Cablegate: Islamization of Southern Sudan: Desensitized

R 291310Z SEP 91
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3076

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 KHARTOUM 05792

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

E.O.112356: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SU
SUBJECT: ISLAMIZATION OF SOUTHERN SUDAN: DESENSITIZED
VERSION

REF: STATE 307709

1. PER DEPARTMENT'S REQUEST, AND RECOGNIZING THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE UNHRC RAPPORTEUR'S WORK, WE HAVE
TRANSMITTED A DESENSITIZED VERSION OF KHARTOUM 4769
BELOW. WE HAVE TRIED TO ELIMINATED DIRECT REFERENCES TO
SOURCES AND OTHER IDENTIFYING DETAILS. THE CABLE
NEVERTHELESS CONTAINS INFORMATION, SUCH AS THE REPORT
THAT THE DA'WA TURNS AWAY NON-MUSLIMS WHEN DISTRIBUTING
ASSISTANCE, WHICH COULD INVITE NEGATIVE REACTION IF MADE
PUBLIC. THEREFORE THIS CABLE SHOULD BE USED ONLY RPT
ONLY FOR MR. RIBEIRO'S BACKGROUND INFORMATION.

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY
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2. SUMMARY: THERE IS CLEAR AND MOUNTING EVIDENCE THAT
THE NIF-DOMINATED GOVERNMENT IN KHARTOUM HAS EMBARKED ON
A CAMPAIGN TO ISLAMIZE SOUTHERN SUDAN AND THOSE
SOUTHERNERS, MOSTLY DISPLACED, LIVING IN THE NORTH. IN
GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED AREAS OF THE SOUTH, THE GOS/NIF IS
UNDERTAKING POLICIES TO GAIN ISLAMIC CONTROL OF REGIONAL
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THE CIVIL SERVICE. OVER THE
PAST TWO YEARS, THE SENIOR AND MIDDLE RANKS OF LOCAL
ADMINISTRATION AND CIVIL SERVICE HAVE BEEN "WEEDED-OUT",
WITH MUSLIM-SOUTHERNERS AND HARDLINE GOS/NIF SUPPORTERS
REPLACING PROFESSIONAL SENIOR OFFICERS AND OTHER
EMPLOYEES. FURTHERMORE, AS A RESULT OF GOS EDUCATIONAL
POLICIES, NON-MUSLIM CHILDREN IN THE GOS-CONTROLLED TOWNS
OF JUBA, RENK, MALAKAL, WAU, AND RAJA ARE COMPELLED TO
LEARN ARABIC AND STUDY ISLAM. SCHOOLS ARE REQUIRED TO
USE ARABIC AS THE SOLE LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION, EVEN
SCHOOLS RUN BY CHRISTIANS. IN JUBA, THE EQUATORIA STATE
MINISTER OF EDUCATION RECENTLY DECREED THAT ISLAM MUST BE
TAUGHT BEGINNING AT THE NURSERY SCHOOL LEVEL.

3. IN THE NORTH, NON-MUSLIM, SOUTHERNERS FACE ROUTINE
HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION, CONCURRENTLY RECEIVING THE
MESSAGE THAT IF THEY BECOME MUSLIMS, THEIR LIVES WILL
IMPROVE. ISLAMIC GROUPS, MOST NOTABLY THE DA'WA
ISLAMIYYA (I.E. THE ISLAMIC CALL), REPORTEDLY OFFER AID
IN THE FORM OF FOOD AND MONEY TO INDUCE SOUTHERNERS TO
BECOME MUSLIMS. GOS/NIF POLICY HAS MADE CONVERSION TO
ISLAM CONVENIENT, OFTEN PROFITABLE, AND SOMETIMES
NECESSARY FOR SURVIVAL IN THE NORTH.

4. IN ADDITION, THE GOS IS ESCALATING PRESSURE ON
CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS PERSONNEL AND INSTITUTIONS. REPORTS
OF HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, AND INCARCERATION OF CHURCH
PERSONNEL HAVE INCREASED IN RECENT MONTHS. MANY BELIEVE
THAT THIS IS EVIDENCE OF GOS/NIF INTENTION TO EVENTUALLY
ERADICATE THE "FOREIGN" CHURCH PRESENCE FROM SUDAN,
THEREBY, THE GOS/NIF HOPES, LEAVING THE FIELD OPEN FOR
ISLAM.

