We
may see how slavery in Sudan was created during the colonial period
from the history. What we see next is the tragic legacy during post-colonial
period that has affected the structure of the society until today.
Colonization usually leaves negative effects in the colonies such
as exhaustion of resources, environmantal degradation, economic deprivation
and political turmoil. The last effect is the most common and important
one that causes national fragment in many African countries, like
Rawanda. In this page, we will examine the legacy of the colonists
in a way how it fuels the practice of slavery in the history, despite
an end of colonialism.
A
political legacy that was left in Sudan was the conlict between the
two ethnic identities. Apparently, colonization has divided the country
into north and south where different races occupied. A competing racial
indentities between African and Arab bagan in 1955. Whereas the northern
part was occupied by Arab Muslim, the African Christian took a control
in the southern region. As reflected in the history, in Sudan, Islam
was associated with the Arab world, in particular with Egypt. At that
time, Egypt was one of the most powerful nation politically and economically
partly because of its access to the resources of neighbor. However,
we may see that northern Sudan has no economic significance. The lands
are dry and the climate is not proper for growing crops. Thus national
resources are rare in these unproductive lands. It is unlike the area
in the south where most African population reside. This is why people
in the south are concerned about the economic deprivation of their
regions, cultural identity and political power. The relations between
North and South became worse, as the Arab tried to impose their ideology
in the economic and political system. The conflict has also increased
the degree of slave trade. How could the conflict propell slavery?
This, of course, does not only relate to the competition on political
influence, but also the competition on racial superiority. This is
another important factor that we will examine in the next topic.
The
first phrase of the civil war between 1955 to 1972 ended when the
central government gave autonomy to the South. However, the fire resumed
when the central government divided the South into three regions and
implemented Islamis law in 1983. One possibility of breaking down
the region is to maintain its power effectively. It would be more
easy to control small regions rather than a big one. They were more
aware of the rebellions that tended to occur easily where there is
a huge population. The implementation of Islamic law violated the
law in 1972 that had ended the war. As a result, the South led by
Dr.
John Garang (see his interview on January 21, 2002)
revolt. He also formed the movement called the Sudan
People's Liberation Army or SPLA (see more information).
From 1986 on, the civil war continues and it led to the death of millions
of people. All lives have been deprived of accommodations, food, education,
basic health care and political right.
Apparently,
it costs millions of lives for the SPLA to demand for its liberty
and autonomy. This is one of the most expensive independence that
cannot be afforded with money, but with lives and well-being of
people. The civil war opened up an opportunity for the superior
side in term of political and economic status to take advantage
of another side who has been disadvantageous since the colonial
period.
By
conclusion, the war has fueled slavery through two ways. The first
way is through economic justification. What do we mean by
this term? Under the conflict, people's rights were automatically
discarded. Men, women and children were left insecure. As we mentioned
before that the civil war was also for the purpose of economic exploitation.
At that time, people were also a kind of resources that can be made
used of. Freedom of men was deprived in the same way as the degradation
of the environmental condition. Millions of people were caught and
recruited into unpaid labor market. The second way is through political
justification. The second phrase of the civil war started from
a change in the legal document that gave so much power to the Arab.
The Islamic law approved and encouraged the practice of slavery.
We will explore more about the Islamic law in the religion
and race issues.
A
continuing fire has an implication in human freedom and this is
what SPLA has been fighting for to end all kinds of injustice. Yet,
a ceasefire agreement might achieve in the national liberation,
but not a human liberation. Until today, slave trades still keep
continuing despite a ceasefire. The period of colonization has ended,
slave trade has still continued. There is more negotiation going
on between the two sides on the civil war, slave trade still flourishes.
Thus, it is interesting to see the next possible factor that propells
slavery in Sudan. Religion and race are part of the issue of culture,
which is very important. Why is it that important? It is because
culture is an issue that has deeply rooted in the society. While
the events in the history happened and ended in themselves, cultural
belief can last in human history forever...
