or tenants. The most important feature is, that, recruitment within the state institutions, and national corporations, are gained through an organised nepotism or corruption, resembling inheritance and not through equal opportunity or qualifications. (22) To ensure the success of these processes, all the national boards for appointments, promotions, intake to military and police colleges, and universities are controlled by members of the sectarian Arab families, who deliberately discriminate upon any targeted national groupings, by appointing, promoting and selecting only those from their respective families or their allies, even when, they are not qualified. And it is under such conditions, that bureaucratic feudalism is used, and it is through that the Minority Arabsettlers have been able to maintain their control over the state institutions, or apparatus and the civil society, hitherto. (23)
(V) ARAB ISLAMIC APARTHEID
Arab Islamic Apartheid may be described as a socio-political and economic system whereby the Arab dominant political group or state defines arbitrarily the socio-political and economic rights of none Muslims, under their political power. (24) The law known as 'Ahl el dhimma', (i.e. the law of the protected people), was used by the Prophet Mohammed and later by the Khalifas, (Prophet successors) to control the Jews, Christians and other none Arab nationalities, under the Arab Islamic State. According to this law, members of the 'protected people" were required to reside, work, worship or pray at specifically marked separate locations or areas, as defined by the law. In deed members of the so-called protected people, were required to wear on their necks some tags to identify them in the community. (25) Under Islamic laws, non-Muslims were treated as half human beings before the law, and were not allowed to own property or land, in certain areas.
Christians, Jews and others, were not allowed to hold senior positions in the Islamic state and were given second class jobs, and treated as 2nd class citizens, without rights. The non-Muslims were also forced to pay special high taxes, 'jiza' as recognition and absolute surrender to Islamic authority and power. (26) The residential areas, of Christians, Jews and others, were described as 'Dar al Hareb' i.e. the war zone, while the Muslims residential areas, were described as, 'Dar el Salam', i.e., the peace zone. And that the Muslim community of Dar el Salam, is always at a permanent holy war basis, against those, in the Dar el Hareb until the non-Muslims were either converted to Islamic faith, or be exterminated or kept as ahl el dhimma permanently.
(27) The organisational structures of the system for the so-called 'protected people' was either similar or worst than that, of the segregated homelands of former White Minority Settler Colonialism in South Africa. (28) The Sudanese Arab Islamic Apartheid is equally, based on racism, where both African Muslims, and non Muslims alike, are equally discriminated, marginalised and enslaved on the basis of race & colour. For non-Arab Muslims, are considered to be inferior, because they are non-Al Asharaf (i.e., relatives of the Prophet) and non-Awalad el Bled (i.e., true citizens of the land), and not members of the Brown Riverian Arab Muslim Sudanese "BRAMS" and should not lead the Arab Islamic nation-state. (29) Under the Islamic Sharia Laws in Sudan, for example, African Muslims, and non Muslim Africans have been the main victims of persecution and execution representing over 90 per cent of those who had their limbs and hands cross-amputated, murdered and imprisoned. (30) Many academic researchers have equally, confirmed the existence in the Sudan, of the above-mentioned institutions, structures and human rights abuses.
