Dear all,

A short story about my last weeks in Sudan. I returned home safely yesterday.

Last week I joined a colleague on her trip to Juba. Juba is the capital of semi-autonomous South Sudan. Years of marginalization by Khartoum and civil war between North and South Sudan has totally put economic development to a halt. However, since the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement the area is flooded by the UN and NGO's, who are working hard on developing it. Next January Southeners will vote for independence in a referendum. If the majority of the Southeners in Sudan say 'yes', a new state will emerge that currently has 30 kilometers of paved roads, no properly functioning political, social and economic institutions and hardly any education and healthcare facilities or agricultural production. While driving around and being in Juba, I saw what a challenge it is to 'create' a state that functions effectively, and how much blood, sweat and tears are involved in the process. It was truly fascinating.

The referendum that is due to take place in January 2011 is under pressure because oil is being extracted from the border states, and an effective electoral system is non-existent. Both the North and the South want the oil, so the coming months are decisive and extremely important for the future of the region.

I added some pictures of Juba, which is a different world compared to the North, of a trip to one of Khartoums IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps, and Omdurman souq.

Ma'a salama!

Leendert