Hail the Birth of a New Nation

Following the successful referendum vote for South Sudan’s self-determination, the birth of a new nation in Africa’s largest and the world’s tenth largest country is now a fait accompli. With the SPLM leadership and the Referendum Commission announcing that the 60 per cent threshold had been met even before the exercise came to an end, initial fears of a rerun to be held within 60 days can now be put to rest. Having turned out in large numbers at a defining moment to free themselves from the yoke of the Khartoum regime, the Southern Sudanese can only hope that at least 50 plus one per cent of them voted in favour of separation in order to meet the other remaining criteria. But judging by the campaign mood in the run up to the plebiscite, it is now a foregone conclusion that the majority voted for secession.

Still, one may argue that it is not yet time to uncork the champagne. The oil rich border region of Abyei remains a sticky issue without whose final settlement could plunge Sudan back into war. Equally posing challenges to the Khartoum regime are the conflicts in the western Darfur region as well as Eastern Sudan, where the Beja community is still up in arms against marginalization. Without peace in these regions, an independent South Sudan is likely to feel the ripple effects that may distract it from reconstruction.