For example, Dr. Umbada, identified how "State Executive power has been controlled by one national group, in Sudan since 1950s", Dr. Ushari Mahmud and S. Baldo on documented "Slavery" in Sudan, Dr. Abdel Rahman Abaker, documented "Internal Colonialism and Uneven development and the origin of crisis" in Sudan, Dr. I.K. Mohammed documented "regional disparities and uneven development", Dr. Mansur Khalid documented among others
"The Government They Deserve", Mr. Abel Alier, documented how "Too many Agreements Dishonoured", Dr. Francis Deng, documented among others "the War of Visions". It is equally important to mention here, the "Black Book: Sudan", which has provided us with the concrete evidences, showing how three minority sectarian Arab tribes, have been dominating, exploiting, and oppressing, the majority of Sudanese people, on the racist, tribalist and religious chauvinist
grounds. The book exposed the current sectarian regime of General Omer Bashir, in his practice, of nepotism, racism, unequal distribution of political and economic resources, as reflected in the executive branch of the government between (1989-1999), and shown as follows: - (31)
Regions No. of post percentage population percentage
Eastern 1 1.4% 2,212,779
11.8%
Northern 58 79.5% 1,016,406
5.4%
Central 2 2.8% 4,958,038
26.5%
Southern 12 16.4% 4,407,450
23.7%
Western 0 0% 6,072,872
32.6%
The above-mentioned imbalances, are more worst in the civil services, army, judiciary, national corporations, including universities, where the three Arab tribes mentioned above control over 90 per cent. The other most important work that ought to be mention here is, a book written and published in 1952, by an Egyptian Arab, Abel Gader, entitled "personalities from Sudan: Secrets under the Men", where he described how Sudanese were divided along racial and religious lines as reflected in the distribution of the population he studied. He also described the spread or growth of Islamic sectarianism and how sectarian leaders have been able to enslave the Sudanese, including the intellectuals. He identified ten Arab Islamic sects, among those already mentioned above, which he described as: (32) "Divisive and exploiting individualistic, egoistic and narrow minded Non-nationalistic, and inward looking undemocratic, dictatorial, oppressive and enslaving"
Most Sudanese of all races and religions has confirmed those features mentioned above. (See map of Sudan 1952). (33)Abdel Gader's study showed the division and distribution of Sudanese people among the Sectarian Arab families or groups and those from non-sectarian African and Arab groups throughout the country, as follows: (34)
KHATIMIYA
TABLE. 1
Northern Province - 446,550
Kassala " 423,600
Khartoum " 268,200
Kordofan " 79,950
Blue Nile " 248,775
Darfur " 39,950
Total 1,506,630
ANSAR EL MAHDI
TABLE .2
Northern Province - 20,610
Kassala " 21,180
Kordofan " 44,700
Khartoum " 338,700
Darfur " 559,300
Dar Masalit 20,650
Blue Nile 392,540
total 1,397,540
YUSUFIYYA-HINDIYYA
TABLE.3
Northern Province - 17,175
Kassala " 213,500
Blue Nile " 663,400
Khartoum " 30,050
Kordofan " 17,700
Total 941,825
TIJANIYA:
TABLE. 4
Northern Province - 23,740
Darfur " 149,850
Kordofan " 127,288
Blue Nile " 20,755
Dar Masalit " 113,250
Total 434,883
GADERIYA:
TABLE.5
Northern Province - 68,700
Blue Nile " 165,850
Khartoum " 22,350
Kordofan " 31,822
Total 288,722
OTHER ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS SECTS
Other Islamic Religious Sects which include (i.e., Ikuwan or Muslim Brotherhood, (now National Islamic Front) Republican Brothers, Idrisiya, Ismealiya, Samaniya, Chakziliyya, Ansar al-Sunni) represented the
following:- (35)
TABLE.6
Northern Province - 54,350
Kasha " 14,120
Kordofan " 394,775
Darfur " 49,950
Khartoum " 22,350
Blue Nile " 82,950
Dar Masalit " 41,300
Total 662,770
The distribution of non-sectarian groups covering the whole country was shown
as follows:- (36)
TABLE 7
Northern Province - 68,700
Kasha " 70,600
Blue Nile " 82,,925
Darfur 39,950
Khartoum Province 02,008
Kordofan " 497,775
Bahr el Ghazal " 899,800
Upper Nile " 879,900
Equatoria " 656,323
Dar Masalit " 41,300
Total 3,857,581
The tables above showed that, about 50 per cent of Sudanese people at that time (i.e. 52) were socially (religiously) economically and politically controlled and dominated by the Minority Arab Islamic sectarian families, while non-sectarian groups representing over 40 per cent of the whole country, were (and still are) facing war of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and slavery from the dominant sectarian Arabs and their regime," since 1955. (37) As a consequence of the above situation, the Sudan, has been at war and in war with itself for the last five decades, because the non-sectarian African and Arab groups have strongly been resisting or opposing, Arab Islamic Apartheid (i.e. Arabisation, Islamisation and assimilation) and other human rights abuses imposed on them by all successive minority ruling clique regimes, civilian and military, that ever came to power in Khartoum since 1950s. (38)
Therefore I absolutely agree with Prof. Francis M. Deng, for saying that the current war in Sudan is "war of visions" although I believe it is also a war for resources, including land and oil. (39) Be it, as it may, the victims are left with two bitter choices, either to continue fighting for self-defence and self-determination until victory day, or surrender into slavery, dehumanisation, and extermination. And the choice, made by the freedom fighters, as we all see, is to fight on to the finish. (40)
/PART TWO/
3. SUSTAINABLE PEACE UNDER SECTARIANISM, OR POLITICAL
ISLAM?
