The last post at this blog was a hope for Sudan, quoting John Garang’s own hopes.
Garang, leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and, until recently, chief rebel against the government in Khartoum, died over the weekend in a helicopter crash. Sudan has been moving toward a peace between North and South and Garang had just been appointed Vice President as a part of the deal.
Whenever a leader passes from the scene, especially someone with the force of personality Garang had, it is tempting to assume that their initiatives will die along with them. In that case, the war might continue. But in this, the peace rests on two pillars that have little do with the personalities involved: first, the Sudanese are tired of war and especially this war between North and South; and second, they can’t begin pumping out all that oil until the war ends.
It is true that there are vested interests lined up in favor of the conflict, both in the North and in the South, but those lined up for an end to the conflict might this time be stronger.
Perhaps Sudan really will “never be the same again”.
Posted by Martial