by Boboya Simon Wudu 

 

Many intellectuals see Darfur as an erupting volcano that might revert to a dormant state after the independence of South Sudan in July 2011. The future of Darfur is interlinked with the nature of the relations between the North and the South. 

Darfur is situated in the western part of Sudan and is known for its long and complex political and humanitarian crises.

 

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2009 issued an arrest warrant for the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, for various crimes allegedly committed in Darfur: War crimes and crimes against humanity. Looking at Northern and Southern Sudan as two independent countries, which interests have been interlinked for long, the question is: will the Darfur crisis have a negative impact on the relations between the two countries after 9 July 2011?

 

 

Prof. Bari A. Wanji is a veteran member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M), hailing from Central Equatoria. The 74-year-old, like Dr John Garang De Mabior, has left historical marks during the South’s struggle period. He was "Foreign Affairs Minister" of the Anyanya rebels and rejected the Addis Ababa Agreement signed in 1972 which granted Southern Sudan an independent but semi-autonomous government.

 

Currently a Member of Parliament in the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly (SSLA), Bari speaks in an official interview about the implications of the Darfur crisis, if it remains unresolved before the interim period ends, on both Southern and Northern Sudan:

 

A: The history of Darfur has been well documented. As you might know, Darfur was incorporated by the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan only in 1916. Before that, Darfur was an independent Sultanate. The second important fact is that Darfur is an African land belonging to African people. Most of them are Muslim and very attached to their African cultures. The Afro-culture precedes and is the foundation upon which the Islamic conversion spread. So Darfuris cannot be assimilated into the Arab culture in Sudan. They are an African people.

If the Darfur question is not resolved before the end of the interim period, it will create a complicated situation. This will arise with the fact that the ruling group in Khartoum is not prepared to recognise their (Darfuris') right to self-determination which they (Darfuris) are entitled to. It took the South many years and many lives for Khartoum to concede to the South's right for self-determination. So why should that same right not be granted to Darfur?

 

Of course, the difference between the South and Darfur is the majority of non-muslims in the South, but historically, the people of Darfur and Southern Sudanese are the same. It is only that the Darfuris have been 'arabised' to some extent in terms of religion, Islamic culture et cetera. But basically, the most important factor is that the Darfuris are politically and historically entitled to exercise self-determination either to remain in the Arab Sudan or separate to form their own state.

The South is going to become an independent state. We will observe certain international laws. For example, from now on we will not be able to interfere openly in the Darfur issue, hence we cannot send our armies to fight along with the Darfuris. But everybody knows that the sympathy of the South lies on the side of Darfuris, because their case is genuine. After all, we went as well through all the stages the Darfuris are going through now.

 

If you go to Wau, the capital of Western Bahr el Ghazal State, there is a very large settlement of Darfuris. They have been able to influence the people of the South. Not only that, a good number of Darfuris joined our army. So indeed they have been able to win the sympathy of many Southerners. But as I said, of course we will not interfere in the internal affairs of Sudan. Sympathy does not mean that you have to participate in their (Darfuris') liberation war, as we will be bound to observe international law.

Another point concerns ethnicity. If we go back to history, we see that the Darfuris, Nubians and the people of Blue Nile made a mistake by fighting against us from 1955 to 1972. This was because they were politically unconscious. So now, they have discovered that the issue was not religious but ethnic. The South holds no grudge and we will continue to advocate for the self-determination of the Darfuris internationally. Support for their self-determination is not a crime and the South will have every legitimate right to support the Darfuris' cause.

 

A: Looking at the history of the struggle in the South, the Sudanese government should understand that they will eventually have to give in. The North will try to keep Darfur as long as possible, but with the Darfuris gaining experience in warfare, I believe they will ultimately win. Their cause is not about fighting to dominate the Arabs, it is about liberation. As for the negotiations in Doha, I have already referred to the reluctance of the Northerns to reach an agreement. If they (Northerners) do not cooperate, they will be defeated. The Sudanese government will not bring Arabs to fight Darfuris.

A: Because the world has changed. Darfur will have its own sympathisers. I am not talking about the South, there are other African states supporting the cause of the Darfuris.

A. Even in the South, we have many factions. It is in the nature of liberation wars. The enemies exploit these differences, I think you know our history. So to me, the factions have their differences but at the end it is the wish of the people of Darfur that will win.

The crises in Darfur require real commitment from all parties for a real and honest resolution to begin. Dichotomous visions, blame games and personal interests seem however to still be the main lines along which the problems of Darfur are dealt with. The soon to come independence of Southern Sudan is bound to change the political make-up of the region. With the North and the South both independent and sovereign states, the degree of involvement of each will surely depend on the national and security interests of each party. In the midst of political, military and diplomatic plots, the fate of the people of Darfur must be paramount before any peaceful processes start in the region.