Name Game: Southern Sudan Asserts Itself

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000978

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR SOCI EAID SU
SUBJECT: Name Game: Southern Sudan Asserts Itself



1. As the people of Southern Sudan work to recover from
the occupation by the North, many areas see changing the
name of their village, county, or even state as a way to
show the land is now theirs. The most significant of
these changes is the recent decision of Bahr al-Jabal
State to rename itself Central Equatoria. However, all
over the south new counties are forming and towns are
going back to their traditional names.


2. The state legislature of Bahr al-Jabal voted on April
6 to officially changing its name to Central Equatoria.
According to state government officials, the name change
has now been approved by both the governor of the state
and by the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) Council of
Ministers. It will become official as soon as GoSS
President Salva Kiir issues a Presidential Declaration,
which is expected shortly. However, the state government
has already started using the new name for all state
business. Since forming the state government, officials
had been eager to cast off the Arabic name given them by
the north and replace it with one they say reflects more
their identity, and their unity with their brothers in
greater Equatoria.


3. All across Southern Sudan, new counties are forming
as residents reject the organization imposed on them by
the north and form groups they feel are more appropriate.
Examples include the break-away of Ikotos county from
Torit county and the splitting of North Bor county into
Twic East and Dukuk counties. This breaking-up and
reforming of southern counties is expected to continue
over the next year as residents better organize
themselves for change.


4. Many towns have also reverted to a previous name.
When asked why the names had changed, Southern Sudanese
explained that as the war expanded, insecurity grew, and
the northern government cracked down on assistance, more
and more towns were placed on the Operation Lifeline
Sudan (OLS) no-go list. According to residents, they
soon discovered that if they changed their name, either
OLS security or government officials would not realize it
was the same place and humanitarian assistance would
continue. As towns go back to their old names, this
confusion continues to create some problems for aid
organizations. Acting Consul General Juba and PRM
representatives had some difficulty booking a plane to
inspect USG projects in Panyagor, until they discovered
that the had to ask to go to Mabior -- Panyagor's wartime
name.

STEINFELD