The Sudan Connection

Sudan is very close to my heart, as I was born by the river Nile and also opened the first Islamic Relief office there 20 some years ago. It is also a very important actor in the global stage, being the biggest and most diverse country in Africa.

On this note, I remember meeting a special advisor of the Sudanese president as part of a high-level governmental delegation. My message on that occasion was: “ Let us look at the value of Sudan for humanity”. I didn’t want to restrict Sudan to East Africa, the Arab and Muslim world, as a country or its provinces, but I wanted to look at it in its entirety.

A year on from this most interesting meeting, the future of Sudan will be decided in January 2011 by referendum. This would bring to the table the opinions of the people living in South Sudan, opinions which must be respected and supported by everyone.

My nightmare scenario after the referendum is fuelled by a few discussions I’ve had with some governors from South Sudan. One of them told me in no uncertain terms: “If we divide Sudan, it wouldn’t be between two countries. It would be around 4, 5 or even 6 countries.” Another official told me: “I have my own personal army and own territory. I want my own seat.”

Working in the humanitarian field, I can’t help but worry about the outcome of the referendum. As humanitarian worker, I can’t focus on the river Nile, on natural resources or land. I focus on the well-being of the people, particularly at the end of 50 plus years of fighting in the region which lead to so manyinnocent lives being lost.

I have just come back from Kuwait where I attended a conference for East Sudan, where the international community pledged 3.5 billion $. Earlier this year, I attended a conference for Darfur, where over 1 billion $ was pledged. I would have liked an international conference for the whole of Sudan, a more inclusive approach. I was unusually quiet at the conference and when somebody asked me about it, I answered I would like peace for all, not a piece meal for everyone of us.

While uniting our efforts in other parts of the world, we should spare a thought for the safety and well-being of the Sudanese vulnerable groups of people and respect the decision to be made early 2011.