July 3, 2007
Sudanese bloggers
I have been getting to know my new neighbours in the Sudanese blogosphere.
On the surface there are some similarities with the Ethiopian scene - lots of pseudonyms, lots of people from the diaspora (based in the UAE as well as the US), a smattering of aid workers, one lone gay and anonymous blogger and a small but vibrant group of locals.
The main difference is that, over here, it is the foreigners who are more political than the locals, with an ever-growing selection of US-based sites focused on Darfur.
Everyone I have found so far is listed in the right-hand column.
The Sudanese Thinker reflected on the recent terrorist incidents in the UK and their implications for Muslims worldwide in Britain's terrorist plot:
Anger and hatred are powerful intoxicants. I fear we won’t wake up until it’s too late. This cancer is spreading too fast within our Muslim communities.
The blog is written by Drima, a Muslim "Afro-Arab guy in [his] early 20s" enjoying his own "Islamic renewal" - also a fellow GlobalVoices writer.
Black Kush had a great dig at the Foreign Policy report which put Sudan at the top of its 2007 Failed States Index. His post asked Is Sudan a failed State?:
The Index may have used different indicators to arrive at this conclusion, but it is wrong. There is stability in South Sudan after twenty years of war, the East is quiet. Darfur is the only war-torn spot in the country now, and does not reflect the whole picture. You can call Sudan what you want, but not failed: ask Somalis and Iraqis what they think first!
JohnAkecSouthSudan coined a new acronym in MASDOFORPSIS : Many Sudans and Darfurs but one foreign policy, ridiculous.
Alex de Waal came out with a series of in depth posts on Darfur in the blog of the Social Science Research Council. His latest was on the claim of UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon that climate change had a lot to do with the conflict. Read more in Is Climate Change the Culprit for Darfur?:
The most important culprit for violence in Darfur is government, which not only failed to utilize local and central institutions to address the problems of environmental stress in Darfur, but actually worsened the situation through its militarized, crisis management interventions whenever political disputes have arisen. In turn, violent conflict has worsened Darfur’s ecological crisis. For many reasons, Darfur cannot now be reconstituted the way it was. What’s needed is a new governance of Darfur that takes account of the challenges of the coming century—including the impact of future climate change.
Finally, BlackGayArab had an answer for some of his more critical readers in Sudanese & Gay!:
I got a sense that my blog is a problem for some of my native bloggers. I really don't know what's the problem. Is it because I'm Sudanese or gay or posting as Sudanese gay?..Okay then, if the reason is because I'm Sudanese, I guess you are questioning my sudanese nationality. If that the case, last time I checked my passport was sudanese; which was 2 days ago.
Then, if it's matter of my sexual orientation, forgive me for saying this, it's non of anyone damn business. If you haven't heard or seen of any gays in Sudan then allow me to tell you "You Don't live In The Real World then".
Posted by aheavens at July 3, 2007 4:54 AM
Comments
Khartoum!? When did you make the switch from Ethiopia to Sudan? Nobody tells me nothing these days...
This oughta be interesting. A jump from the proverbial "fire to the frying pan" in regards to press freedom and freedom of speech. At least you will be in good company if and when they lock you up. Let's hope it doesn't come to that. Good luck in "K-Town".
Posted by: BRE at July 5, 2007 4:41 PM
Welcome to Sudan man. Seriously, be careful, you're a little nutty for blogging openly and using your real name like this. Stay safe.
Will be dropping by here more often.
Hello BRE, it's been a while man.
Posted by: Drima @ The Sudanese Thinker at July 7, 2007 4:29 AM
His name is Ali...one of THE most common names ever, Drima. Please.
Posted by: JackalruledDavid at June 30, 2008 7:10 PM