Sustainable peace can not exist under any sectarian-based political entity, be it Christian or Islamic. Sustainable peace can not exist in a house, and for that matter, a country, divided against itself, and at worse, at war with itself. It is equally true to say that a country where a considerable part of its population, lives as slaves, second or third class citizens, can not enjoy everlasting peace. (41)
It is therefore natural, that Sudan couldn’t experience sustainable peace since Colonial era, due to existence of dominant Minority Sectarian Arab Islamic ruling clique, controlling political and economic power and using that great power to achieve its sectarian aspirations, as described above, in a country with established multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-religious, and multi-linguistic national groupings. (42)
All attempts to realise a just sustainable peace, in the country have continued to fail, because, the sectarian Arabs leaders would not accept any co-existence, based on equal justice, and respect for human rights for all Sudanese. As such, have equally continued to dishonour all the agreements reached, between them and their victims.
It is terribly lamentable, to see and to feel that most of our fellow Sectarian Arab Islamic political and military elite in the Sudan, have not learnt any lessons of bitter experiences from other peoples, especially, from former White Minority Apartheid based regime, former Rhodesia, former South West Africa (now Namibia) former Soviet Union or USSR, Yugoslavia, Arab and Kurdish crisis in Iraq, Arabs and Jewish conflict in Palestine/Israel, (just to mention a few examples), where one national racial group, attempts to impose, or actually imposed its own political hegemony, cultural, religious, or racial traditions on other national groupings, using state organised terrorism and borrowed ideologies. (43)
Instead of looking for an Arab “De Klerk”, to negotiate a honourable way out or peaceful solution rather, in similar way, it was done in former Minority White Apartheid based South Africa, it is the appeals to all the Arabs and Islamic world to join the Holly war, for more “jihad” are being made by the regime and its supporters.Despite the fact that thousands of young untrained men, Islamically indoctrinated or brainwashed, are daily sent to their death, in the war, without real military victory foreseeable. (44)
In deed, the need for an Arab De Klerk now, to join the Africa “Mandela” increases daily, since, the oppressed have apparently got their “Mandela”, and “ANC”, ready any time, to bring just peace, through the establishment of New Sudan, united on a new basis. (45)
Therefore, sustainable peace can only prevail, where respect for basic human rights and justice enshrined on national constitution, are practically adopted and implemented by the state, civil societies and the people at large.
4. SUSTAINABLE DEMOCRACY UNDER SECTARIANISM?
Sustainable democracy may be used her to refer to a democratic system of governance, where representatives democratically elected, form a national government, to govern and preside over state’s programmes of action, which respect and incorporate aspirations of all nationalities and communities, regardless of race, colour, creed and region.
Democratic system of governance is based on secular democratic constitution, which adheres and respects among others, basic human rights, freedom of press, freedom of choice or self-self-determination, multi-party activities, and due process of law. Furthermore, democratic governments respect the principle of separation of powers between the main organs of state, namely executive, legislature, and judiciary, and must equally be accountable, transparent and democratic in their daily operations.
However, sectarian political systems, or parties, are usually autocratic, and feudalistic in theory and practice. For their political ideas are based on the divine power of God. And because, of their undemocratic, tendencies, they reject any democratic processes, institutions, and due process of law, unless it is beneficial to their sectarian interests. (45)
The sectarian Arab Islamic political system, likewise, is autocratic and feudally oriented. And its political ideology is based on oriental despotism, or divine power of God. And it is for this reason that all the governments in the Middle East and North Africa are either under family based monarchies or autocratic rule. (46)
Hence all the systems of governance, based on racism and sectarianism (i.e. Apartheid or assimilation), have always been under dictatorships, because, they are founded on injustice or human rights violations. (47)
To understand Islamic Politics properly, we must seek correct answers to the following questions, summarised as follows: - (48)
-Can sectarian political organisations or parties
be democratic in contents and operations?
