6.8 South Sudan
The partition of Sudan is not the logical outcome of five decades of civil war. It is the fruition of a century-old Western ecclesiastical plot to close Islam's gateway into Africa, and the start of a plan to break other Arab countries into feeble stateless so as to grab their riches.
The Sudan of today represents a unique type of "unity in diversity". It exemplifies the capability of a society to weave a harmonious fabric out of dispersed strands and how to override ethnically and ideologically controversial issues to live in a peaceful oasis. It also demonstrates the difficulties in maintaining a unified nation of diverse ethnic and religious groups - a problem confronted by many contemporary African countries.
Sudan has been repeatedly in headlines news lately. There are two main reasons for that: The question of the Southern Sudan and the conflict in Darfur region.
Key Issues in South Sudan
There are major concerns about the growing number of humanitarian issues in South Sudan. Flash flooding, ongoing fighting and an influx of people returning from North Sudan continue to put pressure on the newly independent state. The UN is warning that these problems could contribute to severe food shortages next years and estimates that 1.2 million people could be affected. Both natural and manmade disasters, such as tribal conflicts, floods and disease outbreaks like cholera, meningitis and malaria are the primary humanitarian concerns in South Sudan.
Internal tribal conflict is also causing major problems for people in the region, raising further humanitarian concerns. Thousands have been either displaced or killed as a result of tribes and communities fighting over...
6.8 South Sudan
...water and cattle. In August over 600 people were killed in Jonglei after a conflict broke out between tribes after a cattle raid. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by such internal fighting, creating a substantial population without the means to adequately provide for themselves. In South Sudan, Islamic relief has been focusing on water, sanitation and health education and services. Islamic Relief has had a presence in East Africa for a number of years and has activities across the region.
Christian Missionaries:
During the Turco-Egyptian rule European interest in the Sudan escalated and Christian activity started to gain momentum in the South, which was considered strategic position for the diffusion of Christianity into Black Africa and a barrier to the penetration of Islam. This interest is evident from the writing of General Gordon, Governor of Equatoria in 1871, to the Church Missionary Society in England inviting their work to his province.
After the British occupation of Egypt in 1882, the Southern Sudan was more accessible to the Christianity and European Commerce, but that was curtailed by the Mahadist revolution that overthrew the Turks in 1885.
The Mahadist revolution destroyed every trace of administration in the South and relapse into tribal anarchy ensued. Then Southern Sudan became the target of Belgium, France and Britain in their scramble for Africa. The South was re-opened after the Anglo-Egyptian conquest in 1898 for Christian missionaries; this marked the formal birth of the Southern problem.