The Train to Independence (II)

JUBA/KHARTUM/BERLIN (Own report) - South Sudanese secessionist efforts are being refurbished by newly revived German plans for an East African railroad. The local separatist regime, whose peace agreement with the Sudanese central government is being monitored by soldiers also from the German Bundeswehr, is preparing a referendum on the founding of the state of "New Sudan". To establish the necessary financial basis for independent statehood, the separatists have announced the implementation of older German plans for a railroad line to the Kenyan coast. This would facilitate the post-secession transport and sale of the voluminous South Sudanese natural resources, without having to cross the hostile territory of the rest of Sudan. The plans, advanced by German companies, are being revived at a moment when several East African nations are pressing ahead with major infrastructure projects - some with German financing. This is occurring in the context of discoveries of extensive oil deposits in Uganda, which has also awakened the appetites of German companies. According to the East African press, these measures could "redefine the cultural, geographical and political boundaries of the region for the next century."

New Sudan

The Southern Sudanese secessionists are preparing for the referendum to decide over the secession of the territory under their control in two years. This referendum was prescribed by the "Comprehensive Peace Agreement" that was signed in 2005 by the Sudanese central government and the secessionist regime in Juba, in Southern Sudan - under immense pressure from western nations. Compliance with the agreement is being monitored by a UN contingent of troops, the UNMIS, in which German troops are participating. It is expected that the results of the referendum will be a clear majority in favor of secession and the founding of the new state, "New Sudan". The German development agency, the Association for Technical Development (GTZ), has not only provided new streets, irrigation systems and apartments for the future capital, Juba, it is also contributing to the reorganization of the police and is directing a long term program for the "support of the establishment of state structures in Southern Sudan." Even the Southern Sudanese "constitution" originated in Germany. It was drafted by the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law in Heidelberg.[1]

Life Line

The answer to how a seceded "New Sudan" is supposed to finance itself was also provided by Germany. Basically the economic foundation of this sort of state is not in jeopardy. Large portions of the enormous reserves of oil and numerous other mineral resources including gold are to be found in Southern Sudan. Until now, the transport of the raw materials was affected over Northern Sudan, which would not be desirable after secession. This would give the central government enormous leverage over the secessionist regime in Juba. Already back in 2004, before the signing of the peace accord, the separatists, in common with a German railroad construction company, were planning to lay track from Southern Sudan to Kenya's port city, Mombasa. The tracks were explicitly supposed to serve also for the transport of raw materials, including oil that would be shipped from Mombasa. This project, which received German government support,[2] was very important to the separatists' strategies. "That is the life line to our independence," exclaimed a well known Southern Sudanese separatist.[3]

Delays

Plans for the railroad began to falter soon after the peace agreement was signed. In 2006, the German railroad company that wanted to lay the tracks caved in - influential stockholders of the Klaus Thormaehlen GmbH welding company refused continued support for this ambitious project. The head of the company continued to pursue his Southern Sudanese project with his Thormaehlen Holding International, but a delay could not be avoided. Additional problems rose in Kenya. In the summer of 2007, Thormaehlen was negotiating with the Ugandan government,[4] Juba was in the meantime ostentatiously applying pressure - with the approaching referendum, time was running short. The Southern Sudan transportation minister was quoted in the Kenyan press as saying that by next year work on the rail line linking Southern Sudan to the port of Mombasa must definitely have begun. Juba would earmark US $20 million, as a first step, to having the tracks laid from war-torn Southern Sudan to Kenya.[5]

Oil Boom

Helpful to this project is the fact that East Africa seems headed toward a new oil boom. In Northern Uganda, not far from the border with Southern Sudan, oil deposits have been discovered that experts estimate to be among the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Western companies are sniffing a chance for profits. "Representatives of German business circles in the region have already shown a special interest in the activities in Uganda," reported the government agency "Germany Trade and Invest",[6] pertaining to "several major infrastructure projects, in which German companies are seeking to land contracts." Among other things, Uganda would desperately like to renovate its dilapidated rail system leading from its capital, Kampala, across the border to Kenya and to its port Mombasa. This stretch is considered very important for reducing costs of investment and consumption commodities that can be expected as a consequence of the oil boom. At the beginning of October, the governments of Kenya and Uganda have signed a bilateral agreement for the construction and management of a railway line between Mombasa and Kampala.[7] Referring to Ugandan government sources, the Kenyan press reported Monday that Berlin has promised financial aid for these infrastructure projects.[8]

Prepared for Cooperation

Kenya and Uganda are planning to extend the infrastructure projects to also include neighboring countries - in the south, Rwanda and Tanzania, in the north, Ethiopia and Southern Sudan. A tight-knit East African transportation network is to be established to create strong ties between the nations of the region - and integrating Southern Sudan in time for the expected secession in 2011. A certain amount of insecurity has been caused by the recent change of course in the USA. A few days ago, Washington signaled its willingness to negotiate with the central government in Khartoum. US proponents of the Southern Sudanese secession are demanding that this, in no way, jeopardize the secession of the southern part of Sudan. If a "New Sudan" state is founded and the creation of an East African rail system is successful, Kenyan experts are predicting wide-ranging consequences that "will redefine the cultural, geographical and political boundaries of the region for the next century" - with German help.[9]

Please read also Nucleus of a Germ, Soldering Technique, Sudan: The Anti-Khartoum Front, Sudan: The Left Disguise, Smash and Rebuild, Transatlantic Front, An Instrument of Western Power and Establishing a State.

[1] see also Establishing a State
[2] see also Großer Befürworter
[3] see also Nucleus of a Germ
[4] Sudan-East Africa Link; www.railwaysafrica.com 12.09.2007
[5] Southern Sudan plans rail link to port of Mombasa; Business Daily 07.10.2009
[6] Uganda bald in Riege der Ölproduzenten; www.gtai.de 01.10.2009
[7] Kenya, Uganda sign rail deal; Daily Nation 02.10.2009
[8] Off track? Experts query new railway dream; The East African 26.10.2009
[9] Train to the future... at 120km an hour!; The East African 12.10.2009


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