North Sudan doesn't qualify to join EAC

Report that authorities in Khartoum condemned to death a Christian convert is disturbing.  The court convicted and sentenced to death and 100 lashes one Dr. Adraf Al-Hadi Mohammed Abdullah (27) who gave birth to a baby girl recently for renouncing Islam. Judge Abbas Mohammed Al-Khalifa who presided over the matter was quoted as saying, “We gave you three days to recant but you insist on not returning to Islam. I sentence you to be hanged to death.” So, for this act of not repudiating and returning to Islam, Abdullah whose Christian name is Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag received the capital punishment as opposed to international laws governing Human Rights and freedom of religion.

North Sudan applied for the membership to the East African Community on June 15, 2011 when its President Omar Al Bashir wrote to the chair of the Summit of East African Community Heads of State, Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza, voicing his country’s interest in joining the EAC. Looking at the self-denial whereby Sudanese Africans regard themselves to more Arabs that Africans, EAC should not admit such anathema to begin with.

Another logical reason as to why North Sudan shan’t be admitted is the fact that its arch rival, South Sudan’s already been admitted. Therefore, by admitting North Sudan which’s for long been supporting rebels who are now destabilizing south so as to cause problems in the region, EAC’ll be exacerbating the conflict if not importing it. By rejecting North Sudan, EAC countries will not have any binding duty not to punish North shall they find that it is behind the chaos in the south.  Uganda’s already shown the way by supporting the regime in Juba. Methinks this is done under the fraternal spirit among the members. This is why whenever any EAC country is attacked; all members should assume that they are attacked.

North Sudan’s renowned for its gross violation of Human Rights such as religious and political intolerance, going on committing genocide in Darfur and siding with Arab countries against African interests as it was evidenced in Nile Water conflict whereby Egypt wanted to have an upper hand pointlessly. While all Nile Basin Countries stood together to reject such a colonial and draconian idea, North Sudan and Eritrea stood by Egypt. While North Sudan supported Egypt during the Egypt-Ethiopia Nile water crisis, South Sudan supported Ethiopia.  You can see how bad blood between countries plays out in international relations. Eritrea supported Egypt not just because it loves it. It is because its arch foe Ethiopia’s involved. As the say goes, the enemy of my enemy’s my friend. This proves how North Sudan’s heart of hearts is with Arab countries but not African countries apart from displaying the enmity between the two Sudan. This being the case, why’d we invite an enemy amidst us?

Further, North Sudan, Sudan before the separation, used to support Joseph Kony’s outlawed terrorist group Lord Resistance Army. Such a suspicious character does not fit to be a member of EAC.

More on Abdullah, after the judge handed down the punishment, over 50 people demonstrated against the action. One of them was quoted as saying, “No to executing Meriam.” Another demonstrators added, “Religious rights are a constitutional right.” Given that the regime of Sudanese strong man Bashir doesn’t listen to its people chances of executing Abdullah under the pretext of Islam are high if the international community isn’t zeroing in to see to it that such inhumane punishment isn’t carried out. For, it poses as a good breeding ground for fundamentalism and later terrorism.

Abdullah’s predicament has divided North Sudan right in the middle. On the one hand, there are those who vehemently oppose the imposition of such heavy punishment. On the other hand there are staunch supporters of Islamic law in North Sudan. Such a stance was evident when two pro- and anti- establishment met in Khartoum. One of those supporting the regime was quoted as saying, “This is a decision of the law. Why are you gathered here?” One of activists condemning the punishment replied, “Why do you want to execute Meriam? Why don't you bring corruptors to the court?” This nicely shows how North Sudan is divided over the matter.

Although EAC is seen as an economic amalgamation of East African Countries, Human Rights need to be one of its major agendas. We therefore urge EAC heads to see to it that North Sudan’s vetoed to become a member of EAC. Shall it put its house in order, it should be admitted under conditions among which is to observe Human Rights and accept freedom of religion and other freedoms among its population

 Apart from having such a bad Human Rights record, arguably, North Sudan, commercially and economically, relies heavily on Egypt and Middle East. So too, after separation that saw Sudan divided into two, North is no longer economically viable as it used to be when it was one.  I wonder. How will EAC citizens operate in Sudan where there’s no freedom of belief or other freedoms? This shouldn’t be snubbed. 

In sum, looking at human nature of doing things according to his or her culture and usage, chances are that will North Sudan be admitted, our people either will suffer under Sharia law or will eschew from doing business with such a state.

Source: African Executive Magazine June 2014.