By Madut A. Majok
Sudanese, especially those who have suffered under the oppressive policies of NIF/NCP since it took power in 1989 received with joy the news that President Bashir has finally been indicted. This indictment is long overdue and has done justice to all Sudanese who have suffered untold atrocities in silence since Sudan gained independence in 1956.
While the crimes President Al Bashir is accused of committing are specifically related to Darfur, a judicious person will discern that NIF strategy in Darfur is not different from the Arabs in Sudan desire to kill diversity in the country. This was to be achieved by forcefully repressing South Sudanese resistance to Islam and Arabism while at the same time politicizing religion to rally Sudanese Muslims against the South. Religion became a subterfuge in the quest for Arabism, but the ultimate objective was to divide African population in Sudan and conquer it. Today, that veil of religion as a unifying force in Sudan to be utilized for the project of “Arabism” has been ruptured irreparably by this on going war in Darfur.
The timing of the indictment is problematic for Mr. President and he will have himself to blame for being caught off guard. Through shortsightedness and intolerance, Mr. President has weakened the entire safeguard that would have helped him in fending off ICC indictment. The following have dealt a fatal blow to President Al Bashir standing inside Sudan and among his peers in the international community.
1. His party coterie’s strategy of manipulative diplomacy and recalcitrance approach to international community has eroded trust for Sudan’s government diplomacy. No one today takes Khartoum seriously with the exception of Chinese who are bent on satisfying their energy demand at whatever cost. President Deby of Chad summed up this erosion of trust when he told radio France international on the side lines of African Union meeting two weeks ago in Egypt: "I don't need to meet (Sudanese President) Omar Hassan al-Bashir ... I'm for peace in this region, but I have no need to meet someone who has never kept his commitments. Deby’s words are manifestation how difficult it is for Sudan’s neighbors to trust Sudan’s intentions.
While the crimes President Al Bashir is accused of committing are specifically related to Darfur, a judicious person will discern that NIF strategy in Darfur is not different from the Arabs in Sudan desire to kill diversity in the country. This was to be achieved by forcefully repressing South Sudanese resistance to Islam and Arabism while at the same time politicizing religion to rally Sudanese Muslims against the South. Religion became a subterfuge in the quest for Arabism, but the ultimate objective was to divide African population in Sudan and conquer it. Today, that veil of religion as a unifying force in Sudan to be utilized for the project of “Arabism” has been ruptured irreparably by this on going war in Darfur.
The timing of the indictment is problematic for Mr. President and he will have himself to blame for being caught off guard. Through shortsightedness and intolerance, Mr. President has weakened the entire safeguard that would have helped him in fending off ICC indictment. The following have dealt a fatal blow to President Al Bashir standing inside Sudan and among his peers in the international community.
1. His party coterie’s strategy of manipulative diplomacy and recalcitrance approach to international community has eroded trust for Sudan’s government diplomacy. No one today takes Khartoum seriously with the exception of Chinese who are bent on satisfying their energy demand at whatever cost. President Deby of Chad summed up this erosion of trust when he told radio France international on the side lines of African Union meeting two weeks ago in Egypt: "I don't need to meet (Sudanese President) Omar Hassan al-Bashir ... I'm for peace in this region, but I have no need to meet someone who has never kept his commitments. Deby’s words are manifestation how difficult it is for Sudan’s neighbors to trust Sudan’s intentions.
2. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement which in the first place safes President Al Bashir and his cronies’ skin from prosecution when Ahmed Haroun and Ali Kushayb were indicted is not being implemented faithfully. CPA is currently in its third year and many clauses have not been implemented. Border demarcation, transparency in oil revenues and the recent tragedy in Abyei all points to lack of political will to implement the agreement that brought some respite to NCP politically. These unresolved issues will prevent SPLM to forcefully support its peace partner in times of difficulties like this, a support without which NCP will not survive both international and domestic pressures.
3. The government reaction to the news of indictment is not helpful in anyway. Mr. Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamad, Sudan’s ambassador to United Nations, a characteristically partisan attack dog for NCP, went on offensive today warning international community of grave repercussions if the ICC went ahead with the so called indictment. This warning is an empty shell, but it sets the stage for the Chinese to veto the indictment when it is presented to United Nations Security Council on the ground that it will jeopardize current efforts towards search for sustainable peace in Darfur. Undoubtedly, China will give President Al Bashir the life line he needs; the Chinese will surely veto the indictment when it comes before UNSC in exchange for oil supply. Nonetheless, whatever happens with this indictment, a point has been made that impunity can be punished no matter how long it takes.
4. Insincere pursuit of durable peace in Darfur. Khartoum currently is trying its best to divide the Darfur rebel groups. It does not like the idea of a unified position from anti-government groups in the region. To weaken these groups, the government is now maintaining that Justice and Equality Movement be excluded from any negotiation as a precondition for talks with Darfur rebels. To keen observers of Sudan politics, this is a ploy whose objective is peace by piecemeal with Darfur rebels. Khartoum knows that a unified position means more concessions on its side and a fragmented position means fewer concessions. Khartoum’s assertion that JEM must be excluded from the talks because of the daring attack on Omdurman flies in the face of logic. If everyone goes by that standard, then all the Darfur anti-government forces will cite scorched earth policies meted out against people of Darfur by Mr. Al Bashir government to reject any talks with it.
All the listed problems above are President’s Al Bashir and crew creation. With all the above issues pending and the ICC knocking at Mr. President’s door, the best antidote to all this is for him to surrender himself to ICC and advise his accomplices to do the same. This indictment has undoubtedly tipped the balance and pushed things to the point of no return. Things will never be the same again for Mr. President!
