The Bitter Sweet Sudan: Darfur & the Economic Boom

Thanks to BRE, I just came across this excellent article reporting Sudan’s bitter sweet reality. Read every word of it and be informed.

In Daana’s own words, we are “a nation in waiting”. Our future hinges greatly on various related factors, mainly Darfur, the lifting of US sanctions and the highly possible Southern Sudanese wish for separation.

- Darfur’s chance of witnessing peace is closer than it was before right now. The lives of millions and the future of a nation is at stake.

- Besides balancing the beneficial, yet very risky Chinese “invasion”, the lifting of US sanctions and the inflow of American investments will fuel Sudan’s economy way further. We will diversify our sources of investment and create valuable competition.

- The Southern Sudanese wish for separation could ignite the civil war again. Moreover the loss of the powerful SPLM from the landscape of Sudanese politics will empower Omar al-Bashir’s NCP further and the march towards a democratic Sudan in the near future might turn out to be just a dream.

I don’t see the lifting of US sanctions happening before the Darfur issue is settled. Lifting sanctions from a nation ruled by a regime the US accuses of genocide is simply a no. It would be a very stupid political move for any American President or high US government official to suggest or do that given the current situation but things can change dramatically if and when Darfur sees peace. That will require cooperation from the Sudanese government. We’ve already seen how Ghadafi’s wise decisions helped bring out Libya from isolation.

As the article indicates, I’m not the only one who’s very keen on seeing relations between America and Sudan improve. The lifting of sanctions will be hugely beneficial to both Sudan and America but firstly, Omar al-Bashir will need some serious PR to clean up his very dirty image. Moreover America needs to keep its promises. We’ve already been betrayed after cooperating on terrorism related issues. American sanctions weren’t lifted as promised. They should have been but then Darfur happened. So much hinges on Darfur right now, so much.

Meanwhile, we are indeed a nation in waiting and this is our bitter sweet reality.

Related posts:

- Khartoum is Where the Party is At

- Sudan’s Booming Economy: VOA Report