Sudan Census: the question of race, ethnicity, religion
Race, ethnicity, religion, region, state, language group, among others are what make history. I am writing this article only to support the Government of Southern Sudan and the SPLM/A on their position to include the above mentioned categories in the upcoming census. It is true, as President Kiir put it that if race is not part of the identity in the census, Sudan indeed will be an Arabs' nation as Islamic fundamentalists in Khartoum wish. That will never happen; not in the presence of SPLM.
Race, ethnicity, religion, region, state, and language group are good for bureaucracy and governance. Without those, how can government work efficiently with her citizens? These categories are a must include material in order for this census to be full and more accurate. South Sudan is only a few years away from referendum; and without knowing who is who in the Sudan, it will be extremely impossible to know who will be legible to vote in the coming referendum.
We have learned through media that some elements, if not all, in the National Islamic Front think that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was imposed on Sudan by the outside world, which is incorrect. It was from within the Sudanese people. In like manner, it should be understood that it was for the good of the regular Sudanese to bring peace to the country so that Sudan, like other countries in the world, should not perish any longer and commence to enjoy peace and prosperity.
It is true, reasonable and a must to include race, ethnicity, religion, region, language group, or any other categories that will reveal the reality of Sudan. For so many years, fake figures have been presented to the world, and until to date, nobody, inside or outside Sudan knows exactly how many people are Africans or Arabs in the Sudan; or the exact population of South Sudan, Nuba Mountains, Blue Nile, or Darfur. Khartoum must learn that this is a very different era and blackmailing philosophies of the past must be forgotten. This is not Sudan of the 1920s, or the 1950s.
Finally, I would like to congratulate our government in Juba for its robust and firm stand since the beginning of the Movement. No matter Khartoum's argument is going to be, SPLM must not change its position.
The Author is a graduate student and resides in New York; he is also a New Sudan Vision Columnist
