Egypt
is wrong
By Machien J. Luoi
(new sothsudan)
Poverty and Conflicts in
Southern Sudan
and around the world are as old as the origins of mankind. Therefore, the
Egypt
’s claim that
Southern Sudan
secession in 2011 referendum will result in heightened poverty, conflicts and regional instability is wrong. Instead,
Egypt
should welcome
Southern Sudan
independence when it is arrived at.
Speaking to the Chinese Special Envoy on African Affairs Liu Guijin, and reported by the
Sudan
Tribune on July 28, 2009, the Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul – Gheit claimed,
Southern Sudan
secession will lead to “regional instability.” He added that such a move by
Southern Sudan
“would lead to proliferation of poverty and internal conflict within the new state.” These claims in my view are blatant lies and propaganda aimed at spreading fears about independence of
Southern Sudan
.
Egypt
had once wanted
Sudan
to be part of its territory. Unfortunately, Sudanese in 1956 decided to be independent from
Egypt
, and
Egypt
did not stop them. Now, it is concern about Southern Sudan independence from Northern Sudan, not
Egypt
. The ill intentioned propaganda of
Egypt
against the Southern Sudan independence is aimed at protecting its 1929 and 1959 water deals with British and
Sudan
respectively. The 1929 British-Egypt water agreement said, “
Egypt
has the right to veto projects upstream on the
Nile
that would affect its water share of 55.5 billion cubic meters a year, the lion’s share of the river’s total flow of around 84 billion cubic meters.” While the 1959 Egypt–Sudan agreement adds-on to the previous accord and “gives
Egypt
the right to 55.5 billion cubic meters of
Nile
water a year.” Consequently, independence of Southern Sudan does not only threaten the ratios of the water allotted to
Egypt
, but probably the agreements entirely. This is why
Egypt
has embarked on a campaign to discredit the importance of
Southern Sudan
independence.
Regrettably, what
Egypt
does not know is that Southern Sudan secession and independence cannot be halted by old accords of 1929 and 1959 which
Southern Sudan
people did not consent to. Secondly, Southern Sudanese are well learned about their internal affairs and world around them today than in 1929 or any other time in their history. Hence, they are capable of solving their internal conflicts alone or with help of their allies now and will do so after their independence. Therefore, fear mongering about
Southern Sudan
independence have no anchorage in any studies but blatant lies. Thirdly, poverty, conflicts and regional instability have always been there and will continue to affect people in
Sudan
,
Egypt
and the world regardless of
Southern Sudan
independence. Poverty, conflicts and regional instabilities were there in pre-colonial eras, during colonialism and in the post- colonial
Africa
. Such tribulations are not limited to new states or
Southern Sudan
. Fourthly, Southern Sudan’s independence is inevitable, neither
Egypt
nor
Egypt
’s allies will stop it.
Instead of railing against it or envying Southern Sudan independence,
Egypt
should embrace it. For instance, the 1929, 1959 and the
Nile
Basin
countries’ consultative agreements are “neither Quran nor the Holy Bible” and may be revised or cancelled with independence of
Southern Sudan
. This alone should convince
Egypt
that, an independent
Southern Sudan
will be a force to reckon with, not only regionally but also internationally. Thus,
Egypt
should be careful about its irrational statements about
Southern Sudan
independence. Alternatively, it should embrace and orchestrate initiatives that will enhance its relationships with government of
Southern Sudan
and its people.
Egypt
is wrong and should refrain from making such irresponsible statements.