South Sudan: What Price Do We Have To Pay For Peace?

**Original post date: 23 July 2012**

I am mad as hell.  (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻) *flips the table*

On Twitter I see tweets from BBCAfrica: 

'I don't want to get my South Sudanese passport', I exclaimed. 

Perhaps my response was a little too dramatic but there's this sadness and anger in my heart. It's as if we  (South Sudan) don't demand respect for ourselves anymore. And all of the fighting we have endured to become independent, seems to be in vain because we're anything but independent. 

The people of South Sudan (and of course some in Sudan also) have suffered too much for too long. 

If the South Sudanese people were treated with equality and consideration, the secession would have never happened. If that never happened, oil wouldn't be much of an issue either (if it would be an issue at all). 

At the moment, Sudan and South Sudan are having talks to strike some sort of deal regarding oil and borders. It appears that South Sudan is desperate to be on good terms with Sudan and the way they go about it isn't sitting too well with me. North Sudan clearly doesn't care for the South Sudanese people (let alone their own people).

Sudan, like all other countries, are looking out for themselves (I can't blame them for that). Sudan wants the oil. They got the oil before the secession. Fine. I get it. You want to keep the oil.

But South Sudan to pay $36 a barrel?

I have to give it up to South Sudan though for stating they're only willing to pay up to $9.10 a barrel, with lower fees for poorer quality oil. High five for that. That seems much more reasonable. 

In my opinion, South Sudan doesn't even need to share the oil because it is on our side of the border, hence making it our country's oil. But it is fair and obviously very kind that we are offering the Northerners a share of our oil. It's a sacrifice we're willing to make to keep the peace. 

But the conditions for the deal also highlighted that we pay the North any debts they incurred since the secession.

Oh and um, South Sudan is willing to forgive Sudan for nearly $500 million in ''lost'' oil revenue.

Wait, what? 

Where is our compensation? Where is our reparations for the suffering and warfare that we have endured over the past 20+ years? Did we even get a formal apology from the North (who have been wreaking havoc in the Nuba Mountains and its rebel groups are still kidnapping Southerners and turning them into slaves to work for rich families in Khartoum)?

The North agreed to the secession, but they are battling for our oil like we forced the secession. Considering the lack of infrastructure in South Sudan, the North should be paying us.

The Abyei region which is majority Ngok Dinka tribe is still undisputed and they were unable to join South Sudan. South Sudan has also demanded a referendum for the Abyei region as part of the South Sudan/Sudan deal.  

South Sudanese people and other Sudanese who don't fit in the box of typical Northern Sudanese have been disadvantaged for far too long. Even though we have our so called 'independence' we are still disadvantaged. We haven't found peace, even in independence. 

South Sudan is impoverished. Our infrastructure is almost non-existent and the war has killed many South Sudanese, as well as displaced them all around the world. 

We are in no position to be giving other countries money to help pay their debts when we have a lot of poverty ourselves. Not to mention that our government is rife with corruption.

I understand that this is the price we have to pay for peace. But that still doesn't guarantee that we will be safe. Other issues are still getting in the way of our development. Undisputed border regions, how oil revenue will be shared and of course, tribalism. 

How can we secure our borders to ensure that whatever conflict may occur in the North won't spill over to the South? How can we ensure that North Sudan won't attack us and of course, South Sudan won't attack them? We need to build trust. We need to build an allegiance. We need to be allies, and all of that will take time. 

Why are we expected to pay so much for oil within our borders?

Sudan can continue to make money out of other industries on their side of the border.

Here we have Port Sudan. 

Source: Port Sudan 

Source: Port Sudan 

With beautiful clear waters, beaches and coral reef, it makes it an ideal place for a summer getaway. Enjoy a cold glass of karkadé on the beach or dive and snorkel amongst the coral reef! 

Incidentally, Port Sudan is where the South Sudan pipelines lead to. 

So you may not enjoy a beach holiday. Or a water holiday. But you can do other things in Sudan. 

If you're tired of the Egyptian Pyramids, Sudan has many Ancient Nubian Pyramids that you can visit. 

These Pyramids are beautiful.

'What else can I do in Sudan?', you exclaim.

You can visit The National Museum of Sudan and observe Sudanese history.

Sudan can definitely make money out of tourism. South Sudan can also make money in other industries  instead of relying so heavily on oil. I frown upon how much they rely on that.

South Sudan has a lot of fertile land and it is not a desert in comparison to the North. South Sudan can tap into the agricultural business; grow grains, passion fruit, mangoes and pineapple. These can be exported and money can be made. 

South Sudan can also attempt to make money through tourism. Create museums with artefacts of the different tribes of South Sudan. 

Why not also tap into the real estate industry? There is plenty of land available and people are moving to South Sudan in the thousands, looking to go back home or create new opportunities for themselves.

Both Sudans are beautiful countries and rich in history, culture and opportunities. 

The deal South Sudan offered is its final offer. August 2nd is the day where both sides have to come to an agreement. Although I don't entirely agree with South Sudan paying back the North and forgiving their debts etc, we have no choice but to go with it. It's the price we have to pay for peace and it is definitely worth it if it prevents potential war. I would, however, be quite angry if Sudan reject these offers... they're as good as they can get.