2005 Stanhope Centre and LSE Crisis States Research Programme

Edward Ladu TERSO, is currently an Editorial Advisor for the Khartoum Monitor. He is also a regular columnist (reporter and sub-Editor) contributing under the title “I Just Cannot Understand”. The column covers a wide-range of current issues from politics, religion, economics and culture often critical of the current government that has led to his arrest. He is also a Board member of the Sudan Young Mens Christian Association as well as a Board Member of the Kwoto Cultural Centre. Prior to joining the Khartoum Monitor Edward was a News Cater at Radio Juba, he then moved on to work as a reporter for the New Horizon Paper as well as regularly contributing to Sudanow Magazine. He has also served as a Press Officer to the Sudan Catholic Secretariat. Below is a sample article on the future of his native Sudan.

A new Sudan: just a concept?

"New" means "original, current, in the most recent form, period, or development, or changed for the better; or rejuvenated, or not previously experienced or encountered," just to mention but a few of them. When we apply the word "new" as an adjective to describe the type of Sudan we want, it becomes a prey. It is subjected to misrepresentation and abuse. So many attempts have been made to tarnish, cripple, denigrate, distort and even manipulate this concept. But a sick person, who wants to recover his health, is envisioning the new. A person, who has been squandering his resources but would like to become strict and use his money judiciously, is dreaming for a new period. He wants change for the better. He wants a new status, from "extravagant to judicious," from "irresponsible to responsible." John F. Kennedy had said, "it is time for a new generation of leadership, to cope with new problems and new opportunities." He was envisioning the injection of "fresh blood," which is something new. It is the same concept of "new." What is "new" is what has existed for only a short time, has only lately come into use, or has only recently arrived at a state or position, as of prominence. The call for a new Sudan is more than just a concept. As a concept, it was just a skeleton. But after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), it has acquired flesh. In other words, the CPA itself is a product of this concept.

What we are saying here is that anything new changes our environment for the worst or for the best. The problem with us is that we would often think the package that is hidden in the "new," is corrupt, useless, harmful or dangerous. We are prejudiced and this is wrong. Because we are prejudiced, we would want to corrupt any attempt made in good faith, to improve the status quo.

Again, what is new, however beautiful it might be, cannot translate itself into reality. To drive the point home, we cannot just muse ourselves with the very idea of a "new Sudan," and think all is "sugar and honey." Sorry to say, but we are going pass through a painful process of making a "new Sudan" a reality.

We need to have enough faith in this noble concept so that we can have the impetus to concretize it.

Once we firmly believe that it is possible to build a "new Sudan" of justice, equality, unity in diversity, solidarity, freedom, brotherhood, forgiveness, love, and generosity, we will work to build it. But after all, what is bad with all these qualifications? Who hates "freedom, justice, love, brotherhood, unity in diversity…"

The person who hates these prerequisites for human and resource development is the real danger. Otherwise, what would be the rationale for refusing them? Somehow, this is the context of how the new Sudan should be. It is not dangerous though. So why not emulate and embrace it?