In order for Israel’s conspiracy to be completed, it must find its way into Sudan. The country was torn by conflict, the struggle reaching a peak from 1983-2002. Foreign forces, headed by Israel, took advantage of the upheaval and sought to embroil Sudan in the struggles of its neighbors. Israel played a dual role in the Ethiopian-Eritrean struggle, supporting Eritrea’s bid for independence.
Israel also managed to make Khartoum a transit station for Falasha Jews expelled from Ethiopia and this led to a cooling of Sudanese-Arab relations and consequently affected the Sudanese government’s ability to confront separatist movements.
In light of the special relationship, based on shared ideology and a common history, that links Egypt and the Sudan, a symposium took place in the Academy for Research and African Studies in the University of Cairo; its title was “Sudan’s future in light of the latest changes”.
The participants in the symposium dealt with a number of interconnected issues relating to Sudan’s situation today and how to overcome the problems and crises that it faces, especially the southern separatist movement. The symposium concluded with a number of recommendations. One deals with Sudan’s internal issues, another with its relationship with neighboring countries and Arab, African and international organizations and finally, special recommendations pertaining to Egyptian-Sudanese relations.
What is of most importance is to look at what is required of Egypt to support Sudan in its time of crisis, in light of the fact that its stability and unity is an extremely important matter for Cairo which itself is charged with moving forward more rapidly to confront the Israeli invasion of the nations around the African lakes. The recommendations of the symposium are as follows:
The need for Egypt to share in efforts to reach a new settlement and consolidate its role in reaching understanding between its Sudanese brethren and not to absent itself and leave the door open for negative separatist influences.
It is necessary to support Sudanese asylum seekers in Egypt and helping them to overcome their daily problems and to take special interest in their educational and health requirements.
There was also a recommendation that the year 2004 be the Year of Africa in Egypt — concentrating on Sudan.
Workshops will be organized as an adjunct to the Academy in which Egyptian and Sudanese experts from the north and south would participate and which would conclude with recommendations related to finding a settlement on a scientific basis. There is also a need to provide accurate information about Sudan to all who require it and organizing a comprehensive media program to follow up African problems and to make sure that Egypt’s voice is heard in the countries of the continent. These steps in addition to the other recommendations may be useful to a certain degree — but alone will not be enough to prevent Sudan from being divided up.
Therefore, I believe that in order for any efforts to succeed in this matter, foreign interference in Sudan’s affairs must end, whether that interference is due to a desire to monopolize the oil found in the country or to encircle Egypt and threaten Arab security. Otherwise the struggle will become more violent — especially if Egypt is forced to interfere more positively.
Arab News Opinion 4 February 2003
