The impact of the Sudanese civil wars since 1955
It
has led to great loss of lives of both the Arabs and blacks. The
repressive military approach to the rebels and the refusal by rebels to
back down has led to the death of nearly two million people. Some have
died in actual fighting while others have died of war-related effects
e.g diseases.
It has led to misery and suffering amongst the southerners. The war has
produced fear, trauma and insecurity due to the great tortures
inflicted on innocent women and children- many of whom live as widows
and orphans. Raping and other forms of human rights abuse still
continue.
It has resulted into economic devastation of Sudan. By 1979, Sudan had
started experiencing fuel shortages, inflation, unemployment and the
like especially in the southern part. This has led to great decline in
living standards
It has led to the out break of famine in the south. This has been a
result of applying the scotched earth method of burning villages and
plantations of southerners and the fleeing of able-bodied men into
bushes.
Decline of medical facilities and school education in the south. The
northern-based Khartoum government has paid no attention to the
peoples' plight; hence the out break of epidemics like Cholera etc,
It has contributed to the refugee crisis in the neighbouring countries.
A number of blacks in southern Sudan fled to Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia,
Eritrea, Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo.
It has led to strained relations between Sudan and her neighbours whom
she accuses of supporting the rebels e.g In 1995, Omar el Bashir cut
off diplomatic relations with Uganda for related reasons. He also
accused Ethiopia, Eritrea etc.
It has led to border conflicts between Sudan and her neighbours
especially as Sudan also tries to revenge by supporting rebels against
neighbouring countries
It has led to OAU and UNO efforts to end it. In particular it drained
OAU's resources in form of several conferences held to end it e.g in
1965 and 1972.
It has promoted neo-colonialism in Sudan. This is because both the
government side and the rebels need financial and material assistance
from foreign powers. Hence Israel, USA, Britain, USSR and Arab
countries have all sent in some form of assistance at one time or
another. This has fuelled neo-colonialism.
Nimeiri imposed martial law in the southern part of Sudan in March
1984. It was characterised by the Hogging of suspected rebels,
amputating their limbs or even killing some of them.
It has turned Sudan into a home of terrorists and criminals e.g Carols
Dijacko was arrested in Sudan. This country also harbours a number of
Muslim fundamentalists- especially Palestinian terrorists and has
become a hunting ground for USA, Russian and Israel's espionage
networks (CIA, KGB and MOSSAD respectively)
It has led to several coups and counter coups in Sudan. E.g. the 1958,
1969 and 1988 coups. Each coup plotter accused the former government of
failure to end the civil war.
It led to the creation of political parties in exile and fighting groups like the Anyanya (snake poison) SPLA etc.
It attracted humanitarian concern e.g the All African Council of
churches, the OAU and UNO all tried to re-establish peace in the war
torn country.
It has led to secessionism whereby the rebels do control some part of Sudan, collect taxes and run the social -economic services.
It has led to secessionism whereby the rebels do control some part of Sudan, collect taxes and run the social -economic services.
National Movements and New States in Africa