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Breaking Sudan
In 2005, twenty-two years of civil war in Sudan were brought to an end by the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Negotiations between north and south had ended in compromise, however, and hopes of a unified state that was open, democratic and secular, had fallen to secession. Following South Sudan’s declaration of independence in 2011, political tensions have led to conflict in both countries and now there is even the growing threat of a war between them. The situation is, arguably, worse than it ever has been before.
Sudan expert Jok Madut Jok investigates how violence has once more come to dominate a region where various political groups remain separated by deep-rooted mistrust and ethnic relations are nothing short of wrecked. Dissecting the failure of the peace agreement, he confronts the frightening possibility that it may have actually, in effect, legitimized the use of violence for the achievement of political goals. More than just a scrupulous survey of two countries ravaged by war, The Breakup of Sudan features starkly drawn portraits that provide a moving insight into how the Sudanese of the post-secession era continue to live with war.
Sudan expert Jok Madut Jok investigates how violence has once more come to dominate a region where various political groups remain separated by deep-rooted mistrust and ethnic relations are nothing short of wrecked. Dissecting the failure of the peace agreement, he confronts the frightening possibility that it may have actually, in effect, legitimized the use of violence for the achievement of political goals. More than just a scrupulous survey of two countries ravaged by war, The Breakup of Sudan features starkly drawn portraits that provide a moving insight into how the Sudanese of the post-secession era continue to live with war.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published April 11, 2017
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March 24, 2024
Separation was supposed to be the cure. South Sudan and Sudan would go their separate ways. South Sudan would no longer be neglected by the government in Khartoum, Sudan would rid itself of a troublesome region and commit to Islamization of the country.
Nothing has gone to plan. The power struggles are ever-present both within and between the countries. Civil wars have erupted, citizens have largely paid the price.
After a lengthy introduction Jok Madut Jok breaks down the peace process, the experience civilians have had during the wars, the economic struggles, the corruption, ethnic tension, reporting on the war and much more. He ends with a breakdown of where things stood in 2017.
“The problem is moral decay and disregard for the norms that govern behavior.”
Jok uses a level headed approach to analyze and interpret the myriad of conundrums facing the Sudanese and the greater African region. “Few other searches for political settlement have offered peace-brokers more dilemmas than the quest for an end to the Sudanese conflict.”
There is so much that needs to be done to even begin building the foundations for a stable society.
“I interviewed many senior and mid-level government officials about their knowledge and receptivity to policy research, the degree to which they are comfortable sharing information about their work, how open they are to discussing research findings and how much they incorporate research into their decision-making.
Most had never read a paper analyzing the political, economic or socio-cultural contexts of the country, and their policy designhas largely been done without reference to research, even when analysis and data are available. This attitude among senior officials is the biggest obstacle to the production of knowledge and the ability to translate that knowledge into workable ideas for the nation's development.”
Jok lays out what he sees as missing and provides some possible avenues to explore going forward. All in all this is an excellent book on the search for peace in Sudan.
Nothing has gone to plan. The power struggles are ever-present both within and between the countries. Civil wars have erupted, citizens have largely paid the price.
After a lengthy introduction Jok Madut Jok breaks down the peace process, the experience civilians have had during the wars, the economic struggles, the corruption, ethnic tension, reporting on the war and much more. He ends with a breakdown of where things stood in 2017.
“The problem is moral decay and disregard for the norms that govern behavior.”
Jok uses a level headed approach to analyze and interpret the myriad of conundrums facing the Sudanese and the greater African region. “Few other searches for political settlement have offered peace-brokers more dilemmas than the quest for an end to the Sudanese conflict.”
There is so much that needs to be done to even begin building the foundations for a stable society.
“I interviewed many senior and mid-level government officials about their knowledge and receptivity to policy research, the degree to which they are comfortable sharing information about their work, how open they are to discussing research findings and how much they incorporate research into their decision-making.
Most had never read a paper analyzing the political, economic or socio-cultural contexts of the country, and their policy designhas largely been done without reference to research, even when analysis and data are available. This attitude among senior officials is the biggest obstacle to the production of knowledge and the ability to translate that knowledge into workable ideas for the nation's development.”
Jok lays out what he sees as missing and provides some possible avenues to explore going forward. All in all this is an excellent book on the search for peace in Sudan.
Displaying 1 of 1 review