Sudan's Brewing War

"They burnt everything I owned. They slaughtered nine people that morning. Without any reason. All the [Lords Resistance Army] wanted was food. It has nothing to do with politics. This is an everyday occurrence.'' Victim in Sudan via SMH Sunday Morning. 


Sudan. The African country the world is turning it's ear to over the coming weeks. Shame it has taken us this long to stand up and pay attention.  


Why now are we paying attention to the deplorable state of human rights in Sudan, when for decades civil war has been raged upon the South by it's own Government? Perhaps because stars like Emmanuel Jal, Alicia Keys and George Clooney have seen with their own eyes what is happening, and gotten behind the fight for peace. Excuse the oxymoron. 



Maybe it is something else. OIL. The South harbours three quarters of Sudans oil. In 1999 crude oil was first exported from Sudan. A turning point for the country. In the 11 years gone by, the government of Sudan has displaced southerners, by force, in an effort to claim the oil and create strong ties with the US, China and the Middle East just to name a few. An exchanged oil with China was developed in which they were supplied 40% of the oil in return for weapons, which are believed to have resulted in the 'ethnic cleansing' genocide of 2 million people in Darfur. And the North supplied weapons to the Lords Resistance Army so they could 'clear the land' in the South for them. 


The North will surely not allow the South to break away. The country is preparing for what is fast becoming known as 'the worst war of 2011'. Obama is actively pushing the latest round of efforts and the world is falling obediently behind. 


George Clooney reminds the world again, that we have been late to every Genocide. There are no more excuses anymore. We have the knowledge and we have the power. We must do our bit. Pray, act and believe in a peaceful outcome for the South. The native pastoral people of Southern Sudan, the Dinka, are some of the most beautiful people in the world. And no one deserves to be tortured off their land for the greed of man. 



Sources
Enough Project 
China's Relationship
Sudan Oil and Human Rights
Sydney Morning Herald Article