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2004-03-14 Africa: Horn

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Posted by Man Bites Dog 2004-03-14 10:36:35 AM|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Why is Sudan a country? Because Arab slave raiders, supperted by the Egyptian government. successful conquered the region in the mid-1800s. When the Brits took over Egypt in the late 1800s, the colony became the "Anglo-Egyptian Sudan." The Arabs of the Nile Valley have continued to form the the elite, exploiting not just the Dinka and Nuer of the south, but also the Muslim peoples of Kordofan (extraordinary linguistic and racial complexity here), Darfur, and the Beja region of the east. The country has no reason to exist.

Posted by closet neo-con 2004-3-14 12:09:21 PM|| 2004-3-14 12:09:21 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 Neo, I see no evidence that the Sudan exists as a coherent state.

Posted by Super Hose 2004-3-14 12:22:54 PM|| 2004-3-14 12:22:54 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 SH -- good point. But it continues to be recognized by the "international community" -- and by the US State Dept. -- as if it were a coherent state. That gives its government undue legitimacy. (Hardly surprising, however; same goes for Somalia.)

Posted by closet neo-con 2004-3-14 1:29:52 PM|| 2004-3-14 1:29:52 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 Neo, I was trying to accentuate your point rather than contradicting it. I would think that Somalia would have more luck as three countries.

At one point, I thought that Afghanistan should be partitioned as well, but didn't really like adding remote areas to countries that were having trouble controlling their central territory already. Making a land donation to Iran is a non-starter as well. Maybe the Afghans could use some coastline if Pakistan proves inept at controlling their territory.
Sudan probably could be broken up, at this point, because it has a one resource economy.

Posted by Super Hose 2004-3-14 1:39:32 PM|| 2004-3-14 1:39:32 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 When I was involved in UN relief work the IL-76's flying the food aid down to Juba had to carry 50% arms and ammunition. The Christian Aid agencies all know their money keeps the war going but the marketing campaign benefits of an established poverty area for giving outwieigh the desire to stop the war by cutting off the money from the donors. Without the aid agencies the government would not be able to pay for the airlifts to Juba.

Posted by Anonymous 2004-3-22 4:57:11 AM|| 2004-3-22 4:57:11 AM|| Front Page Top

04:57 Anonymous
11:09 Mr. Davis
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