Sudan: History of a Broken Land

Sudan, once seen as a land of opportunities, faces deep internal conflict. Professor Muhammad Ali, a northern Arab who supports multiculturalism in the South, is among the few optimistic about integration despite the country's civil strife, where over two million people have perished. A referendum may lead to Sudan's split, with the South seeking independence from the North.

The disparity in living conditions is highlighted with many Southern Sudanese confined to impoverished slums in Khartoum. A mass migration is underway as people return to the South, seeking a hopeful future away from racial insults in the North. Historical slave trade dynamics add a painful layer to Sudan's division, with apologies sought for past associations of blackness with servitude.

As Sudan gained independence from British-Egyptian rule in 1956, initial unity was challenged by administrative biases favoring the North. Early signs of discord appeared when southern soldiers rebelled against northern commanders, foreshadowing decades of conflict. The polarization persists, with fears about the future under a separatist South among Arabs in the region.

Past British colonial policies contributed to the North-South divide, establishing two distinct regions. The British supported Christianity in the South, seeking to diminish Islamic influence. This laid groundwork for future religious tensions, as southern Sudanese were isolated from northern interests, misunderstanding the South as a cultural void to be filled with Christianity.

Political instability in post-independence Sudan was marked by military dictates and intermittent democracy, as seen in General Aboud's regime. Social freedoms flourished briefly in Khartoum while civil wars brewed elsewhere, exacerbating inequalities across the country. Joseph Lagu's establishment of a guerrilla force in the South epitomized rebellion against Northern domination.

The Ananya Rebellion in the South, resulting from dissatisfaction with Khartoum's policies, led to a peace agreement granting Southern autonomy. Religious influences, highlighted by figures like Hassan al-Turabi, fueled further conflict. His influence on Sudan's shift toward Islamic principles is seen as a catalyst for prolonged civil war after unilateral actions under President Numayri alienated the South.

John Garang's leadership in the SPLA responded to escalating Northern threats as Sharia laws were imposed. Hassan al-Turabi's maneuvers intensified Southern resistance, converting a budding revolt into a long civil war. In regions like Malakal, brutal violence exemplified the harsh reality of this national divide, with constant threats forcing residents to live in fear.

Despite brief interludes of civilian government, military coups reignited under leaders like Omar al-Bashir who stoked religious divisions. With the backing of Turabi, Bashir's rule marked renewed tensions, as oil discoveries in the South accentuated power struggles. Internal SPLA conflicts and economic growth in Khartoum underlined the disparities between North and South.