A very informative and insightful view on the history of Sudan and what led to the eventual decision by the South to secede. It traces the artificial division created by British colonial rule in preventing the free movement of Northerners and Southerners (IH students will find this aspect of British colonial policy particularly recurring); of the challenges posed by historical animosities between the two (SEA students will find this familiar); of the issues of racism and religious fundamentalism and of the impact of government policy and leaders on structuring a nation's destiny and history.
What most surprised me after watching this video was that contrary to my previous preconceptions, it seems that ordinary people from North and South have been coexisting with each quite well. Even more surprising was the fact that ordinary people in the North from teachers to shopkeepers would not like to see Sudan divided in two and that they blame the government for instituting policies (such as the implementation of Sharia law) that alienated the South and made them see no recourse but to vote for independence. The struggles of the SPLM were also particularly interesting and inspiring, although it was marred by certain unpleasant incidents and shocking recounts of Southern ethnic cleansing that I thought only existed in Darfur (this is with regard to Sudan).
We can only hope that with the decision of the people of Southern Sudan to secede from Sudan, that in the creation of their new nation, they will finally find the means in which to create a prosperous and stable society for themselves and work together with the North to tackle common problems. This of course is predicated on 4 things:
1. The willingness of the North to respect international decision and treaties agreed with the South and to act in good faith and not undermine the new, fledging state that is soon to appear on the map of Africa and the world.
2. The ability of the Southern Sudanese government to carry out effective administration and begin the difficult road on nation building and achieving economic development.
3. The willingness of the international community to guide South Sudan along the road of being the planet's newest sovereign state and to help it establish effective governance and ability to provide for its people as well as giving the Southern Sudanese people help in economic development.
4. The ability of the North and South to work out an agreement regarding the oil wealth of the South and its transportation to international markets as well as effective resolution to the issue of Abyei in accordance with the peace accords and with respect to both the Dinka and nomadic Arab groups that claim the area.
I will be most interested in viewing the birth of this new state and hope that it will with luck become another Botswana on the African continent.
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