A close look at the Sudan national census
April 17, 2008 (New York, U.S.A.) - First of all let me start by congratulating the Government of South Sudan, and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in particular for its decision to suspend participation in the scheduled census in Southern Sudan. This decision does not only keep the history of Africans and non Muslims of Sudan alive but it also sends a strong message to the marginalized people of Sudan wherever they are that the SPLM is truly a Movement for the people.
The South Sudan Parliament must urgently call a session to deliberate on this step and endorse President Kiir’s decision to suspend the census until the unresolved issues are solved once and for all. The Supreme Court of South Sudan needs to be heard on this as well. Their so doing will help regular citizens to understand the co-existence of powers of the three branches of government in South Sudan.
For so many years, in fact over a century, Khartoum has done all it can to Islamize and Arabize the entire country despite the fact that Africans are the majority in the Country. The last few censuses indicated that only 39% of the people in Sudan are Arabs. Needless to say, if it is correct, one may precisely tell the percentage of the African people in reference to the Arab percentage given above. But many things were incorrect about the past censuses in Sudan.
Firstly, the second census was done only a year after the Addis Ababa Accord. At that time, majority of the Anya Nya II soldiers and supporters were still in the bush; as such, they were not counted. Secondly, like the second census, the third was done at a time when the country was in chaos; it was conducted in the same year SPLM/A was born. Millions of people were not counted in the South because of the insecurity and their preparedness to support the Movement. And needless to say, the forth census conducted in 1993 did not take place in much of Southern Sudan. It is not to be argued that only three cities in the South (Juba, Wau, and Malakal) partially participated in the census. Juba population was barely 120,000 not to mention Wau and Malakal. Neither of those censuses in the past was genuine to be considered a national one because each only served the interest of the NIF and her allies in Khartoum. That is why this Census is so important to the people of South Sudan and the marginalized people of Nuba and Ingessina.
Having given the above facts, the current planned census would be the first of its kind in the history of South Sudan. It will be the one and the only legitimate headcount done by the Southerners themselves. If done, the enumerators will be native of South Sudan and will be willing and able to penetrate deep in the countryside where 90% of the people live. It will give the most accurate number of South Sudanese ever. And of course, it is a prerequisite for next year’s general elections and referendum in 2011.
Khartoum position to exclude race, ethnicity, and religion on the census question is political and dangerous for the history of Sudan. Censuses are not only about to know the number of people in a given country but part of history in a country. They are intended to seek more information that number; it provides the government and the public with information to know the number of people living in the country and local jurisdictions, the race of people and in what percent, sex, and age group among others. In addition, censuses are conducted once in a while; in most cases, at least once a decade. Therefore, impartial conduction of this census simply means that Sudan, whether divided or united will remain under darkness of untruthfulness for the next ten years. This is a mistake that will not help the history of Sudan to thrive as it started over the years.
Specifically, Khartoum’s position to conduct incomplete census is to fulfill the long awaited plan to annex the Country to the Middle East. If questions about race and religion are not included in the questionnaire book, then Sudan will be considered Arab and Islamic as well; this is what Khartoum has always been fighting for to move Sudan to the other side of the Red Sea, a move that is not true and will not be true. There is no way this can be denied. Even in Countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada where religion or race does not mean much (at least in the 21st century), these questions are still included to keep history alive and for other purposes.
Generally, it is not my intention and perhaps not yours as well, to suggest any alternative to the GOSS and SPLM current decisions but since there are some pressures from Khartoum and outside, I would start by saying: do not consider any change of mind to the current position. It is the decision that best represents the position of the marginalized people of Southern Sudan, Nuba Mountains, and Ingessina, as well as other areas.
But if for any reason GOSS changes mind and considers reversing her decision, there are only a few alternatives to keep the history of our struggle alive. First, the GOSS must attach the two questions of race and ethnicity, and religion to the census questionnaires in her territory and the marginalized areas mentioned above in partnership with the Government of National Unity (GoNU).
Second, GOSS must independently conduct its own census that has nothing to do with Khartoum; this means Juba will not confer with Khartoum and will be up to them (in Juba) to choose what questions will or will not be included in the census questionnaire.
Third, use the first approach and extend it to Khartoum and other places in the north where South Sudanese reside in a more aggressive way. South Sudanese in Khartoum will be considered as living in South Sudan and in a state of their origin (as to be marked in the census) even if one lives in the north; in other ways, a person living in Omdurman and marked that he original came from Kakwa in WES, or Murle in Jonglei, or Nuer in WUN, or Agaar in Lakes will be considered as living in his/her state of origin.
This approach will contradicts Khartoum agenda of keeping counting Southerners in Khartoum and the north as part of its own. Four, South Sudanese whom areas are being annexed to the north and are south of 13th imaginary line or 1/1/56 must be counted as Southerners with or without Khartoum’s consent.
Finally, congratulations to the GOSS and the SPLM for this outstanding decision to stand by the cause of justice, freedom, and prosperity. Unless Khartoum diminishes, there will be no peace in Africa.
Long Live South Sudan; Long Live SPLM; Long Live SPLA; Long Live President Salva Kiir Mayardit; and Victory to the Sudanese people… And the Struggle Continues.
The Author is a graduate student and resides in New York; he is also a New Sudan Vision Columnist
