Among Arabian and African countries Sudan is the largest in
terms of size. Since independence in 1956, the country has been
engaged, for more than three decades during half a century, in
civil wars. Last year, the problem in the south, which had been a
long-standing headache to the Sudanese government, was resolved
when many opposition factions put down their arms and surrender to
the government. Analysts said that such a success could shed light
on the Darfur issue. Now, the light of peace is appearing on the
horizon of this troubled western province.
Arabian media described the crisis as "the Darfur pain in the
embrace of Africa". Sudan is home to 19 races and 597 tribes, and
Darfur particularly represents the national feature of multi ethnic
groups, tribes, religions and cultures. Out of historical reasons
and intervention of external powers, fights between local Muslims
and black people for resources and living space have been
escalating with intensified militant conflicts. The situation has
worsened since some western countries are eager to
"internationalize" what had been a pure internal affair of Sudan.
Backed by outside forces, some local opposition factions insisted
on high prices in negotiations with the government. As a result,
talks started by the government often fall apart.
The Darfur issue wouldn't have escalated so fast, we should say,
without intervention from external powers driven by their own
interests. But it is a historical trend and popular will to resolve
the issue peacefully. To that end, the Sudanese government has been
actively engaged in dialogue and negotiation with opposition
factions under the mediation of the African Union; The Sudan
People's Liberation Movement also made some concession under
pressure from the international community, so that a peace
agreement was finally inked.
The Arabian world said they are happy about the peace deal, but
is more concerned with its implementation. A Qatar newspaper said
in an editorial that this is only the first step on the rocky way
towards peace in Darfur. While some media believe that the two
parties involved still have reservations or different
interpretations on some articles of the agreement, which add to the
difficulty in implementation.
Anyway, the first step deserves celebration. Darfur, this piece
of oil-rich land where numerous lives have been lost in frequent
civil wars, should finally cease to be "a pain in the embrace of
Africa".
(People's Daily Online May 12, 2006)
