BK featured in US Site

Black Kush featured among the top 100 sites in Africa on an  Online University Reviews website. Cool.

"In an attempt to provide students, laymen, and educators with a single resource from which they can begin their own exploration of the richness and diversity of Africa, we have compiled a list of what we consider to be the 50 best blogs to learn about African culture, news, politics, and viewpoints. Blogs are an excellent way to learn about nations and cultures due to the passion, diversity of perspective and honesty of the writing, which you won’t often find in textbooks. We have categorized these top 50 blogs as follows: Politics and Human Rights, News, Culture & Art, Technology and Entrepreneurship, and Viewpoints from many of the African Countries."

Thanks.

Mandela @ 90

Happy Birthday Madiba.

Three years of CPA . . .

It is three years tomorrow January 9th since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement which brought an end to the twenty years civil war in South Sudan. It is three years that have yet to see results, and a lot more to be desired.

What has changed, and what SHOULD change? The CPA was at one stage at he verge of collapsing with the withdrawal of the peace partners from the Government of National Unity. Abyei remains a thorny issue as well as the presence of the SAF in the South. Will the CPA survive?

It has been known for a long time that there are people who will be happy to see the CPA scraped. There are northerners in Khartoum who see it as a sell out by the NCP, and couldn't stomach the fact that SPLM (or Southerners, for that matter) are part of the government and with some power.

It is true also that the bigger group are happy that the war has ended. For the Internally Displaced to Khartoum, returning to their homes in the South is a priority.

But what has the government done in three years? GOSS has always insisted that they are starting from scratch and change will take a long time to be noticed. It is unfortunate that corruption is rampant, even high up in the government.

South Sudan has a lot of money, but it is in the hands of a few corrupt elite. In the whole of the South, governors have been sacked, ministers dropped and some even facing prison for corruption. But is it enough?

For a long time, The president of South Sudan has turned a blind eye to this issues. It is like he left them to take what they can, a payment to the close friends for the years spent in the bush!

It is three years, but a lot still to be desired. The future is still bleak, sorry to say.

Been a long time!

How time flies! It is already 2008 and I couldn't believe it. My hands have been so tied I had almost no time working on the blog. Sorry about that.

I hope from now I will be able to update at least twice a week. If that is not working, I may consider other options like . . .

Thanks for understanding.

Away

Am taking a leave off for a month on important business. Sorry.

The day Diana died

Like September 11 after it years later or the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster or the death of John Garang de Mabior, I still remember vividly where I was and what I was doing when the news came filtering in that Diana, Princess of Wales died.

Just from the news coverage marking ten years after her death, you could feel it that her memory is as strong as ever. In my school days, we use to have a beautiful young lady called Diana too, and naturally, became to be known as Princess.

Following her humanitaian work and visits to charities, I had this the vaguest of dreams to see her visiting our little corner.

Diana maybe the last voice of change in an establishment that has lost touch with its people. The British monarchy is on its way out. It would have been fun what it would be like if she had been alive today, although devorced from the future king.

Well, I leave the conspiracy theories about her death alone.

I have a dream . . .

The words of Martin Luther King still rang fresh in the minds of people who heard that epic speech on 28 August 1963.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character."

It is a dream that we hope would have been true to us in Sudan. With such diverse cultures and languages and religion and race etc, how beautiful it would be to judge us Sudanese as by the content of our intellect.

I have a dream . . .

Black Kush: one year of blogging!

Yes, that is right. BK is one year today. Phew! I couldn't believe how time flies so quickly. It was like last week that I put fingers to key board and started this blog on August 11th . . .

Everyone has their own milestones, and for each stone at the miles, look back and take stock. I was just wondering where to begin. Maybe at the very beginning. In the beginning there was a story:

My first post was about the LRA menace in South Sudan. However, one year on, they have not yet reached any agreements. Yeah, giving them another year may help. Then it had been Darfur most of the time. From the initial acceptance of the hybrid force last year, its later rejection and to another acceptance again! A long journey. But I had always believed that Sudan will capitulate in the end, the pressure is just too unbearable! Darfur cost Bashir the chair of the AU.

And the Chinese came for a visit too! The presence of the Chinese leader boosted Bashir's stand, for he found an ally in the person who wants his oil. However, China gets bad publicity about "Genocide Olympics". Thanks, Mia and company!

Meanwhile in the South, the UN was accussed of abusing children and four got booted out. Corruption got the better of the GOSS, nickname the Government of self-service and lots of reshuffle. Yeah. So far, all seems to be fine on the Southern front.

I am looking forward to the next 365 days in which peace comes to Darfur, the refugees return to their homes, stability maintained in South and Eastern Sudan and everyone gets to live on more than 2 dollars a day! Amen.

I thank all of you out there for coming around always, reading about Sudan, South Sudan and Darfur and the commenting on the issues raised here. Thanks a ton. I hope you will stick with me for the next year too.

Sudan's diplomatic coup

Sudan has won a huge diplomatic coup with its acceptance of the new hybrid force for Darfur. UNAMID (United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur) will be a force that follows Sudanese demands: African structure, no chapter seven, no force disarmaments, no threat of sanctions. As the FM said, Resolution 1769 was made with their full consultation.

True, the international community watered down the resolution in order to avoid veto by China and ensure Sudanese acceptance. What happen next? With the rebels divided into a dozen faction and some refusing to attend the Arusha talks, Sudan looks on with glee!

Now the international community will have to work hard to unify the rebel command for a political settlement.