5. THE GOS/NIF IS DETERMINED TO LAUNCH A SUCCESSFUL
ISLAMIZATION CAMPAIGN. IT HAS CONSOLIDATED ITS HOLD OVER
LOCAL AND REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS IN GOS-CONTROLLED AREAS OF
THE SOUTH, WITH THE REPUTED LONG-TERM GOAL OF INTRODUCING
ISLAMIC LAW TO THE SOUTH. ALSO IMPORTANT IS THE EFFECT
GOS/NIF POLICIES HAVE ON SOUTHERN CHILDREN. THESE
CHILDREN ARE COMPELLED TO LEARN ARABIC AND ISLAM AND ARE
LEARNING TO LOOK TO MUSLIMS FOR FOOD AND AID. THEY ARE
ALSO ABSORBING THE LESSON THAT NON-MUSLIMS PROBABLY HAVE
LITTLE HOPE OR FUTURE IN SUDAN. END SUMMARY.

GOVERNMENT IN THE SOUTH
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6. IN 1990, THE GOS DECLARED A FEDERAL SYSTEM OF
GOVERNMENT FOR SUDAN, OSTENSIBLY GIVING GOS-CONTROLLED
AREAS OF THE SOUTH A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF AUTONOMY AND
EXEMPTING THEM FROM SHARIA (I.E. ISLAMIC LAW).
SUBSEQUENTLY, HOWEVER, KHARTOUM BEGAN A LARGE-SCALE PURGE
OF SOUTHERN REGIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THE CIVIL
SERVICE, REPLACING MANY NON-MUSLIMS WITH SOUTHERN MUSLIMS
AND GOS/NIF HARDLINE SUPPORTERS.

7. SOUTHERN SUDAN IS DIVIDED INTO THREE STATES: UPPER
NILE, BAHR EL GHAZAL, AND EQUATORIA. EACH STATE HAS A
GOVERNOR, DEPUTY GOVERNOR, AND A POPULAR COMMITTEE. THE
GOVERNORS, APPOINTED BY KHARTOUM, ARE ALL NON-MUSLIM
SOUTHERNERS. FOLLOWING ITS DECLARATION OF FEDERALISM,
THE GOS APPOINTED HARDCORE NIF SUPPORTERS AS DEPUTY
GOVERNORS AND AS STATE MINISTERS OF EDUCATION AND
CULTURE, FINANCE AND COMMERCE. THESE APPOINTEES
REPORTEDLY ANSWER ONLY TO KHARTOUM. THE DEPUTY
GOVERNORS, AND NOT THE GOVERNORS AS BEFORE, HAVE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE KEY MINISTRIES. IT IS ALSO
RELIABLY REPORTED THAT THESE STATE MINISTERS HAVE PURGED,
OR ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PURGING, THEIR STAFFS OF
NON-MUSLIMS AND NON-NIF SUPPORTERS. THE GOVERNORS HAVE
THUS BEEN EFFECTIVELY STRIPPED OF MOST REAL POWER. IN
ADDITION, ON AUGUST 8, TWO SENIOR AND PROMINENT SOUTHERN
GOVERNORS WERE REPLACED (REF). THE NEW GOVERNORS ARE
ALSO NON-MUSLIM SOUTHERNERS BUT BOTH MEN ARE FIRM
SUPPORTERS OF THE NIF. (NOTE: IN A NATIONALLY-TELEVISED
SWEARING-IN CEREMONY, THE NEWLY-APPOINTED GOVERNORS WERE
SHOWN TAKING THE OATH OF OFFICE, ONE HAND RAISED, THE
OTHER ON THE KORAN. END NOTE.

8. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT SOME OFFICIALS IN THE
SENIOR AND MIDDLE RANKS OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND CIVIL
SERVICE IN GOS-CONTROLLED AREAS HAVE BEEN "WEEDED-OUT"
AND REPLACED BY MUSLIM-SOUTHERNERS AND HARDLINE GOS/NIF
SUPPORTERS. HISTORICALLY, THE BEST SCHOOLS IN THE SOUTH
HAVE BEEN CHURCH SCHOOLS, SO THE BEST-EDUCATED AND MOST
EXPERIENCED CIVIL SERVANTS IN THE SOUTH ARE OFTEN
CHRISTIANS. MANY OF THOSE REPLACING THEM ARE LESS
QUALIFIED AND LACK EXPERIENCE; THEIR ONLY QUALIFICATION
IS THAT THEY ARE MUSLIMS. FORCED RETIREMENT OF
NON-MUSLIMS AND NON-NIF SUPPORTERS HAS BECOME WIDESPREAD.

9. IN JULY 1991, A GOS-CONTROLLED NEWSPAPER REPORTED
THAT THE EQUATORIA POPULAR COMMITTEE HAD BEEN GIVEN
LEGISLATIVE POWERS, AND THAT THE COMMITTEE WOULD
HENCEFORTH FORMULATE AND PASS LOCAL LAWS. (NOTE: THE
POPULAR COMMITTEES IN BAHR AL GHAZAL AND UPPER NILE WILL
APPARENTLY HAVE THE SAME MANDATE, ALTHOUGH THERE HAS AS
YET BEEN NO PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY
OPERATING IN THIS MANNER. END NOTE) THIS IS IN
CONTRAST, THE NEWSPAPER POINTED OUT, TO THE POPULAR
COMMITTEES IN THE NORTH WHICH ARE SOLELY CONSULTATIVE AND
REGULATORY BODIES. THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHERN POPULAR
COMMITTEES, IT WAS REPORTED, WILL BE "SELECTED" TO
"REPRESENT THE PEOPLE UNTIL ELECTIONS ARE HELD."
ELECTIONS, THE NEWSPAPER EXPLAINED, CANNOT BE HELD NOW
BECAUSE OF THE CIVIL WAR.

10. COMMENT: IT IS REPORTED THAT MONEY, HOUSES, AND
POWER, IS USED BY THE GOS OFTEN TO GAIN THE SUPPORT OF
SOUTHERNERS WHO ARE THEN APPOINTED TO THE POPULAR
COMMITTEES. THUS, SOME SOUTHERN POLITICIANS, FOR
FINANCIAL GAIN, SUPPORT THE GOS/NIF AND ITS POLICIES.
THERE IS SOME FEAR THAT THE POPULAR COMMITTEES/ASSEMBLIES
WILL EVENTUALLY BE USED TO "OPT INTO SHARIA." IN HIS
SPEECH OF DECEMBER 31, PRESIDENT AL-BASHIR SAID "THE
LEGAL SITUATION IN THE SOUTHERN STATES WILL REMAIN AS IT
IS UNTIL ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW LEGISLATIVE BODIES THAT
WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED...." BECAUSE OF THE VAGUENESS OF
THIS STATEMENT, BASHIR MAY HAVE SUBTLY OPENED UP THE
POSSIBILITY THAT SHARIA MIGHT ONE DAY BE LEGISLATED FOR
THE SOUTH. THE MAJORITY OF SOUTHERNERS ARE NOT MUSLIMS
AND, BY ALL INDICATIONS, DO NOT WANT TO BE GOVERNED BY
ISLAMIC LAW. THERE IS FEAR THAT THE GOS/NIF WILL
MANIPULATE THE POPULAR COMMITTEES SO THEY WILL VOTE TO
MAKE SHARIA LAW IN THE SOUTH. END COMMENT.

THE CIVIL SERVICE
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11. IN 1991, THE GOS REPORTEDLY RECONSTITUTED THE CIVIL
SERVICE IN SUDAN. PREVIOUSLY, NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN
SUDAN EACH HAD THEIR OWN SEPARATE CIVIL SERVICE. UNDER
THE NEW LAWS, SUDAN HAS A SINGLE CIVIL SERVICE
ADMINISTERED BY AUTHORITIES IN KHARTOUM. GOS-APPOINTED
"SECRETARY GENERALS," ALL KNOWN NIF SUPPORTERS, DIRECTLY
CONTROL THE CIVIL BUREAUCRACY IN EACH SOUTHERN STATE.
THROUGH THE SECRETARY GENERALS, THE GOS/NIF CONTROLS
RECRUITMENT OF NEW EMPLOYEES, JOB ASSIGNMENTS, AND
PROMOTIONS. THERE ARE REPORTS OF NON-MUSLIMS BEING
SIDESTEPPED FOR PROMOTIONS, SENIOR CIVIL SERVANTS BEING
REPLACED BY INEXPERIENCED NIF SUPPORTERS, AND NUMEROUS
INSTANCES OF FORCED RETIREMENT OF NON-MUSLIMS AND NON-NIF
SUPPORTERS.

