Until recently, Sudan boasted its strongly diverse landscape and cultural makeup. Ancient pyramids dating from the Nubian dynasty decorate the country's North. The Blue-White Nile split marks the capital region and its three sub-cities of Omdurman, Khartoum proper, and Bahri. And from there, the Nile valley gives you a tour of the country's vast beauties, from traditional sword dances to fresh fish in the Port, to lush mango trees that grow in the South. This is the Sudan that today's Sudanese will always remember in pride, despite poor leadership within and without the country-- leaders that only serve to strip the people of their resources and strength. Leaders that hail from the States, Juba, Europe, Tel-Aviv, and Khartoum alike.
Sudan has never been new to political strife and controversy, but today we stand as two vulnerable nations. After every referendum ballot is submitted and New Sudan is announced, the two African countries will materialize and contradict the definition of Sudan.
If the Southern people were actually given the rights that they deserve, this would be a different story. If there was a chance that both Sudan and New Sudan could be lead by fair and just politicians, then the referendum wouldn't lead to inevitable violence and divisions within South Sudan. If geo-politics surrounding all of Sudan weren't so baffling, if Sudan was truly free to self-determine itself, and if the country wasn't a victim of gross propaganda and slander perpetrated by corrupt Save Darfur and Lost Boy activists, then yes, the naive tale that the Western media tells of this "historic triumph" might actually become a reality.
But let's not be naive. A Sudanese secession is only a triumph for the countries that will reap the benefits of the Southern oil fields and leave the people to fight and fend for themselves as per usual. Divide and rule is alive and well, and accordingly, Sudan is not.