Husband sticking by his wife

Despite the stories of desperation in the midst of the conflict in Darfur, some stories can bring a smile on your face.

Thanks Drima, am just 74%!

74%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

Only 3 Gold Medals for Sudan at AAG

I have been following the action at the All Africa Games in Algeria which is just ending. I am a fan of sports and was looking for representation and hoping that Sudan wins something.

Sudan participated only in athletics, taking along 20 young athletes. Why is a huge country like Sudan participating in only one discipline? Can we produce athletes in all the others? I find it strange indeed.

Sudan should do more to promote all the sports in the country and scout the length and breadth to get good and young athletes into the games. Unfortunately, all the participants were from one part of the country. I believe there is a huge talent out there that can be put into good use. The yearly Schools Competition can be used as well.

Thanks to Mouna Djaber, Kaki Abubaker and Yamile Aldama for the three Gold medals. Unfortunately, the efforts are not being covered by the Sudanese media.

What next, SPLM?

After a full week of meetings, the final speeches given, the files are closed, tickets boaught and all the heads of the SPLM Chapters around the world are packing and leaving the country? What next for the SPLM after the Chapters meeting?

Wani Igga urged them o be ambassador for the CPA in the diaspora, Joseph Lagu sang for them his famous war songs and the people danced. Bu is that all. These guys have travelled all these distances not to see Juba only. They have huge tasks on their soldiers.

The SPLM should be strenghthening its position in the country first, not outside. Two years after the CPA, the citizens have lost trust in the SPLM. With widespread corruption going unabated, poor services and lack of salaries for teachers, it could be even worse than these. Kiir had to put his house in order.

Even GOSS has a new nickname in Juba: Government Of Self-Service! The meeting could be over but the future is getting bleaker. God forbid.

Let there be water . . .

. . . and there was water, much water, under the sands in Darfur! Good news for the people. Now that "water" will end the cycle of violence, once the wells are dug, I hope they don't find another excuse to go to fight.

GOSS reshuffle: timely or too late?

Two years after the formation of the Government of South Sudan, South Sudanese are still waiting to see the fruits of the peace. A government that started almost from scratch is being bombarded left, right and center for corruption, inactivity and ineffectiveness. We shall be taking stock, but let me first say some few words on the reshuffle.

The reshuffle is long overdue, as far as I can see. GOSS turn out to be corrupt and the only thing they were good at was squandering government money. No one in the government is clean from the president down to the last MP. They all want to make money at the expense of the people without delivering any services. The only plus for Kiir is that he started acting.

For instance: government contracts were awarded to companies without the normal bidding processes, kickbacks pocketed by the dealers. In the end no work gets done and no one is accountable for the mess. Riak Machar is said to always ask new companies coming into south Sudan "what is my share in this venture?" Unbelieveable.

Rebecca Garang, the wife of our great hero Dr. John Garang de Mabior surprised everyone with her behaviour. Initially thought to be the champion of the CPA and anti-corruption, she has yet to explain where all the money had gone for the reconstruction of the roads in Juba. Juba town is a shame to move in. The roads are worse than they were before the GOSS take over. Potholes everywhere. Instead, she was busy siphoning money into her private businesses. Bogus Italian companies were given huge contracts to repair the roads in Juba one year ago, but up to now the only thing they do is fill the potholes with concrete (see photo), something never heard of in the world!

And the electricity in Juba? And the finance Minister scandal? How about the Ministry of Health? The woes are too many. I leave them for next time.

The reshuffle? Better late than never, at least.

Am back

I am back to blogging. Unfortunately, I will not be blogging from my base coz of work relocation. I will be missing the SPLM International Chapters meeting in Juba and the effects of the new reshuffle of GOSS ministers. There is optimism in the air in Juba . . .

More to come. Stay tuned.

07.07.07 . . .

Even if you are not superstitious, today is not that ordinary . . .

Is Sudan a failed State?

I find the recently published Failed States Index 2007 utterly unbelievable and rubbish. It is one of these publications that doesn't hold water. I have a lot of grievances with my country, but I don't consider it a failed state. For this am sure.

The Index puts Sudan at the top of the list, followed by Iraq and Somalia. Every sane man on the planet knows that there is no government in Somalia for the last ten years. Actually there was no STATE! And how will you describe the carnage raging in Iraq, with a hopelessly impotent American-backed government? It is in a state of civil war, a government that doesn't have control over its territories, etc.

The Index may have used different indicators to arrive at this conclusion, but it is wrong. There is stability in South Sudan after twenty years of war, the East is quiet. Darfur is the only war-torn spot in the country now, and does not reflect the whole picture.

You can call Sudan what you want, but not failed: ask Somalis and Iraqis what they think first!

Holidays!

I am taking a month off the blog to do some work. See you sometimes in late June. If I pass by Khartoum, will let you know. For those who love this blog, I will be back.

Sandmonkey quits blogging

The Egyptian blogging under the name Rantings of a Sandmonkey is quitting!

Today is going to be the day that I've been dreading for quite sometime now. Today is the day I walk away from this blog. Done. Finished.

There are many reasons, each would take a post to list, and I just do not have the energy to list them. As anyone who has been reading this blog for the past month, I think it is apparent that things are not the same with me.

There are reasons for that: One of the chief reasons is the fact that there has been too much heat around me lately. I no longer believe that my anonymity . . . Continue reading here.

The pressure of the government on blogers is becoming unbearable. The case of the imprisoned blogger is still fresh in the minds. Another light just goes out in Egypt. First it was the Big Pharaoh. Now this . . .