Selfish leaders should keep off Sudan

In 1989, there was renewed optimism and a promise of progress when Sudan President Omar Hassan al-Bashir took reins of power in the resource-rich nation. Africa and indeed the world congratulated the accidental ‘leader’ of a revolution in the Islamic nation. Many hoped Sudan would join the league of civilised nations and offer her people a decent shot in life and economic prosperity.

Sudan had vast oil fields and large tracks of land that could alleviate hunger and abject poverty for millions of Sudanese. But the hope was short-lived. Within a few years, President al-Bashir transformed into a dictator wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. It is estimated that over 300,000 Sudanese have been killed since 2004 under a government that never took any kind of dissent. The feared Janjaweed militia displaced over 2.7 million people, further impoverishing the Sudanese.