The coming of South Sudan
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: July 13 2011 -

South Sudan became the newest nation in the world on July 9, 2011 at midnight local time. This was proceeded by a referendum held in January, 2011 in which nearly 99% voted for its separate existence.

South Sudan has now been officially recognized by most major powers. It is a land locked country bordered by the Central African Republic in the west, the Republic of Congo in the south west, Uganda in the south, Kenya in the southeast, Ethiopia in the east, and the Republic of Sudan in the north. Its capital is Juba.

The British and the Egyptian government had been administering the Sudan under a condominium governing arrangement till 1946, but in the same year the two regions came under one single (British) administration.

The northern part of Sudan has always projected itself as an Islamic entity with an Arabic identity. The assassinated Egyptian president, Anwar Sadat was born of a Sudanese mother.

The people of Southern Sudan have always considered themselves as part of the sub Sahara and the people are either Christians or animists. On January, 1, 1956 Sudan became independent, it was born with a deformity called Southern Sudan, a legacy of the White Man's Burden. The two Sudans never saw things from the same perspective, and the proclamation of South Sudan was the only way to end the impasse.

India is one among the countries which have welcomed the birth of South Sudan.

In a way this was the proper thing to do, in another way however this is intriguing. A country which is far less tolerant of dissidence, and which like the Sudan is carrying a baggage of colonial legacy causing it headaches to no end is applauding the efforts of others, the same efforts it is unwilling to concede to its own people.

The Sudan had only South Sudan to address to, India has Kashmir, the Northeast, the Maoists, and border issues including maritime boundaries with almost all neighbours.

How are those elements within the Union of India who have been asking for more autonomy, not secession please, feel that the government has gone ahead to congratulate the birth of a nation which has emerged after a great deal was conceded by the once controlling authority, much more than what India has ever conceded to its people ?

People will feel that the authority lacks honesty and is adopting double standards. One standard for its people and another for its international image.

The international community will keep on watching and impunity will ultimately have to answer facts and justice.

After all, apart from those who were keen on their own, and students of international politics, how many would have heard of South Sudan and or understood the facts which led to the creation of South Sudan ?

In fact fewer people will know that the struggle of South Sudan began in 1946 and that it cost nearly two million lives till its creation on July 9, 2011.