08/16/2005
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Credit to the government. One needs to acknowledge that the Sudanese authorities were able to manage an
extremely difficult situation, which could have easily degenerated. The appeals
for calm from Khartoum and those from the SPLA, wisely rode over the waves of
public frustration and effectively blocked a rise in violence which could have
put in serious jeopardy a peace that had been reached after 20 years of bloody
civil war. The wife of John Garang further dampened the tension, at the funeral
of her husband, by making an appeal to all Sudanese to maintain calm, a gesture
that was given the approval of the American administration.
The future of the negotiations. The new leader of the SPLA Salva Kiir will be nominated as the first Sudanese
Vice President next Thursday, and at least has the intention of following in the
footsteps of his predecessor. Even if his doesn’t enjoy being famous as a “dove
of peace”, in his declarations of intentions Kiir has repeatedly stated the desire
to go down the road of peace and to respect the peace accords signed in January.
To help Kiir, with his somewhat difficult homework, will be the United Nations
Peace Keeping Force made up of 10,000 blue helmets, whose job will be to control
the southern part of the country.
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After the death of John Garang the country seems to be determined to go down the road of peace
If this was a test of maturity, Sudan has passed with full marks: despite the
foreseen breakout of violence following the announcement of the death of John
Garang which caused the death of 130 people, there have been no further reports
of violence in the country since last Thursday. At the funeral of the ex Vice
President and leader of the SPLA, (Sudan People’s Liberation Army), that took
place last Saturday in Juba there was absolute calm. Even if it is too early at
the moment to make accurate predictions, it seems that Sudan is intent on going
down the road of peace.
Returning to normality. The news in the last few days clearly contrasts with that of the news of the
clashes that occurred last Monday and Thursday and which, led to blood on the
streets of Khartoum, Juba and Makalal. The final balance of the violence speaks
of 130 victims, (of which 111 in the capital), but the feeling that many people
have is that it could have been a lot worse. In the last few days the refugee
camps around Khartoum seem to have returned to normal. Meanwhile the unconfirmed
news that spoke of arms being distributed by the SPLA to their supporters in the
capital seem to have had no firm foundations.
Credit to the government. One needs to acknowledge that the Sudanese authorities were able to manage an
extremely difficult situation, which could have easily degenerated. The appeals
for calm from Khartoum and those from the SPLA, wisely rode over the waves of
public frustration and effectively blocked a rise in violence which could have
put in serious jeopardy a peace that had been reached after 20 years of bloody
civil war. The wife of John Garang further dampened the tension, at the funeral
of her husband, by making an appeal to all Sudanese to maintain calm, a gesture
that was given the approval of the American administration.Uncertain causes. Still light needs to be cast over the cause of the helicopter crash in which
Garang was returning to Sudan after visiting the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
Even if the Sudanese authorities, and a large part of the International community,
have already given their theories on the cause of the crash, underlying them was
a question of public order, there is still the need to wait for the outcomes of
the various commissions, (primarily the Sudanese and Ugandan), that are investigating
what happened. Even at the funeral of Garang Museveni it was repeated again that
still the theory of an attack could not be excluded, even if it is more credible
that it was a possible mechanical fault or human error. The newly formed Sudanese
Commission, which is made up partly by members of the current government and the
SPLA as well as military and civilian aviation experts, will present its report
on the crash at the beginning of September.
The future of the negotiations. The new leader of the SPLA Salva Kiir will be nominated as the first Sudanese
Vice President next Thursday, and at least has the intention of following in the
footsteps of his predecessor. Even if his doesn’t enjoy being famous as a “dove
of peace”, in his declarations of intentions Kiir has repeatedly stated the desire
to go down the road of peace and to respect the peace accords signed in January.
To help Kiir, with his somewhat difficult homework, will be the United Nations
Peace Keeping Force made up of 10,000 blue helmets, whose job will be to control
the southern part of the country.Matteo Fagotto
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