Sudan Must not disintegrate on its way to Democracy The Historic signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of Sudan and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in 2005 was a moment not only for the Sudan but also the entire region.
The deal that was sealed at the Nyayo National Stadium by the SPLM leader, the late John Garang and Sudan President Omar al-Bashir was a turning point for a country whose people had never known peace literally.And to assure the two leaders, then, that the world was behind them in the new chapter they were turning, 15 African Heads of State witnessed what ended decades of conflict and civil wars, which claimed more than two million lives.
But the events of the last few days as the country holds its first multi-party elections and a referendum later threaten the peace envisaged five years ago by the Mr.Garang and President Al- Bashir. Mistrust and suspicion between the North and South leadership on the two events have cast a cloud of uncertainty, thus complicating the fruits of the agreement that ended the civil war.
The elections that come to a close tomorrow that has on the other hand witnessed a low voter turn -out has been thrown into disarray by threats by the opposition, mostly candidates from Southern Sudan, of a boycott and discrediting the outcome of the elections that will be announced in the course of the week.
The argument advanced by the opposition candidates is that the government had long planned to rig the election. On the other hand al-Bashir has warned the southerners who are opposing him in the elections the referendum would not take place if they continue calling for the boycott.These disputes undermine hopes of transforming the country and could end up fuelling violence again. It will not only be the people of Sudan who will bear the brunt of the fluid situation. Kenya stands to lose given that Kenya houses thousands of Sudan citizens who had fled the country to seek refuge. The international community including the United Nations should help Sudan to uphold the peace agreement that the leaders signed in 2005 in Nairobi and Machakos.
Shadrack Mbaka,Nairobi
The deal that was sealed at the Nyayo National Stadium by the SPLM leader, the late John Garang and Sudan President Omar al-Bashir was a turning point for a country whose people had never known peace literally.And to assure the two leaders, then, that the world was behind them in the new chapter they were turning, 15 African Heads of State witnessed what ended decades of conflict and civil wars, which claimed more than two million lives.
But the events of the last few days as the country holds its first multi-party elections and a referendum later threaten the peace envisaged five years ago by the Mr.Garang and President Al- Bashir. Mistrust and suspicion between the North and South leadership on the two events have cast a cloud of uncertainty, thus complicating the fruits of the agreement that ended the civil war.
The elections that come to a close tomorrow that has on the other hand witnessed a low voter turn -out has been thrown into disarray by threats by the opposition, mostly candidates from Southern Sudan, of a boycott and discrediting the outcome of the elections that will be announced in the course of the week.
The argument advanced by the opposition candidates is that the government had long planned to rig the election. On the other hand al-Bashir has warned the southerners who are opposing him in the elections the referendum would not take place if they continue calling for the boycott.These disputes undermine hopes of transforming the country and could end up fuelling violence again. It will not only be the people of Sudan who will bear the brunt of the fluid situation. Kenya stands to lose given that Kenya houses thousands of Sudan citizens who had fled the country to seek refuge. The international community including the United Nations should help Sudan to uphold the peace agreement that the leaders signed in 2005 in Nairobi and Machakos.
Shadrack Mbaka,Nairobi
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