President al-Bashir at a rally in 2009/Photo: Reuters
My colleagues Jerry Fowler and Mark Lotwis left Sudan last Friday heading back to Washington. In order to set up a few more meetings in the South, I stayed on in Juba. Little did we know, President Omar al-Bashir and his entourage of advisors and security agents would be coming to town—and staying in the same modest hotel as the Save Darfur delegation, in the very wing where Jerry had been sleeping.
Over the weekend, I had heard that Bashir would be traveling to Juba and a few other towns in the South to campaign. In my mind, I imagined a quick dash by motorcade from the airport to a rally in Juba and then a few darts by plane to some other choice locations in the Greater Equatoria states.
So I was quite surprised when early Monday afternoon, I was confronted by a newly erected roadblock in front of my hotel. Initially, the mix of police and security officials told me that I could not pass. When I explained that I was staying at the hotel beyond their checkpoint, they quickly scanned my backpack and then gave me strict instructions on how to walk to the next crowd of security personnel suddenly stationed in front of hotel gate. After another round of negotiations that involved coaxing hotel staff out to verify my claims, I was finally permitted to enter the foyer—where I was promptly urged by a security guard to take my room key and, like a misbehaving child, go straight to my room.
About an hour later, I returned to reception to ask about the “protocol” and restrictions in place due to the arrival of the special guest from Khartoum. The staff assured me that the security had overreacted in the first few hours and gave me a stamped pass that would allow me to go and come as I please. Thus far, I have not faced any further issues – other than that inescapable locked-down feeling of any setting where men with guns sit and stand around every entrance and exit, looking all-too-bored for any by-stander’s comfort.
Ironically enough, I did not have to leave the hotel to watch Bashir’s political rally. My window afforded a partial view of the stadium. I could not make out the words of his speech, but at times I could hear the crowd break out with a chant of “Salaam, Oyay” (Peace, Yes!).
Maggie Fick of the ENOUGH Project was inside the stadium and reported on the climate.
Papers the next day quoted Bashir as making an economic case for unity. He argued that Sudan’s economy could expand by a higher percent if all efforts are exerted to end political tensions:
“that have encouraged nothing than regional wars and displacement of inhabitants…To experience real growth and success in the war against poverty, we must get our act together on two fronts…[O]ur politics must promote political stability and public confidence in the future of our country.”
Bashir, dressed down in a short sleeve shirt, treated the crowd to some interesting campaign rhetoric, such as “We will cut off every hand attempting to disrupt peace.” He also promised to celebrate with the people of the South after the referendum, whether they chose unity or secession.
In my conversations though in Juba thus far, it’s clear that Bashir’s last stab to make unity attractive will fall mostly on deaf ears. People are gearing up for the elections to contest leadership within the Government of South Sudan, but with a keen eye on the referendum. As for those in Darfur, very few trust these most recent promises from Bashir and his National Congress Party (NCP) – and, thus, confidence in a durable political resolution emerging from the Doha negotiations remains low.
With my flight out of Juba soon to depart, I hope to have more time to write about the many interesting conversations that we have had in Sudan over the last four weeks. For now, I can say that having visited Khartoum, the three capitals of Darfur and Juba, one cannot help but be struck by the depth of complexity to the immediate crises and issues at hand. Peace, prosperity and development for all Sudanese – the slogans of Bashir’s campaign – can be realized over time, but first a profound and dramatic shift in the mentality of those in power and those who dominate politics through fear and violence must occur.
The opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Save Darfur Coalition.
Tags: Darfur, Elections, Government of Sudan, Jerry Fowler, Omar al-Bashir, Peace, Save Darfur, Sudan
