South Sudan 2010 and beyond

Southern Sudan 2010 builds an anxiety. The Sudan must dread the forthcoming national elections that could determine the leadership that sees it through to 2011 national referendum. April 2010 is for national elections. 2011 is either for the unity of or the break away from the Sudan.

An ICC indicted president, battled hardened South Sudanese, bitter Darfurians, contested regions and Africa, find queer speculations, fearful uncertainties and hopeless hoping in a menu modern, Kush 2010, 2011 plus. The telecommunications in a fiercely politicised socio-economic Sudan.

In the South of the Sudan, the telecommunications and broadcasting infrastructure should anticipate some crude roles in the face of competing and opposing coordination and mobilisation of the will of the electorates. A communications warfare might be in the offing.

MTN Sudan, Zain, Vivacell, Carnatell, Sudani, Gemtel, ISPs and cyber networks. Speculation is that Sudanese politics could impact negatively on the mundane economic telecommunications of the South and the Sudan.

South Sudan, the opportunities fade. Clarifications is that Salam Taki shall be updated with a better regularity. The sun shines.

Rightly left ambidexterity

As the Lefties pride on this day, I wonder which I would wish for my two year old twin daughters. While we were raised by a right handed mum who I think, thought with her strict right spanks, I am convinced she used her leftly rights to tame four brothers and their handful sister.

I think, I used to study my little brother's strangeness. He eats using his right hand, kicks and writes with his left limbs, fights from the left, looks rightish while playing squash and didn't know how to swim. I am more rightish. Volley ball, basket ball, and chess. Perhaps a convert from no where. Soccer. Undeveloped skills. As for him, I think he thinks using his left side of the brain. He looks that way atleast.

Left, right or both, I wondered how all these matter. Well, one mischievous dear uncle and my best alley, but because of handwriting lessons and the impatience of teachers, I recall, Oscar Delta literally tortured, and rebuked in every many schools we went to as was at the country side home. Todate, his left hand deeds as Barack Obama's left handedness fascinates.

And for Grace, the one friend who made me understand how to deal with girls, Colette and Claudia shall use whatever hand that suits then and any ambidexterity should only add to a fascination. I hope you complete your MBA. See us in December.

Abyei's oils: She is Southerly

Okaaaay. Abyei! Is it the fate of an electorate or people or is it the land or political territory or is it her oils or grassing lands? South Sudan and Sudan. East and West adjusted. How North is the South end? Nine Dinka Ngok Chiefdoms. The ABC, the xyzeds. The verdict is out. Abyei is well endowed. Very oily. She is Southerly. She is a price in another hand ...

The CPA was signed in 2005. National elections were meant to take place in June 2009. The referendum on whether the South would be independent or remain part of the Sudan and the fate of disputed regions including Abyei are to be determined in 2011. National elections meant for June 2009 postponded till April 2010. A referendum still possible in 2011. The CPA.: Abyei remains under the custodianship of the government in Khartoum until 2011. SPLM Vs NCP; SPLA Vs SAF. Make peace attractive. Abyei. Ceasefire and the fate of the CPA interwined.

Ok! Under a government in Khartoum! Could Abyei have been designed by the CPA architects to be a ransom inorder for the referendum to take place!? Is the fate of Abyei the price of honouring the CPA to its conclusion in 2011?

Of blogging, hypertexting, class, and aftermath

I don't know what I did yet I had to abandon the blog. I am worried. My report card! And for my pains, Habesh Continental for a Monday evening. Worth it. Ethiopian. I didn't. I slept in my bed.

Ginger in my eyes. I read that email and confirmed that luck had come my way. DiploFoundation chose to train us on the Internet governance process. Gratefully and nervousely, I enrolled into the IGCB 09 class and for close to three months, it has been an experience. Undisputeably, a thank you Steph is very much in order. I never heard my tutor speak, and to infer to an observation, I too never got the chance to see how other classmates  listen. We hypertexted, hypertexed, blogged, made forum entries, hypertexted and hypertexted, had a Friday online chat session, spied the Cantina and sought information and knowledge. And the day for the final examination came, two questions attempted and ... It has to be a new dawn. The networking resumes shortly. But then, what a beauty for a class. 

However, Arsene Wenger FC had not done me any favours, I had to nurse my daughters to health, felt the hurt in pockets, opportunities dwindled, and to see bullet proof V8s packed and no internet connectivity, the stress had boiled enough. Come the Monday evening, it had to be to the nearest Ethiopian hospitality. Habesh Continental at the banks of the Nile. Emerging and not disappointing, the atmosphere by Juba standards and starless ofcourse, was splendid. The rooms go for US $ 180 only per night. I had to remind my self. There is only a today, a tomorrow and a now. I need to get busier. Mukumu ducks, I am around.

First Southern Sudan ICT Policy Workshop

The first ever ICT Policy stakeholders' event is takes place in Juba, Southern Sudan, Home and Away Conference Hall. Follow the live tweets of the event by Henry Owera at the event at the URL: www.twitter.com/owerahbits

Government of Southern Sudan's Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Services organised a three days envisioning workshop under the theme " Community Empowerment through ICT" to run from Wednesday 18th - Friday 20th March 2009. One the agenda were a) Government inter-linkages and roles of the ICT / telecom sector; b) presenting and elaborating on the policy and regulatory environment and c) preliminary consultations on "implementation plan " for the next 5-10years.

All the ten states ministers of Southern Sudan are invitees, and in attendance are the GoSS Ministers of Internal Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Telecommunications and Postal Services and Kenya's Minister of Information and Communications. The quest of honour was H.E Lt. Gen. Salva Kiir, the 1st Vice President of Sudan and President of GoSS who was represented by his Minister of Regional Cooperation. One member of the Legislative Assembly was in attendance!

Also in attendance are officials from Communications Commission Kenya (CCK), Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), and other consultants from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. Noteably is Dr. Shem Ochuodho, advisor to the GoSS Telecom Minister, Sub Saharan Africa Internet pioneer and first .ke ccTLD administrator; Dr. 'Tusu" Tusubira founding board of director of UCC, director of Directorate of ICT Makerere University and an international consultant consulting with Knowledge Consulting Ltd among others.

Notable absent were officials from the National Telecommunication Corporation and Sudan Internet Society all based in Khartoum, donor institutions, the academia, civil society, the media houses and you!