ISLAMIZATION/ARABIZATION OF EDUCATION IN THE SOUTH
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

12. IN ADDITION TO POLICIES DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN
GOS/NIF CONTROL OVER SOUTHERN POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS, THE
EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM IN THE SOUTH IS BEING ARABIZED AND
ISLAMIZED. REPORTEDLY, THE EQUATORIA STATE MINISTER OF
EDUCATION RECENTLY DECREED THAT ISLAM BE A COMPULSORY
SUBJECT IN ALL NURSERY SCHOOLS IN JUBA (NOTE: STUDENTS
CANNOT ENTER PRIMARY SCHOOL UNLESS THEY HAVE COMPLETED
NURSERY SCHOOL. END NOTE). IN JUBA, IT IS REPORTEDLY
ALSO OFFICIAL POLICY THAT ALL SCHOOLS, INCLUDING THOSE
RUN BY CHRISTIANS, MUST USE ARABIC AS THE LANGUAGE OF
INSTRUCTION, AND ENGLISH MAY NOT BE INTRODUCED AS A
SUBJECT UNTIL THE FIFTH GRADE.

13. IN MALAKAL, IN UPPER NILE STATE, THE ONLY SCHOOL
STILL OPEN IS RUN BY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (NOTE: ALL
OTHER SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN TAKEN OVER AS GOS-ARMY BARRACKS.
END NOTE). REPORTEDLY, THE UPPER NILE MINISTER OF
EDUCATION INFORMED THE SCHOOL IN JULY THAT ARABIC MUST BE
THE SOLE LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION.

14. GOS/NIF POLICY HAS LED TO A PROLIFERATION OF
"KHALWAS," I.E. ISLAMIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS, IN
GOS-CONTROLLED AREAS OF THE SOUTH. STUDENTS NOT
ATTENDING THESE SCHOOLS ARE AT A DISADVANTAGE WHEN THEY
GO ON TO SECONDARY SCHOOL SINCE THEY LACK SKILLS IN
ARABIC. MOREOVER, PROPOSED NEW NATIONAL LEGISLATION
WOULD MAKE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF ISLAMIC AND ARABIC
STUDIES AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL COMPULSORY FOR CONTINUING
ON TO UNIVERSITY STUDIES.

15. REPORTEDLY, NORTHERN SECURITY FORCES, PRESENT IN
GOS-CONTROLLED CITIES SINCE LAST YEAR, SOMETIMES BRING
NON-MUSLIM CHILDREN INTO THE KHALWAS AGAINST THE WISHES
OF THEIR PARENTS. TO WHOM OR WHAT INSTITUTIONS THESE
FORCES ARE ACCOUNTABLE IS UNKNOWN.

"RICE MUSLIMS" IN THE SOUTH
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16. AT THE MOST BASIC LEVEL, SOUTHERNERS ARE BEING
CONVERTED TO ISLAM WITH FOOD AND MONEY. THROUGHOUT
GOS-CONTROLLED AREAS OF THE SOUTH THE THREAT OF
STARVATION IS VERY REAL. OPERATING IN THESE AREAS ARE
MUSLIM GROUPS, MOST NOTABLY THE DA'WA, WHICH DISTRIBUTE
FOOD AND OTHER AID. THEY REPORTEDLY GIVE AID ONLY TO
THOSE PEOPLE WHO DECLARE THEMSELVES TO BE MUSLIMS AND
REGISTER AS SUCH. SIMILARLY, GOS/NIF-SUPPORTED KHALWAS
PROVIDE FOOD FOR THEIR STUDENTS AND OFFER OTHER FORMS OF
AID, WHILE GOS-RESTRICTIONS ON CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS
MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE
SIMILAR ASSISTANCE. EVEN SOME DEVOUTLY CHRISTIAN PARENTS
SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO THESE SCHOOLS RATHER THAN DEPRIVE
THEM OF FOOD. THERE ARE ISOLATED REPORTS OF MONEY AND
FOOD BEING OFFERED TO PREGNANT MOTHERS TO REGISTER THEIR
NEWBORNS AS MUSLIMS AND OF PARENTS BEING PAID TO SEND
THEIR CHILDREN TO KHALWAS.

