Sunday, April 22, 2007

Turabi and Abyei

I found this editorial in Sudan Mirror very entertaining. Turabi, the self-made Isalmic ideologue is at it again: creating controversy!

The outspoken Sudanese Islamic ideologue and thinker Dr. Hassan Abdallah el Turabi is at it again. Dr Turabi who is the Second Vice President of the Government of National Unity has this time proposed that Abyei should be the “joint political capital” of both the North and the South.

With this proposal, he is bound to raise some controversial debate and he loves that. He knows that Abyei is the homeland of the nine Ngok Dinka chiefdoms who identify themselves with the South. He also knows that Abyei is one of the contested areas and its wealth in oil attracts the North. Read more here.

Turabi likes controversy. Since he fell out with the current regime in Khartoum, he was overshadowed. He no longer has the platform to push his ideas. I bet this idea will find no supporters.

4 comments:

Aaron Stewart said...

Anytime I hear of someone who is seen as an ideologue I switch off. And usually with good reason. This guy proves it. ;)

Daana said...

you are right BK...this man just wants attention. He proved to be crazy on numerous occasions when he had made fatwas (I don't know if u are aware of any of them). Although I admire his charismatic appeal when he talks, but the man just wants attention.

Black Kush said...

This guy never cease to amaze. During the conflict in the South, he ws instrumental in proclaiming the war a "jihad" and sending young boys to their deaths with the promise of 70 virgins in heaven. When he fell out with thegovernment of Bashir, he said those who died in the South are just mere "corpses".

It is clear his interpretations are meant to suit his political ambitions. If he were wise, he would have retired to his village and wait out his last years. The guy is too old.

Anonymous said...

Turabi must have reached a pretty advanced age these days, must he not? Black Kush, can you enlighten me about that? Anyhow, some people stay not only mentally agile, but even politically active until well into their 80s.

Moreover, I once heard that Turabi at least partially inspired At-Tayyib Salih's famous "Mawsim al-hijra ilâ ash-shimâl" ("Season of Migration to the North"), that Turabi provided sort of a model for the novel's protagonist. Do you happen to have any background information on that, Black Kush?

Thanks in advance,
Michael