-Can oriental despotic societies be democratic?
-Can there be a just despot?
-Is there is democracy in Islamic?
-Can Shurah council, under the Prophet, be
considered as a democratic institution?
-Were any members of Shurah Council,
democratically elected or appointed?
Can democracy be applied in societies,
which are dominantly sectarian and feudally organised?
There is only one common answer to the above-mentioned questions, as evidenced by the existing records, and it is “no”. For example, Sheikh Muhammad Abduh, confirmed in his article, entitle, “Only a just Despot will ensure the renaissance of the Orient”. For, Sheikh Abduh, a just despot must be autocratic, ruthless and dictatorial, and would use force, “amputation and cauterisation” to achieve all his objectives within 15 years. (49)
The Sudanese case falls within the sectarian Islamic or oriental despotic system of governance, described above. For in Sudan, Minority Sectarian Arab Settlers, and the Arabised Africans, representing only 39 % of the whole population, and who inherited political and economic power from the Anglo-Egyptian Arab Colonial regime, in 1956, had continued to impose undemocratically unjust policies, on the whole country.
All the attempts by the above-mentioned minority ruling clique, to use the Western Liberal Democratic institutions to promote and maintain its policies in the Sudan had failed several times. For example three Sectarian Arab Islamic parties had succeeded in wining democratic general elections in four or more different general elections and after gaining majority members in the Parliament or Constituent Assembly, had subsequently formed the Governments either as a single party or coalition governments. But all the regimes failed to govern the country properly, justly and democratically, and instead they corrupted all democratic institutions and structures in the process. (51)
The failure of the Arab dominant ruling National group to create a honest Liberal democratic society in the Sudan is to be blamed on the very nature of the Arab Islamic societies, which are basically despotic, and feudalistic in their contents and operations. For example, party leaders are appointed and removed from their positions by the Patron and not by democratic means. And that any democratic exercise within those parties is sham. (52)
Hence they failed to resolve the Sudanese problem, which requires democratic solution and instead resorted to military dictatorship and imposition of an Islamic constitution, and the Islamic State by force. (53)
For under any Islamic State or oriental despotic government, anything is possible. For under such a system, all the demands for social justice, equality before the law, or respect for human rights, are seen as opposition against the divine right of the rulers to carry out their sacred duties. And therefore, considered not only as treason but apostasy, and punishable by death through crucifixion and crossed amputations. (54)
It is these undemocratic advantages that had prompted the sectarian Arab Islamic political leaders, in Sudan, to urge always, their military officers to intervene forcefully into Sudanese politics. And to take over power, in order to carry out or implement programmes, which their political parties had failed to do through democratic means. (55)
It was therefore not by accident that General, Ibrahim Aboud (1957-64) expelled Christian Missionaries, abolished Sunday as worship day, in the South Sudan and imposed Arabisation and Islamisation by force. (56)
It was equally not by accident, that General Nimiere (1969-85) came to power, and imposed Islamic Sharia Laws in l983, despite the fact that majority of Sudanese people, including the elected members of National Assembly and entire members of Regional Assembly had rejected it. (57)
It was not surprising too, that Nimiere and the leaders of the current National Islamic Front murdered or crucified a 70-year old, leader of Republican Muslim Brothers in 1985 just to frighten off any possible criticism or opposition to Nimiere’s Islamic constitution and government. (58)
For Nimiere’s regime, like Bashir’s, was corrupt, murderous, and ungodly in any form. And the only way he thought he could get away with them safely, (which he did) was to declare himself Imam, if not the “Mahdi!” after having enjoyed, possibly, the most wonderful worldly life styles.(59)