17. COMMENT: SOME BELIEVE, HOWEVER, THAT THE MAJORITY
OF SOUTHERNERS CONVERTING TO ISLAM ARE "RICE MUSLIMS,
I.E. THAT THEY ARE DOING SO SOLELY BECAUSE THEY WANT
FOOD. FEW HAVE ACTUALLY ACCEPTED ISLAM AND IT IS
BELIEVED THAT MOST OF THEM WILL REVERT TO THEIR FORMER
RELIGION WHEN STARVATION IS NOT A CONSTANT THREAT.

18. OF MORE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCE, HOWEVER, IS THE
EFFECT ISLAMIZATION MAY HAVE ON CHILDREN IN
GOS-CONTROLLED AREAS. A GENERATION OF NON-MUSLIM
CHILDREN NOW SPEAK BETTER ARABIC THAN THEIR TRIBAL
LANGUAGE AND ARE TAKING TO ISLAMIC CUSTOMS. WHEN THEY
ARE HUNGRY THEY CAN GO TO THE KHALWA, TO THE MOSQUE, OR
TO THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE DA'WA, BUT THEY CANNOT EXPECT
THE SAME PROVISIONS FROM THE NEEDY CHURCHES. END COMMENT.

... AND IN THE NORTH
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19. IN THE NORTH, WHERE AS MUCH AS ONE-QUARTER OF THE
POPULATION OF SOUTHERN SUDAN IS NOW DISPLACED (AS MANY AS
2,500,000 PEOPLE), THE NEED FOR AID IS ACUTE. MOST
DISPLACED LIVE IN CAMPS OUTSIDE KHARTOUM, WITH MEAGER
FACILITIES AND FEW RESOURCES. AS IN THE SOUTH, ISLAMIC
GROUPS, INCLUDING THE DA'WA, DISPENSE RELIEF. THIS
RELIEF IS, ONCE AGAIN, RESERVED FOR MUSLIMS. REPORTEDLY,
REFUGEES SEEKING FOOD ARE ASKED TO GIVE THEIR NAMES. IF
THEY GIVE A MUSLIM NAME, THEY ARE GIVEN FOOD; IF THEY
GIVE A CHRISTIAN NAME, THEY ARE NOT. THESE REFUGEES HAVE
THE OPTION, OF COURSE, OF CONVERTING, TAKING A MUSLIM
NAME, AND THEN RECEIVING FOOD. (NOTE: IN ISLAM, A SIMPLE
DECLARATION IS ALL THAT IS REQUIRED FOR CONVERSION. END
NOTE)

20. NON-MUSLIM SOUTHERNERS IN THE NORTH ARE ROUTINELY
DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN SCHOOLS, THE WORKPLACE, AND IN
THEIR EVERYDAY EXISTENCE. AT THE SAME TIME IT IS MADE
CLEAR THAT IF THEY BECOME MUSLIMS THEIR LIVES WILL BE
MUCH EASIER. MANY SOURCES REPORT THAT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
NON-MUSLIM CHILDREN ARE HARASSED, GIRLS ARE PROPOSITIONED
AND INSULTED, AND NON-MUSLIM STUDENTS ARE OFTEN GRADED
UNFAIRLY. THEY ALSO ARE COMPELLED TO STUDY ARABIC AND
ISLAM. ALTHOUGH SOME SCHOOLS, RUN BY SOUTHERNERS, EXIST
IN THE DISPLACED CAMPS, REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE GOS/NIF
PLANS TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEM. THE GOS DESIRES TO PLACE
MUSLIM NORTHERNERS AS INSTRUCTORS TO TEACH ARABIC AND
ISLAM TO THE DISPLACED. AS WITH THE SOUTH, GOS/NIF
ISLAMIZATION POLICIES ARE CLEARLY AIMED AT CHILDREN OF
SOUTHERNERS. SUCH POLICIES HAVE SERIOUS LONG-TERM
RAMIFICATIONS FOR NON-MUSLIMS IN THE NORTH.

