Pol – Suddenly Sudan

(Man, that’s one of my lamest titles ever)

As asked for by a noted today, we’ll take a look at the Sudan and what’s going on there.

First place to look is a spot like Sudan.net. They have a good base of information and links to current news. A top story today is the continued peace process in the works there between the government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, the negotiations sponsored by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development with Kenya providing mediators(Lazaro Sumbeiywo as chief) and meeting place(Naivasha, Kenya).

Unfortunately, there is a snag between the two sides. To understand, first it must be noted the composition of the sides. The northern government of Sudan is largely Arab–Muslim in religion and culture while the southern rebels are mostly Christian and animist. Their conflict, which has resulted in the deaths of millions over time, has been going on since the 1950s, save for a brief peace between 1972 and 1983.

Currently the big aspect of contention in the peace process is the application of shariah law. The Muslim government wants it applied to the capital, of course, while the leaders of the SPLA believe it has no place in a diverse capital. Though progress has been previously made in agreement between the factions on wealth-sharing and how to manage government and SPLA armies during a six-year interim period before the south holds a referendum on self-rule.

However, having passed a previous deadline for reaching full accord, the US has given the ultimatum of sanctions if they don’t get it together. The deadline for that passed yesterday, but Bush has decided that enough good faith efforts have been made to postpone sanctions and have another review in six months.

While peace is making progress, further issues crop up, including a fresh conflict in the west which has led to thousands of additional deaths a hundred thousand displaced, seeking safety in neighboring Chad. Human rights groups are quite irate that a UN report of atrocities in this area was withheld from a UN debate on the issue.

Overall another spot of undue heat in our world which is, thankfully, in the hands of various agencies that appear to be well on the way to peace, even if the heat hasn’t yet begun to fade to an acceptable level of peace. With luck we’ll have a nice cool down soon. Hopefully one that will last longer than eleven years.

Resources

BBC Timeline

Government of Sudan – English site

Sudan People’s Liberation Movement Vision

CIA World Factbook: Sudan

US Library of Congress Country Study: Sudan