Sudan: Government, Stability, Resources

This morning on CSpan2 the Senate Foreign Relations Committee met with Princeton Lyman, the U.S. special envoy for Sudan. In a report to the distinguished Senators of the committee Mr. Lyman covered the condition of the government in that country, and detailed social and economic concerns of a nation that has seen recent instability. In the last half hour of the meeting the special envoy gelled the major points the United States would like to see addressed in Sudan. Senator John Kerry (D-M), Senator Tom Udall (D-New Mexico), Senator Dick Lugar (R-Indiana), Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia) and Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware) were in attendance and raised questions about the finer points of the situation in the two major regions of the African nation linked to the Nile River.

For those who have no idea what the government in Sudan currently resembles, Senator Lugar clarified the issue succinctly. The situation is very nearly typical of an Arab Spring government. The country has a disproportionately strong president, when compared to the power of the rest of the government, likely unwilling to relinquish any power or control. A standing military of 140,000 men is linked to President al-Bashir, but many of the members of that force lack education. At the same time food costs and shortages have resulted in mass social protests similar to the one witnessed in Tahrir Square in Egypt. Sudan produces oil, although not in great quantities, which brings a magnified international focus on the country's stability. That resource never stops being in demand, and conditions that impact the price raise the interest of consumer nations.

Investing in a broader stability and vigilant security in Sudan comes in as our primary concern there. First and foremost the drafting of a permanent constitution would establish equilibrium on a much wider scale. According to Princeton Lyman, the United States really seeks the delineation of two states within Sudan. The northern agricultural region and the oil producing southern region of the nation do not stand at odds with each other. Because of migration between the two areas and tense economic conditions quarrels have broken out between groups of people, and blame has been leveled at the government as so often happens. The highest end result of Sudan's constitutional reform as linked to our key issues would be establishing democratic representation for the two regions so that concerns can be met, and the clarification of the specific agencies within the government that would deal with regional concerns. Domestically critical among the tasks of a constitutional drafting authority would be founding permanent agencies for humanitarian and educational needs of the people and ongoing development of the country's resources in assured, timely progfressions.

The Sudanese military should be drawn away from the chief executive to a degree. A consolidation process placing the more highly educated and skilled men of the army in a centralized command chain would bleed away the influence of satellite generals. A merger of Sudan's militia with the main body would help eliminate any fringe discipline problems remaining after the restructure and shift of military leadership at every level. A move to educate and train the rank and file of the Sudanese military would round out the task of reshaping that structure.

Senator Kerry early on inquired about specifics of conflict and instability there, and brought specific focus to military and trade issues of the Sudanese government. One of the foremost concerns in the assistance of that nation remains debt relief, and, as he pointed out, that issue strongly needs to be addressed. Russia is the administrator of United States aid to that nation, and removing the current massive pressure of Sudan's debt was on the table to be addressed forthwith. Special envoy Lyman also optimistically pointed to undeveloped potential for Sudanese trade with the East African Union as a potential source of economic upswing aside from lifting some of the crushing debt burden.

To summarize extensivly, a military response to conflict in Sudan from the United States seems far removed from the picture, but does remain a final option. Adoption of a permanent constitution there will address our key issues of security and stability. Restructuring of the military, perhaps with light observation and advisement from trained United States personnel, would relieve threats close to the main structure of the government. Finally, development of food and economic resources and a look at debt relief for Sudan will do much to smooth out tensions that have been brewing there.