Feb
1
Sudanese student votes independence
BY MATT LECH
lechma@mnstate.edu
Citizens of South Sudan participated in a referendum this month to determine whether to split Africa’s largest country in two and declare their independence from North Sudan. An overwhelming majority of voters, approaching 99 percent in some of the region’s states, voted for separation.
One of those who voted in favor of separation is MSUM film student Akage Majok. Majok was one of about 25 Sudanese people who traveled to Omaha, Neb., which was the nearest to Fargo of eight centers in the U.S. for diaspora voting.
“We rented about five cars and went down and back all in one day,” said Majok. “We were all very excited.”
Majok was born in Aweil, Sudan, which is located in the Northern Bahr el Ghazal region. Near the northern border with Darfur and northern Sudan, Aweil saw much violence during the Second Sudanese Civil War from 1983 to 2005.
“There was a lot of fighting in the area because it was so close to the border between north and south,” he said. At about age two, Majok and members of his family fled to Cairo, Egypt to take refuge from the ongoing violence in the region.
Then, at age 12, Majok came to the U.S.
“We moved in with another refugee family in Lynn, Mass.,” he said, “I didn’t know any English but was very excited to learn, there was another boy who was learning too, so we helped each other.”
According to Majok, a vote for freedom was the only option for the south.
“The northern government is known as being deceitful, and people from the south are treated like they aren’t even citizens,” he said.
In regard to the north’s reaction to independence, he said “I think they realize that can’t keep control anymore, and they have a lot of pressure on them to do the right thing.”
The Bush administration was instrumental in the 2005 peace agreement which ended the civil war
“I do want to thank the Bush Administration,” said Majok, “because they really helped organize the whole agreement.”
Majok hopes to return to Sudan this summer for the first time since taking refuge. When he does, he hopes to reunite with his father.
“I haven’t seen my father since I was very young, and I want to find out what I can do to help.”
He eventually hopes to use his filmmaking talents to showcase what needs to be done there.
“There is still a lot to be done,” he said, “and if I can help by showing what needs to be done and the conditions in South Sudan using film, then I will do that.”
One thing Majok already shows is gratitude.
“I want to thank American for supporting us and for continuing to support us as we go ahead,” he said. “We are very thankful for this opportunity for freedom.”
To read more from this writer, view his blog at mattlech.blogspot.com
The Advocate
matthewjbeckman