Abeyi is the most possible start point

If the director general of Sida, Ms Gornitzka, during the presentation of the World development report yesterday, refers to the high number of women who participated and voted during the last election in southern Sudan in April 2010 as a result of Sida's contribution to financing the electoral process. And if she also relates this support to increased women participation in decision-making in Sudan, this means that we have concrete results examples for what aid cooperation can achieve. But it is not that simple. That desirable change would not have been reached by only allocating tens of millions Swedish crowns to the Joint Donors Team/Fund in Juba or UNDP in Khartoum to finance the election process. We should not forget what civil society organization have been doing to inform and educate women about their rights to participate in the lasting election and the referendum.



The two examples mentioned by the director general can also be regarded as credit for the government of Sudan. The electoral law of Sudan gave women for first time in history 25% of the parliamentary seats. At the same time the opposition in Sudan regarded the election as illegitimate and boycotted the voting at the last minute before opening of the polls.

Still much more is needed in dealing with the conflict in Sudan not only between the north and the south but also between the center and the west. Much of the aid coming in Sudan does not really goes for peace and confidence building. And that portion of aid expended in basic service delivery has been helping both governments in the north and south to invest in new arms and weapons to be prepared for renewed war. Abeyi is the most possible start point as many expected and according to the reality on the ground.

The video: This video was presented on the state-owned TV in Khartoum and shows how SAF entered Abeyi.