Monday, August 25, 2008

What about Darfuri children?

Ismail Ahmed Ismail entered the record books as the first Sudanese to win a medal in an Olympic. Good for him.

What bothered me is this: he dedicated his medal to the children of Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Where are the children from Darfur? Don't they deserve a medal?

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Silver for Sudan in Beijing

Sudan's Ismail Ahmed has won silver in the men's final of the 800 m in Beijing.

Better than returning home empty handed. The other stars failed to shine.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Women in trousers being harassed in South Sudan

I found this incident ridiculous, to say the least: border guards in South Sudan are preventing women wearing trousers from entering the country through the Kenya_sudan border! How hilarious. Where did they get this notion from? Is it even constitutional? As the story points out when they get in the y found that women wear trousers without being harassed.

In the 80s and 90s, women were harassed in Khartoum, when trousers are seen as indecent. We considered it really part of the then "sharia" rulings etc. Fine.

But why is it cropping up in South Sudan? The GoSS must inverstigate and bring this malpractice to an end. There is no such law in the South. Everyone is free to wear what they want, as long as it is decent.

Even Khartoum with its sharia nowadays features all sorts of women with tight trousers and the most up to date designer jeans working around without a cop raising an eyebrow.

Stop the madness in South Sudan, people.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Between Riak Machar, Rebecca Garang and Corruption

The moment Rebecca Nyandeng voiced her accusations that Riak Machar is corrupt, the streets of South Sudan yawned. There is nothing new there. Everyone knows that the whole government machinery is corrupt. Taking kickbacks is the order of the day.

It is said more often that Riak Machar ask openly about his "cut" in every deal being done in the South. Everybody knows that.

And Rebecca herself is not beyond reproach. When she was minister of roads and construction, not a single tarmac was laid in the South. She gave contracts to shady companies that don't even own a grader, let alone have an office. Contracts were awarded for the same stretch of roads more than three times and advance monies paid. Will she be able to answer these claims?

No one who has been accused of corruption anywhere in the world immediately admit to it. Riak Machar is following the trend, only when the noose is tight will they sing. Rebecca Garang should also be investigated. She shouldn't hide behind the veil of her husband's fame.

It is just the case of the pot calling the kettle black . . .

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Olympic dreams . . .




The hope for Sudanese olympic gold . . .