It is for the above reasons that the Arab Settlers, in the Sudan do consider the creation of religious sects, Islamic Constitution, and Islamic State, to be very crucial development, in their political struggle. Because, it would politically and legally legitimise the existence of an Islamic Arab nation-state in the country. And whereby only the Arabs and the Arabised Riverians, who claimed to be ‘Al- Sharaf,’ (i.e. the relatives of the Prophet) ‘Awalad al Bled’, (i.e. Sons of the Land) ‘Khalifas’, ‘Imams’, BRAMS and the like, would be the legitimate rulers, and none could question that, without incrimination and persecution. (60)
Therefore the creation of several Arab Islamic Sects, throughout the country, and armed with unlimited political, economic and military resources, was one of the projects, designed to expand and control the entire Sudanese masses during the last four decades. And that the “Dawaa Islamiyya” or Islamic Mission was established in Sudan, to organise, finance and direct, various Islamic oriented projects, especially those concerned with the Islamic Civilisation Project. (61)
Therefore, the creation of an Islamic Constitution and the establishment of an Arab Islamic State, may be considered as the highest achievement of the Minority Arab internal or Settler Colonialism in the Sudan, and elsewhere in Africa. (62)
Mohammed Ahmed Mahgoub a product of sectarianism, and a leading member of Umma Party, twice Prime Minister of Sudan, and who led Sudan in joining the Arab League, criticised his own party and masters “the Mahdist Family” in his book entitled “Democracy on Trial”, as follows: - (63)
“They (the leaders of Islamic religious Sects)
consider the rule of the state as booty to be
inherited and divided between them to the
exclusion of the members of the party who did
not belong to a Mahdi family...”
While the above statement was absolutely correct, yet Mahgoub and many others failed to acknowledge the fact, that they were used as instruments through which sectarian and racist policies were perpetrated. Mahgoub also failed to see how he personally abused the institutions and structures of democracy, when he ruthlessly implemented, the sectarian and racist policies, as reflected in his war of genocide, in South Sudan, where thousands of innocent civilian African Sudanese were massacred
with impunity. (64)
5. THE NATIONAL ISLAMIC FRONT (NIF) & DEMOCRACY
Although it was well known that all the successive sectarian civilian and military regimes, had failed in the past to resolve the Sudanese problem by force and other false means, yet, the NIF leaders made a successful military coup in 1989, claiming that they will be able to achieve what others had failed to do. But as we have seen, from the existing records of the regime, the situation has actually, gone from bad to worst, since they took power.
For example there has been no peace, no economic progress, and real democracy, since, the NIF regime proclaimed Sudan as an Arab Islamic nation-state. And abolished all secular laws, non-Arab languages, including English, in all the Schools and Universities, and imposed total Arabisation, Islamisation and other racist policies, throughout the country.
Furthermore, the war has been extended from Southern Sudan, Southern Kordofan (Nuba Mountains), Southern Blue Nile (Ingessna Hills) and Abeyi Province, to Darfur and Eastern regions (Beja Congress areas), and to Reshadia Arab villages in the Eastern region (65)
In deed, the regime has continued with implementation of its major political project, known as “Islamic Civilisation Project”, which is supposed to transform the whole country into an Arab-Islamic civilised Nation-state by the year 2002. In this, various Islamic institutions, structures and Arab-Islamic traditions and customs have been created and imposed on all the Sudanese people, Muslims, Christians and others. For example, Islamic Constitution, Shariah Laws, Islamic Council, (Shurrah) Women dress, Arabic language, Arab names and titles and other Islamic Codes, have been adopted and imposed on everyone and all the regions (66)
In addition, the regime has decreed and imposed, its system of governance, and nicknamed it, “Federalism” but in actual fact, it is not federal. But a balkanised Bantustan-like system of homeland rule, especially in the marginalised areas. Here, tribal based regions, states, provinces and governments, have been established throughout the areas in question, without any political and financial powers given to them. But are effectively used as instruments, for controlling the oppressed therein.
