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Al-Ahram Weekly 16 - 22 March 2000 Issue No. 473 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 16 - 22 March 2000 Issue No. 473
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Special Focus Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles A delicate balance'
By Dina Ezzat
Khartoum's attempt to reassert its Arab identity challenges the Arab world's preconceptions of Sudan as an 'African' state.
Moustafa Othman Ismail
In an exclusive interview, Sudan's Foreign Minister Moustafa Othman Ismail blames the near-partition of his country on the lack of interest shown in its fate by the Arab world.
The following are excerpts:
Arab foreign ministers have spoken a great deal about progress towards a better Arab world, but they have not had much to say about Sudan. Do you think that they are paying enough attention to your country and its problems?
We presented a draft resolution to this session of the Arab foreign ministers, seeking their support for the unity, security and stability of Sudan.
The one-day meeting in Beirut, however, was dedicated entirely to Lebanon and the peace process. Many items on the agenda, including Sudan, therefore had to be discussed in the preparatory meetings between the permanent Arab League representatives in Cairo.
Still, you have a point. Save for a few exceptions, Sudan was not really the focus of Arab attention. This is very unfortunate, because the support of the Arab world is crucial if we are to preserve our unity.
How is that?
Well, Sudan is an Arab-African country. We always have to try and balance these two components. Diluting or marginalising either component leads to serious distortions.
That is what has happened over the past few years, when the Arab factor was marginalised in favour of the other component. As the Arab component was systematically reduced, so the call to divide Sudan into a northern Arab state and a southern African state grew stronger.
And who was responsible for this decline?
It is a combination of many factors. For example, one cannot ignore the impact of the 1990 Gulf War and the coolness which followed in our relations with the Gulf states. There was also a cooling in Sudanese-Egyptian relations around the same time. Over this [past decade] Arab interest in Sudan has been at its nadir. This has left us with an overdose of the African component.
But is this cooling of relations with Egypt and the Gulf states now over?
Relations with all the Gulf countries are now back to normal, and. Egyptian-Sudanese relations are also being normalised. So we hope we can restore the balance between our Arab and African components. This balance is crucial if we are to have a serious chance of maintaining the unity of Sudan.
Now, we have the joint Egyptian-Libyan initiative for peace in Sudan. This initiative, and the willingness of its sponsors to coordinate with IGAD's African peace initiative, have certainly been a great help in countering calls for the partition of Sudan.
Are you looking for other forms of support from the Arabs?
Unfortunately, Sudan is not getting much development support from the Arab world. We need the support of the Arab countries if we are to make the most of our economic opportunities. We need Arab investment in Sudan. Economic stability and sustainable development are necessary if we are to have political stability.
In addition, I must say that I find it very sad that Arab non-governmental organisations and charities have not been present -- at least, not in any real sense of the word -- to help relieve the many human tragedies that have befallen us over the past few years.
Instead, we had all these non-Arab charities coming to provide food, medical aid, clothes and shelter. But no Arabs, even though they showed a great deal of interest in providing humanitarian aid in Bosnia and Kosovo.
It's difficult, then, to expect the people of Sudan -- particularly in the south -- when they receive no support from the Arabs, to have any serious attachment to their Arab identity -- indeed, any attachment at all.
And on the political front?
We have one very simple and quite legitimate request. Arab countries should put the issue of Sudan on their agenda. Sudan should be a priority for the Arab world. The issue should have equal priority with the peace process and Lebanon. For what is going on in southern Sudan is essentially the same as what is going on in southern Lebanon.
If Sudan had the political support of the Arab world, then those who are trying to divide Sudan into two countries, whether they are internal or external forces, would realise that we are not alone in defending our unity.
Did the recent Arab trip of Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir succeed in garnering at least some of the support you need?
Yes, absolutely. President Bashir toured 10 Arab states over the past couple of weeks. Through his talks with the leaders of these countries, he was able to bring the issue of Sudan to the attention of their policy makers. He also managed to open many doors for potential investment and economic cooperation.
