By
Fahmida Abdul Sattar
Has some body noticed a new development rather cruelty against an
other muslim state right in the beginning of the new year. Some people are even not familiar to the location of the state of
Sudan if ever heard its name. Yes that is an African Muslim country Sudan, largest African country which has been brutally balkanized after the referendum held in January 9, 2011 that split Sudan into two states, Northern and Southern Sudan.
Sudan’s demography is ethnically divided into different communities. Though it is an Islamic country but has vast minority of Christian who are in majority in southern
Sudan which is an oil rich part of
Sudan.
Sudan’s 80% oil reserves are located in its Southern part which witnessed continuous agitation since 1980. It is a war-ravaged country with civil war that lasted for more than two decades. It suffered famine, poverty, political and economic instability and last but not least western meddling in its internal affairs. With the interference of Western power turmoil persistently increased and
USA, with its cunningness, declared
Sudan as the advocate of Terrorism and issued arrest warrant of its president Umar Al Bashir.. However it offered a package of incentives if Umar Al –Bashir the president of United Sudan let southern Sudanese to vote for referendum but it can not be said that Umar al Bashir succumbed to the pressure and incentives of USA as he wanted peace in his country therefore he decided to hold referendum for independence otherwise he tried to make efforts till the last moment that he flew to Juba the capital of Southern Sudan where he was met with pro independence slogans.
Some people argue that issue with
Sudan was ethnic in nature that Northern Sudanese are the Arabs and southern are African. Some may reject this argument by commenting that issue was religious which I also favor that Northern Sudanese are Muslims while southern has Christian majority.
But whatsoever the matter was, the fact is that
Sudan is a sovereign state which can deal with its affairs on its own terms. Other countries are never supposed to dictate the Sudanese leadership as to how to handle its internal problems. Why does it always happen that oppressed Christian are given justice whether they are in Indonesia or Sudan but Muslim oppressed are never given justice whether they belong to Palestine or Kashmir? Although southern
sudan has been declared as an independent state but has not been given any name. What if this so called independence is reversed and
Sudan is saved from balkanization. If people have any reservation so that can be settled through negotiation for breakup never goes in favor of impoverished people.