For all appointments both political and civil services, have been done by Khartoum leaders, just to accommodate Islamists and collaborators or traitors. The regime, then set up militias from all marginalised areas, and fit not only Nuba against Nuba, but tribe against itself, in similar manner, the White Minority Apartheid regime, in former South Africa, did with its victims, i.e. Zulu tribe fitted against other black tribes and latter against itself, with Zulu Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi and his Inkatha party militias massacring Zulu tribesmen and other black Africans on behalf of the dying White Minority Apartheid regime. (67)
For example South Sudan’s three provinces have been subdivided into ten regions or states, with several provinces or districts, being made regions and states. But without any actual political and financial powers given to them, not even to appoint Local Government officers and clerks. Similarly, Southerners are fitted against each other or Nuer against Nuer, Jiang against Jiang, with NIF regime supplying arms to both sides, in some cases. (68)
In fact, the regime has created thousands of powerless constitutional positions to bribe and accommodate many political opponents or prostitutes, traitors, mercenaries, and etc., throughout the country. For example, the number of ministers and other constitution holders appointed is quite alarming, i.e., the Central Government has about 400 ministers and other constitutional holders, plus National Assembly members who are about 400 MPS. (69)
While the Regions which are, now 26 in number have, 26 state Governors and 26 Deputy Governors, over 200 regional ministers and other constitutional holders, plus over 200 provincial commissioners and deputies, and about 1300 members, of regional Assemblies.
All these have accelerated the degree or the processes of corruption, nepotism, racism, tribalism, sectarianism, feudalism, and lawlessness in the country and have equally crippled the state power, and public institutions, especially, the judiciary, police, army, the civil services and the financial institutions. (70)
To consolidate its authority over the country, the NIF regime, has also established five or more terrorists based security organisations, through which its policies have been carried out. The Popular Defence Force, which is the most brutal NIF party Militia (with more powers than the Sudan Army), and with more than two hundred thousand armed men, have carried its war of genocide against unarmed civilians, especially children and women, in the targeted regions. In fact, the NIF security network has been identified or compared with “Gestapo” of Nazis Germany Regime during the 2nd World War, by the victims and independent observers. (71)
The NIF Security Organs, has set up centres known as “Ghost Houses”, where political opponents are tortured, murdered, raped etc., with impunity. Meanwhile, the Popular Defence Force, and the Army has declared “Jihad” holy war, on Southern Sudan, Nuba Mountains, Ingessna Hills and others, where Ethnic Cleansing, genocide, slavery, rape, murder, and the destruction of properties have become the order of the day, since 1989. (72)
Finally, as shown by the records of the regime, the NIF leaders are not for sustainable peace, democracy and development but committed to their civilisation project and the maintenance of the current status quo in totality. For NIF, like all the despotic sectarian organs, will not survive in a country, where justice, freedom, the rule of law, respect for universal human rights are maintained progressively. (73) It is therefore, natural that the NIF leaders have adopted pseudo democracy and defective peace agreements, in order to undermine real just peace and democracy.
6. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT UNDER SECTARIANISM?
Development will be used here to refer to socio-economic and political development resulting in the socio-economic and political progress, which in turn lead to the rise of standard of living and the level of political participation within a given community or country. Sustainable, development, therefore, would refer to the process of socio-economic and political development that is progressively and continuously maintained, for the benefits of all.
However, sustainable development under an Arab Islamic sectarian political system would definitely be based on sectarian ideology or policies, which are usually described as divisive, oppressive, individualistic, narrow-minded, non-nationalistic and undemocratic and would only serve a minority based interests.
This is evidenced by existence of an apparent poverty and illiteracy in almost all the oil rich Arab countries, due to division and hatred among the competing sectarian ruling families, especially, the Sunnis, Shiites and others, which have resulted in alienation or marginalisation of none Shiites or members of other Islamic sects within country. (74)
The Sudanese experience falls under the above description, as reflected in the current socio-economic and political imbalances, uneven development and regional disparities the country has been facing ever since.
General Gaffer Mohammed Nimieri, former President of Military Government in Sudan, a product of sectarianism, while in power criticised and executed members of his own Islamic sect, “ the Ansar al Mahdi. Nimieri in Adil Reda’s book entitled “ Nimiere: The Man and the Challenge”, described sectarianism as follows:- (75)
“... Sectarianism constituted an organic presence in
different regions, affirming fixed and permanent
economic interests. These interests appeared in the
ownership, by the heads of the sects, of enormous
tracts of land organised into major agricultural
projects, employing thousands and providing
livelihood for thousands of others... They became
Loyal followers by necessity, not voluntarily, a
large human reserve that could be moved in any
direction, even against their own interests.”