21. SOUTHERNERS ALSO OFTEN HAVE DIFFICULTY FINDING
EMPLOYMENT. OUR SOURCES REPORT THAT CHRISTIAN EMPLOYEES
ARE FREQUENTLY SINGLED OUT FOR JOBS WHICH REQUIRE THEM TO
WORK DURING SUNDAY MASS OR ON THEIR RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS.
IN KHARTOUM THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF
CHRISTIANS BEING EVICTED FROM THEIR HOMES BY MUSLIM
LANDLORDS.

22. IN ADDITION TO THIS OVERT DISCRIMINATION,
SOUTHERNERS IN THE NORTH ARE BEING EFFECTIVELY ISLAMIZED
BY THEIR ENVIRONMENT. SOUTHERNERS IN THE NORTH KEEP AN
ISLAMIC WORK WEEK (SUN-THURS). THEY RECEIVE BONUSES AND
VACATIONS FROM THEIR EMPLOYERS FOR RAMADAN AND THE EID,
BUT NOT FOR CHRISTMAS OR EASTER; THEIR FAMILIES THUS ARE
BEGINNING TO CELEBRATE ISLAMIC HOLIDAYS. SOME CHRISTIAN
SOUTHERNERS HAVE ALSO BEGUN TAKING PART IN GOS-SPONSORED
"MASS MARRIAGES." THIS IS A PRACTICE INTRODUCED BY THE
GOS IN RECENT MONTHS TO PROMOTE THE INSTITUTION OF
MARRIAGE AS A SOCIALLY STABILIZING FORCE. PUBLIC
CEREMONIES ARE CONDUCTED IN WHICH LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE
ARE MARRIED BEFORE MUSLIM AND, IN A FEW CASES, CHRISTIAN
CLERGY. COUPLES MARRYING IN THESE MASS CEREMONIES
RECEIVE MONEY AND GIFTS FROM THE GOVERNMENT. MANY
SOUTHERN WOMEN IN THE NORTH ARE DONNING THE TRADITIONAL
NORTHERN FEMALE DRESS, THE TOBE. THE TOBE IS A GARMENT
WHICH COVERS A WOMAN UP FROM HEAD TO FOOT BUT NOT THE
FACE. THOSE WOMEN WHO WEAR THE TOBE ARE GENERALLY SPARED
SOME HARASSMENT.

23. COMMENT: AS A RESULT OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND THE
GOS/NIF'S ISLAMIZATION CAMPAIGN, MANY SOUTHERNERS IN THE
NORTH NOW SPEAK ARABIC, STUDY ISLAM, AND TAKE TO ISLAMIC
CUSTOMS. BOTH YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE ARE GIVEN THE SAME
MESSAGE, BLATANTLY OR SUBTLY--THAT IT IS BETTER TO BE A
MUSLIM THAN A NON-MUSLIM. GOS/NIF POLICIES HAVE
ACCORDINGLY MADE BECOMING A MUSLIM CONVENIENT, OFTEN
PROFITABLE, AND SOMETIMES NECESSARY FOR SURVIVAL IN THE
NORTH. END COMMENT

RECEPTIVITY TO ISLAM
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24. SOME SOUTHERNERS, WHETHER LIVING IN THE NORTH OR THE
SOUTH, ARE REPORTEDLY MORE RECEPTIVE TO ISLAM THEN
OTHERS, DEPENDING ON THEIR TRIBAL AND REGIONAL
BACKGROUND. FOR EXAMPLE, THE TRIBES IN THE UPPER NILE
REGION (DINKA, SHILLUK, NUER) ARE REPORTEDLY LESS
SUSCEPTIBLE TO ISLAMIZATION, GIVEN THEIR STRONG TRIBAL
TRADITIONS AND STRUCTURES. THEIR CULTURAL BACKGROUND,
INCLUDING EXPERIENCE WITH SLAVERY AND COLONIALISM, ALSO
MAKES THEM SUSPICIOUS OF OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. TRIBES IN
EQUATORIA ARE, APPARENTLY, NOT AT ALL OPEN TO ISLAM.
EQUATORIA HAS NO BORDERS WITH THE NORTH AND THERE HAS
BEEN HISTORICALLY LITTLE CONTACT OR ASSIMILATION. MOST
EQUATORIANS ARE FOLLOWERS OF TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS AND
THEY MAINTAIN STRONG CULTURAL AND TRIBAL CUSTOMS.
SLAVERY AND ITS ATTENDANT WARFARE HAVE MADE THEM HOSTILE
TO OUTSIDERS, ESPECIALLY MUSLIMS.

