Garang Dies

The Vice President of Sudan, Dr. John Garang is believed to be dead at this time. The flight that carried Dr. Garang from Uganda back to Sudan has crashed and all aboard are presumed dead.

Dr. Garang's impact on Sudan extends far greater than his role as Vice President. He led the rebels against the murderous government of Sudan. His position as Vice President was a compromise of sorts to the southern Christian Sudanese. It was the latest attempt to stop the murdering of the Sundanese people.

Now that he has died, according to a Reuters report based on information from Ugandan officials, peace seems impossible. Numerous cease-fires and proposed peace agreements in Sudan have been ignored and have not stopped the killing. It is to the point where there is not much hope in the near future for the Sudanese people.

Remember the Rwandan genocide took place after President Juvenal Habyarimana died in a plane crash. The Hutus blamed the death on the Tutsis inciting the killing of hundreds of thousands of Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Though Mr. Habyarimana's death was used by those with power, while Dr. Garang represented those who are weaker, Dr. Garang's death has the potential to trigger more violence from either side. His death may be blamed on the Sundanese government, or may have actually been committed by them, but the impact of his death would appear to be undeniably negative.

The hope for Sudan, however, lies in its people and their spirit. As singer Emmanuel Jal vocalizes in his song Gwaa,

"I can't wait for that day when I'll see no more fears, no more tears, no cry.

"No tribalism, no racism in my motherland when my people go back home to their motherland Sudan."