Beja Congress
Encyclopedia
The Beja Congress is a political group comprising several ethnic entities, most prominently the Beja
, of the eastern region of Sudan
. It was founded in 1957 by Dr. Taha Osman Bileya together with a group of Beja intellectuals, as a political platform for the politically and economically marginalized Beja people
. According to the "Black Book", an analysis of Sudanese regional political representation published underground in the late 1990s by Darfur Islamist followers of Hassan al-Turabi
, Eastern Sudan has been conspicuous since its independence for its political and economic marginalization. This part of Sudan had fewer ministers and representatives than other parts of the country in the civil and military branches of the central government, as well as having among the lowest rates of education and access to health services in the country.
At first the BC was frustrated in seeking political power: it was banned in 1960, along with all other political parties, by the military junta of General Ibrahim Abboud
. Once the ban was lifted in 1964, the BC was able to mobilize the educated sector of the eastern Sudan and, it successfully participated in the 1965 parliamentary elections
, with several of its activists winning seats to the constituent assembly
. Though it was banned once again during the years of the military government of Gaafar Nimeiry
(1969–84), after the popular uprising of 1985 removed Nimeiry, the BC participated in the national elections of 1986
. The BC won only one seat in that election, losing to a resurgent Democratic Unionist Party
(DUP), which subsequently participated in the Sadig Al-Mahdi-led coalition government of 1986–89.
With the military takeover of the current National Islamic Front
government in 1989, the BC was once again banned. In 1993 the group joined the National Democratic Alliance
(NDA) based in Asmara
, which had been founded by the DUP and the Umma Party
in 1989. In the 1995 the BC signed the Asmara Declaration. Aided by the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army
(SPLA) and the Eritrean military, armed fighters of the BC made a series of attacks along the Sudanese-Eritrean border, concentrating on strategic assets, such as the Khartoum-Port Sudan road, the oil pipeline, and the military installations defending them. Despite their successes, Young notes, these attacks "did not close the road for more than a few hours or stop the flow of oil for more than a few days." Although never a significant fighting presence, having fewer than a few hundred fighters and operating under the close control of the Eritrean military, the BC did achieve a number of modest military victories. With the help of the SPLA, the NDA twice captured Hamishkoreb, before finally holding it from October 2002 until April 2006 when the SPLA withdrew from the NDA. By itself the BC held territory around Tokar
, one of their historic strongholds, and the town of Khor Telkok near Kassala
, which the NDA had declared to be their "capital". Politically the BC was far more effective, capitalizing on two different incidents in January 2005 where Sudanese security attacked and killed unarmed civilians. Shortly after these events the BC organized a national conference in which Musa Mohamed Ahmed
, who until then had been an unknown soldier, was elected chairman of the group. Further, the BC has enjoyed some success in uniting its fractious and isolated people: internal clashes are reported to be down in numbers. The BC has been particularly successful at mobilizing its young people: the student administrations at two of the three main universities in the east are controlled by the BC and the party is making inroads into even secondary and primary schools. Young observes, "Beja resentment and support for the BC is clear to anyone spending just a short time in the coffee shops of Port Sudan."
Despite this, both the BC and the Rashaida Free Lions
felt marginalized within the NDA. These tensions came to a head after the Egyptian security services organized negotiations between the NCP and the NDA in Cairo in 2004. Both the BC and the Free Lions walked out of the negotiations, claiming that their interests were not being fairly represented. Two months later the NDA held its annual conference in Asmara amid considerable acrimony. When the DUP, the Sudanese Communist Party
, and Legitimate Command components of the NDA entered the Sudan National Assembly shortly afterwards, the NDA was obviously moribund.
When the withdrawal of the SPLA from the NDA in 2004 led to the collapse of that alliance, the BC joined with the Rashaida Free Lions
and other smaller groups to form the Eastern Front
rebel group. However, weak leadership, an inability to reach out to other ethnic groups in eastern Sudan, and dependence on Eritrea
n support led to the failure of the Eastern Front. The Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement of 14 October 2006 called for the absorption of the Eastern Front armed forces into the Sudanese military in exchange for political positions in the national government, the national assembly, and in three eastern states for the Eastern Front leadership. In making this Agreement, many members of the Eastern Front negotiating
team in Asmara are reported to have not been enthusiastic at the final language, and only signed the document because they felt that they had few viable alternatives.