25. IN CONTRAST, TRIBES LIVING ON THE BORDER WITH THE
NORTH, DUE TO LONG-TERM INTERACTION WITH NORTHERNERS, ARE
ALREADY SOMEWHAT ASSIMILATED AND THUS MAY BE MORE
RECEPTIVE TO ISLAM. THE TRIBES IN BAHR EL GHAZAL, IN
SOUTH EASTERN SUDAN, HAVE HISTORICALLY INTERMARRIED AND
MIXED WITH THE NORTHERNERS LIVING ON THEIR BORDERS. THEY
HAVE ASSIMILATED FOR CONVENIENCE AND ARE, AS A RESULT,
MORE EASILY ISLAMIZED.

HARASSMENT OF CHURCHES
- - - - - - - - - - -

26. THE ACTIVITIES OF NON-MUSLIM RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS,
INCLUDING SCHOOLS, HAVE BEEN SHARPLY CURTAILED BY THE
GOS. USING THE 1962 FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY ACT AS A
TOOL, THE GOS FORBIDS THE BUILDING OF CHURCHES, CHURCH
FACILITIES (INCLUDING SCHOOLS) AND THE ORGANIZATION OF
CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES. CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS
ORGANIZATIONS ARE MONITORED CLOSELY AND THE AMOUNT OF
FUNDS THEY MAY EXPEND IS LIMITED BY GOS REGULATIONS. IN
THE GOS-CONTROLLED AREAS OF THE SOUTH, NUMEROUS MOSQUES
AND KHALWAS ARE BEING BUILT WHILE CHURCHES CONTINUE TO BE
DENIED PERMITS TO BUILD OR REPAIR FACILITIES.

27. CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS PERSONNEL THROUGHOUT SUDAN ARE
ROUTINELY HARASSED AND INTIMIDATED. RECENTLY THE GOS
INCARCERATED A CATHOLIC PRIEST AND THREE OF HIS STAFF IN
DONGOLA, IN NORTHERN SUDAN, AND TRIED TO EXPEL FOUR OF
MOTHER TERESA'S MISSIONARIES. SOME MAINTAIN THAT THIS IS
EVIDENCE OF GOS/NIF INTENTION TO EVENTUALLY ERADICATE THE
"FOREIGN" CHURCH PRESENCE FROM SUDAN, THUS LEAVING THE
FIELD OPEN TO ISLAM.

COMMENT AND CONCLUSION
- - - - - - - - - - -

28. THERE IS LITTLE REASON TO DOUBT THAT THIS
NIF-DOMINATED GOVERNMENT HOPES TO ISLAMIZE SOUTHERN SUDAN
AND THOSE SOUTHERNERS LIVING IN THE NORTH. GOS/NIF
POLICIES SEEM DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT THEIR SUPPORTERS
WILL DOMINATE SOUTHERN POLITICS. SUCH TACTICS FUEL FEARS
THAT THE SOUTH WILL EVENTUALLY BE GOVERNED BY SHARIA.
THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE CHURCH, ALREADY
UNFRIENDLY AND INHOSPITABLE, IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE
OBSTRUCTIONIST. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE CHILDREN OF
SOUTHERNERS, THE NEXT GENERATION OF SOUTHERN CITIZENS AND
LEADERS, ARE BEING AGGRESSIVELY ISLAMIZED AND ARABIZED.
THE IMPLICATIONS FOR SUDAN'S FUTURE, IF THIS EFFORT IS
SUCCESSFUL, WILL BE RADICAL AND TRANSFORMING AND WILL
IMPACT ON THE STABILITY OF THE ENTIRE REGION.

CHEEK

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