BoppWeBlog

Over the past few months I’ve been studying the history of Sudan, trying to get a handle on what is going on and why. It is amazing what this loosly bound African nation has been through. Since the European occupation left there has been a battle for who owns what, and how much. Sudan is a huge country, the largest in Africa. And like most nations in Africa it consists of many, many tribes. These tribes for the most part isolated from each other. The simple fact that these many tribes must function as one nation is reason enough for constant turmoil.

How Sudan is Divided

Although there are many divisions through the country there are three major divisions. The northern portion of Sudan is primarily Muslim. This is where the ‘government’ of Sudan is. And is where Khartoum is, the nations capital and biggest city. Because a majority of Sudan is occupied by the Muslim state the country is considered Muslim, and operates using the Islamic Shira Law (polygamy, prohibition of alcohol, etc).

The western portion of Sudan also called the Darfur is also primarily Muslim, but unlike the government power they are not Arab, but African. I won’t claim to be an expert on things going on in this region. But the way I understand things is that the Islamic north including the government see African Muslims as pagans or infidels, and apparently this is fuel for genocide, and the elimination of African Muslims. There is most likely way more to it. I’m sure oil plays a huge role as western and southern Sudan has plenty of it, and northern sudan wants it. This area of late has received most of the press when it comes to this area of Africa because of what is happening there.

Southern Sudan consist mostly of Christian and Animist (which pretty much embodies the tribal religions of the area). South Sudan has been through a long and terrible civil war. Defending themselves against the northern government, and inter-tribal fighting with themselves. South Sudan is now run by the ’sudo-government’ the SPLA, the army of the south. Three years ago a 6 year cease-fire was enacted, so things for the moment are mostly peaceful. Most turbulence is happening in the west (Darfur) which by the way also has a cease-fire with the government but isn’t being enforced. The Dinka are the main tribe of the south.

South Sudan

The Dinka have endured extreme hardships. Many have heard of the ‘Lost Boys’ which is a label used for the young boys, around 10 yeas of age that narrowly escaped the attacks of the north. The men fought (and mostly died) the women and girls were abused and killed. Over the course of up to 5 years these boys traveled in groups around the savannas of Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya. They covered thousands of miles. The ones that survived made it through countless attacks by army, and local tribes, as well as attacks by Lions and Hyenas. They had pretty much no food, or water. It is amazing as to what these boys survived. They were young and lacked survival skills, but somehow banded together and a few of them made it. I would recommend the book “They threw fire down on us.” As it is written by three of these lost boys that finally made it to the U.S.

Much of Sudan has be ravaged by war, and unfortunately there isn’t an end. When the cease-fire ends in Sudan with the SPLA and the GOS (government of Sudan). I believe South Sudan will look to secede and become it’s own country.

There has been quite a bit of attention on Kenya lately. Following the election there has been disputes over fairness and possible corruption during the process. This ‘unrest’ has resulted in some 500+ deaths. This is of course tragic, and cause for some concern when Africas most stable country suffers from these kind of things.

Because I’m going to Kenya soon there has been quite a few questions of concern directed my way. It’s nice to know that people care about me. But this also makes me want to explore things and put things in perspective a little bit as far as the danger element goes.

Of course there is always some level of danger. No matter what you happen to be doing. Mission work can be more dangerous, but not always considering the auto crash fatalities in the US. And car accidents are just one of many areas of premature death. Kenya has bad crime, this has always been known. Some 10,000 are murdered in Kenya each year. This is cause for conern. And Sudan is tragically still experiencing a long, and bloody civil war which is also cause for concern.  My point is this… Neither of these countries are ’safe-havens’. And they never have been. So there is always some assumed risk when traveling there. In perspective, it is not necessarly much more dangerous in Kenya with the current ‘unrest’. 500 people have tragically died. Mostly as a result of protesting, or some degree thereof. But I question how much more dangerous it is for a westerner to enter the country in the current situation as opposed to how things ‘normally’ are.

At this point I am not saying, that I or anyone should feel completely safe about traveling there right now. But more or less I just want to make known that as with any ‘mission’ trip to Africa (of anywhere for that matter), thee is an element of risk be taken by the person traveling. There is more risk now in Kenya. But what is the acceptable risk for someone trying to help others? This is debatable, and is luckily not something I will be doing on my own.