Beja people
The Beja people are an ethnic group dwelling in parts of North Africa and the Horn of Africa.-Geography:The Beja are found mostly in Sudan, but also in parts of Eritrea, and Egypt...
, of the eastern region of Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
. It was founded in 1957 by Dr. Taha Osman Bileya together with a group of Beja intellectuals, as a political platform for the politically and economically marginalized Beja people
Beja people
The Beja people are an ethnic group dwelling in parts of North Africa and the Horn of Africa.-Geography:The Beja are found mostly in Sudan, but also in parts of Eritrea, and Egypt...
. According to the "Black Book", an analysis of Sudanese regional political representation published underground in the late 1990s by Darfur Islamist followers of Hassan al-Turabi
Hassan al-Turabi
Dr. Hassan 'Abd Allah al-Turabi , commonly called Hassan al-Turabi , is a religious and Islamist political leader in Sudan, who may have been instrumental in institutionalizing sharia in the northern part of the...
, Eastern Sudan has been conspicuous since its independence for its political and economic marginalization. This part of Sudan had fewer ministers and representatives than other parts of the country in the civil and military branches of the central government, as well as having among the lowest rates of education and access to health services in the country.
At first the BC was frustrated in seeking political power: it was banned in 1960, along with all other political parties, by the military junta of General Ibrahim Abboud
Ibrahim Abboud
El Ferik Ibrahim Abboud was a Sudanese president, general, and political figure. A career soldier, Abboud served in World War II in Eritrea and Ethiopia. In 1949, Abboud became the deputy Commander in Chief of the Sudanese military. Upon independence, Abboud became the Commander in Chief of the...
. Once the ban was lifted in 1964, the BC was able to mobilize the educated sector of the eastern Sudan and, it successfully participated in the 1965 parliamentary elections
Sudanese parliamentary election, 1965
Parliamentary elections were held in Sudan on 21 April and 8 May 1965. Due to the civil war the seats in the south of the country were left vacant until by-elections on 8 March and 18 April 1967. The result was a second successive victory for the Umma Party, which won 90 of the 173 seats. Voter...
, with several of its activists winning seats to the constituent assembly
National Assembly of Sudan
The National Assembly of Sudan is the lower house of the newly formed National Legislature of Sudan. The Legislature was previously unicameral. The upper house is the Council of States...
. Though it was banned once again during the years of the military government of Gaafar Nimeiry
Gaafar Nimeiry
Gaafar Muhammad an-Nimeiry was the Nubian President of Sudan from 1969 to 1985...
(1969–84), after the popular uprising of 1985 removed Nimeiry, the BC participated in the national elections of 1986
Sudanese parliamentary election, 1986
Parliamentary elections were held in Sudan between 1 and 12 April 1986. They were the first multi-party elections in the country since 1968, and saw a victory for the Umma Party, which won 101 of the 260 seats in the National Assembly. However, voting was postposed indefinitely in 41 seats in...
. The BC won only one seat in that election, losing to a resurgent Democratic Unionist Party
Democratic Unionist Party (Sudan)
The Democratic Unionist Party is the oldest political party in Sudan.Sudan's first President Ismail al-Azhari was a member of the party when it was known as the National Unionist Party...
(DUP), which subsequently participated in the Sadig Al-Mahdi-led coalition government of 1986–89.
With the military takeover of the current National Islamic Front
National Islamic Front
The National Islamic Front is the Islamist political organization founded and led by Dr. Hassan al-Turabi that has influenced the Sudanese government since 1979, and dominated it since 1989...
government in 1989, the BC was once again banned. In 1993 the group joined the National Democratic Alliance
National Democratic Alliance (Sudan)
The National Democratic Alliance is a group of 13 political parties that formed in 1989 to oppose the new regime of Omar Hassan al-Bashir after he seized power in a military coup on June 6, 1989. The NDA signed a deal with the Sudanese government on June 18, 2005, following a peace agreement to...
(NDA) based in Asmara
Asmara
Asmara is the capital city and largest settlement in Eritrea, home to a population of around 579,000 people...
, which had been founded by the DUP and the Umma Party
Umma Party (Sudan)
The National Umma Party Sudan is an Islamic centrist political party in Sudan.-Foundation:In August 1944 Sayyid Abd al-Rahman al-Mahdi, leader of the Ansar, met with senior Congress members and tribal leaders to discuss formation of a pro-independence political party that was not associated with...
in 1989. In the 1995 the BC signed the Asmara Declaration. Aided by the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army
Sudan Liberation Movement/Army
The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army or is a Sudanese rebel group...
