Malik Aggar: If the movement does not stand with my demands I will leave it
Aggar began the interview by the following remark: "I am a fanatic of the Blue Nile, however within the limits of rationality. The people of Blue Nile and their issues are what matters the most to me. In this sense, I do not believe nor sacralize the party, as it is merely a way for me to achieve the goals of my people. If the SPLM does not meet my ambitions and those of my people, I will leave it, just as I left Moulana Al-Mirghani [leader of the Democratic Unionist Party - the editor]."
UNMIS: development lacking in Blue Nile
The popular consultation mechanism was broadly defined in the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) - commonly known as the Naivasha agreement - allowing many interpretations. Taking place during his mandate, Aggar was asked about what he supposes the results of the consultation will be. He answered:
"We will be objective and we will not demand more than what we deserve."
"The popular consultation must lead to self-governance. We want a strong central government under a united Sudan. The powers of the authorities at both levels have to be defined, as must as well be the criteria for the division of power and wealth. If these standards are set and we do not fulfil them, we agree to any injustice affecting us in the future. To deprive us from rights without setting these standards will however not be accepted. If the standards for participating in local governance are set, we will not take less than what the Northern State and the Nile River State will receive. We will be objective and we will not demand more than what we deserve. For example, we will demand electricity and ownership of the Er Roseires tank [power station - the editor], which is built on our land and from which we do not benefit at all."
source: wiki commons
In response to questions and accusations that have been raised about the Blue Nile State using foreign support to finance the popular consultation process, Aggar said :
"It is true that USAID has provided US$ 2 million. It has been objected that some organisations have agendas, which I agree with. It is important however to understand the rules of the game. If organisations do not contribute in financing this operation, it will simply not take place, because the budget set by the commission is not realistic."
Turning to the topic of the uneasy security situation between North and South and the Blue Nile State being on the fire line, Aggar said:
"The security relationship with South Sudan is complex. There are 40 thousand Northerners carrying weapons in the South. The view of the President of the Government of Southern Sudan Salva Kiir is clear, as he said that if they wanted to continue with me, I have no objection I will take care of all their expenses. In my opinion, the North should have addressed this problem during the past five years. It would not have cost more than 650 million Dollars. If this problem is not solved before the 9th of July, a war will be declared, and spending that amount of money a week will not be enough to get rid of them."
"As long as I am here, not a single shot will be fired."
The Blue Nile State is not secluded from these security complexities, as it hosts on its territory 3,000 fighters of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). Aggar however assures that his presence is enough to ensure that the region does not resort to violence again. He says: "As long as I am here, not a single shot will be fired. I assure you that there has not be a single shot in the Blue Nile State since I have set foot here. If the popular consultation is not a success we will resort to international arbitration. If this latter is not implemented we will still not fire a single shot, we will move slowly."
Aggar however declared that he is afraid of a new war breaking out between the North and South of the country, stressing once again that his state will not take part in it:
"Whoever starts the assault will have me stand with the other against them."
"I say that the war between North and South will come back. The status quo in Sudan is that of peace. The South is voting on secession without a clear demarcation of the borders. How can a state be built without defining its borders? This leads to war because each party has set those borders alone, in their own heads, and will move their tanks to defend the borders it wants. I went to the President of the Government of Southern Sudan Salva Kiir and I told him that if he wanted to fight the North, he will not do so through Blue Nile, and I will not stand by his side. I also went to President Field Marshal Omar Hassan al-Bashir and told him that if he wants to fight the South, he will not pass through me. I assured them both that I do not want war, and that whoever starts the assault will have me stand with the other against them."
USIP report on Popular Consultation