Nimieri further emphasised that the activities or practices of each sect were not harmonious with the “supreme national interests” but “concerned with various narrow interests of its leaders and the external political currents supporting them”. (76) In addition, Nimieri enumerated the following: - (77)
“... Sectarianism which possessed enormous
Potentialities was able to exercise economic and
political subjugation and through a false liberal
Parliamentarian game it achieved the following results: - (78)
1. It became anti development and its power contradicted it’s political and economic
interests.
3. Through its economic power, it impeded the spreadof awareness in its areas of influence.
4. Through its ownership of unlimited productive meansin the form of agricultural projects
exceeding the needs of their owners, it was unwilling to develop invest its properties by
modern means. And major part of the revenue effected by the efforts of the broad masses
went to the treasuries of the sectarian Leaders under the guise of religious deception…”
The above statement is absolutely correct, for many academics both Sudanese and foreigners, have confirmed it. For example, Karsany, Umabada, Abaker, and others, have shown how socio-economic development, has been concentrated on the specific regions, known as the “Golden Triangle”, covering, Khartoum Province, Central or “Gezira region” and the Northern regions. In fact, over 95 % of industrial establishments, private commercial enterprises, mechanised agricultural projects and including the Oil refineries, have been concentrated in the area mentioned above, even when the raw materials are all brought from the undeveloped regions. (79)
As country governed by Shopkeepers or Jallaba for over, four decades, the main investment was directed towards the importation of various finished goods, for consumption and not for furthering development or production. The Jallabas, controlling commerce and markets in general, successfully, alienated and kept out the African Sudanese from participating in the commercial activities, by denying them access to wholesale and financial credit facilities, and trade licenses. (80)
As a result the Jallaba ruling clique, effectively manage to control over 95 % of the national resources including mechanised Schemes and to loot or make more profits, out of the alienated and exploited Sudanese people, especially, the marginalised. (81)
Therefore, the existing inequalities, uneven development and regional disparities, in the country today, have not emerged by accident, but by and through state planned development programmes, designed to marginalise and underdeveloped some targeted regions and nationalities in the country.
Finally, without total socio-economic and political revolution in the Sudan, the Sectarian forces will always, block any equitable developmental programme which may encourage the deprived Sudanese to enter or participate in both productive and consumers activities. Hence, regional disparities and poverty, will continue to go worse, in the future, no matter, whether or not the Sudanese oil, gold, uranium, agricultural and other resources have been fully developed and exploited
7. THE WAY FORWARD: THE SPLM/SPLA ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION
After the above tedious description and analysis of the Sudanese experiences, under the Minority sectarian Arab Islamic regimes, civilians and military, we will briefly described and analysed the SPLM/SPLA proposal for the everlasting solution of the Sudanese problem.
The SPLM/SPLA proposal is based on its original vision of the New Sudan, and Unity on a new basis, where the “Old Sudan” must be removed and replaced with “New Sudan”. Under the New Sudan, all Sudanese will enjoy equal justice or rights, prosperity, freedom, democracy and respect for universal human rights, regardless of race, colour, region and creed.
In the New Sudan, secular and democratic confederate system of governance, will be the basis of political power sharing and equitable economic distribution of national economic and political resources, between or among the regions or states. (82)
In the New Sudan, the right of self-determination, as a basic human right principle, will be granted to all Sudanese nationalities. And for this reason, the SPLM/SPLA at the end of the current war, will ask, the people of Southern Sudan, Nuba Mountains, Igessna Hills, and other marginalised region or areas, to choose, between two options, namely, two confederate states, one in South and another in the North and two, independent separate states on the same basis, to be decided through a referendum organised and supervised by UN, OAU, League of Arab States and any other creditable international organisations, interested in taking part. (83)
The SPLM/SPLA believing in fairness, and respect for human rights, further proposes, that the Sudanese Arabs and Muslims in the would-be Northern Confederate State, will be free to exercise their right of self-determination, to choose between an Islamic constitution and a secular one, in a referendum democratically organised and supervised by creditable international organisations including UN, if they so wish.