(SPLA) and the Eritrean military, armed fighters of the BC made a series of attacks along the Sudanese-Eritrean border, concentrating on strategic assets, such as the Khartoum-Port Sudan road, the oil pipeline, and the military installations defending them. Despite their successes, Young notes, these attacks "did not close the road for more than a few hours or stop the flow of oil for more than a few days." Although never a significant fighting presence, having fewer than a few hundred fighters and operating under the close control of the Eritrean military, the BC did achieve a number of modest military victories. With the help of the SPLA, the NDA twice captured Hamishkoreb, before finally holding it from October 2002 until April 2006 when the SPLA withdrew from the NDA. By itself the BC held territory around Tokar
Tokar, Sudan
Tokar , also transliterated Tawkar, is a small town of 1000-2000 people near the Red Sea in northeastern Sudan. Tokar Game Reserve lies to the east of the town....
, one of their historic strongholds, and the town of Khor Telkok near Kassala
Kassala
Kassala is the capital of the state of Kassala in eastern Sudan. Its 2008 population was recorded to be 419,030. It is a market town and is famous for its fruit gardens. It was formerly a railroad hub, however, as of 2006 there was no operational railway station in Kassala and much of the track...
, which the NDA had declared to be their "capital". Politically the BC was far more effective, capitalizing on two different incidents in January 2005 where Sudanese security attacked and killed unarmed civilians. Shortly after these events the BC organized a national conference in which Musa Mohamed Ahmed
Musa Mohamed Ahmed
Musa Mohamed Ahmed is a Suannese politician who is currently an Assistant to the President of Sudan. He is also the leader of Eastern Front, a rebel group based in eastern Sudan. The Beja Congress and the Free Lions Movement merged to create the movement...
, who until then had been an unknown soldier, was elected chairman of the group. Further, the BC has enjoyed some success in uniting its fractious and isolated people: internal clashes are reported to be down in numbers. The BC has been particularly successful at mobilizing its young people: the student administrations at two of the three main universities in the east are controlled by the BC and the party is making inroads into even secondary and primary schools. Young observes, "Beja resentment and support for the BC is clear to anyone spending just a short time in the coffee shops of Port Sudan."
Despite this, both the BC and the Rashaida Free Lions
Rashaida Free Lions
The Rashaida Free Lions are an armed group of the Rashaida people that was active in the eastern regions of Sudan. The Free Lions were formed in November 1999 by Mabrouk Mubarak Salim....
felt marginalized within the NDA. These tensions came to a head after the Egyptian security services organized negotiations between the NCP and the NDA in Cairo in 2004. Both the BC and the Free Lions walked out of the negotiations, claiming that their interests were not being fairly represented. Two months later the NDA held its annual conference in Asmara amid considerable acrimony. When the DUP, the Sudanese Communist Party
Sudanese Communist Party
The Sudanese Communist Party is a Communist political party in the Republic of Sudan. Founded in 1946, it was a major force in Sudanese politics until 1971, when military ruler Gaafar al-Nimeiry launched a wave of repression against the party after a failed coup implicated...
, and Legitimate Command components of the NDA entered the Sudan National Assembly shortly afterwards, the NDA was obviously moribund.
When the withdrawal of the SPLA from the NDA in 2004 led to the collapse of that alliance, the BC joined with the Rashaida Free Lions
Rashaida Free Lions
The Rashaida Free Lions are an armed group of the Rashaida people that was active in the eastern regions of Sudan. The Free Lions were formed in November 1999 by Mabrouk Mubarak Salim....
and other smaller groups to form the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (Sudan)
The Eastern Front is a coalition of rebel groups operating in eastern Sudan along the border with Eritrea, particularly the states of Red Sea and Kassala. The Eastern Front's Chairman is Musa Mohamed Ahmed...
rebel group. However, weak leadership, an inability to reach out to other ethnic groups in eastern Sudan, and dependence on Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
n support led to the failure of the Eastern Front. The Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement of 14 October 2006 called for the absorption of the Eastern Front armed forces into the Sudanese military in exchange for political positions in the national government, the national assembly, and in three eastern states for the Eastern Front leadership. In making this Agreement, many members of the Eastern Front negotiating
team in Asmara are reported to have not been enthusiastic at the final language, and only signed the document because they felt that they had few viable alternatives.