The rationale behind this proposal is, that if the people of the Northern state, are interested in Arabism and Islamism, as the basis of their own constitution, they will be free do so. And that Northern State therefore, would have no interest in imposing its ideology or will, on the Southern State, which would like to create a democratic secular constitution. But if the Northern State, would, insist in controlling, and imposing on the Southern State, the people from Southern State would defend themselves, by fighting, in self-defence.
The Movement believes that self-sufficiency of Southern State and other backward states in matters of socio-economic and political development and security of the African people should be the cornerstone of any just peaceful settlement. (84)
For Anya-nya I and II and SPLM/SPLA were born out of this fear and had fought bitterly and courageously for the last four decades, to remove this problem. Therefore any lasting peaceful solution should be founded on adequate security arrangements and guarantees, on matters of socio-economic and political development and national security and defence, so that the African Sudanese, should be masters of their own fate, or destiny, until such time when equal development, trust, justice, equality and real multi democracy have been established, throughout the country, to the satisfaction of all Sudanese nationalities, in all regions or states. (85)
In the light of the above mentioned facts, the Movement, is convinced that the Old Sudan, can not be reformed, nor can it be maintained, because, it is built on unjust doctrines, policies, institutions and structures, that can only survive through the maintenance and the promotion of the very destructive racist and fascist policies.
Therefore, it would be in the interests of all Sudanese people especially, those who believe in equal justices and just peaceful co-existence, to have the Old Sudan destroyed and replaced with a good new system of secular democratic governance, where all Sudanese people of all races and creed, can live or co-exist harmoniously, or peacefully and justly. But if that can not be achieved, then the alternatives will be quite clear, that is to say, either the continuation of the war indefinitely, or the breaking up of the country into two independent states, from the debris of the Old Sudan.
8. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
As confirmed by this paper, Sudan has never experienced sustainable peace, democracy and development, since independence, due to the existence of chronic human rights abuses and injustice imposed by the minority sectarian Arab Islamic ruling clique, on majority of Sudanese people. The ruling clique, has used during the last four decades, various political systems, including, multi party parliamentary democracy, one party Socialist governance, Military rule or totalitarian rule, and Sectarian Arab Islamic Fundamentalist governance, but failed to resolve the existing problems facing the country.
The ruling clique in question, has also used various mechanisms or means, such as state organised terrorism, ‘divide’ and ‘rule‘ bribery, blackmailing, ethnic cleansing, genocide, robbery, slavery, murder, torture etc., in order to force and subjugate the victims or oppressed, to surrender and stop any resistance, so that there may be relative peace, stability and economic prosperity in the country for the benefit of the oppressors only.
All peaceful demands for the abolition and eradication of the above mentioned inequalities and injustices, by the African masses, specially from Southern Sudan, Nuba Mountains, Ingessna Hills, Beja region and other marginalised regions, were (and still are) violently Suppressed by all successive Minority Arab ruling cliques (regimes).
All the agreements made in the past, between the African and the Arab Sudanese to resolve the current political crises, in the country have always been dishonoured and dismantled by the Minority Arab leaders, regardless of their effects, on national building, unity, peace, development and security. And yet most of us long to see a politically negotiated peace Agreement, to end the Sudan conflict, despite the existing strong lack of trust, between the nationalities involved. For example, almost all Southern Sudanese, do not trust any Sectarian Arab Islamic parties, or their military leaders, for the obvious reasons stated by Mr. Abel Alier, in his book, and recently confirmed by Dr. Riak Machar in his Khartoum Agreement with General Bashir. (86)
In the light of the above mentioned facts, this paper argues that, the only way out is to accept fully, the SPLM/SPLA proposal, otherwise, the country will disintegrate, or continue to be in war indefinitely. For any solution outside SPLA/SPLM proposal will not last, probably, not long enough, to reach the ten years period of Addis Ababa Agreement.
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