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sudan’s fRaGilE statE, 1956–1989 159

leader of the Umma Party, and Hassan al-Turabi, the head of the Muslim

Brotherhood.

Those suspicious of the apparent ease with which the previously

bitter enemies had come together were proved right; It was soon

apparent that each party to the agreement was manoeuvring for advan-

tage. First to fall out with Nimeiri was Sadiq al-Mahdi, who complained

that alleged promises of reform were not being fulfilled and went into

voluntary exile again in 1978. Hassan al-Turabi however saw the process

as an opportunity to build up the Muslim Brotherhood within the state

itself. He joined the SSU in a senior position and also became attorney

general. At the same time he pressed repeatedly for the introduction

of sharia (Islamic law), while his followers were encouraged to take up

positions in all areas of the state. The extent and significance of this

‘entryism’ on the part of the Muslim Brotherhood was not to be fully

realized for several years. For his part Nimeiri responded to the drift

towards Islamism by publishing his own book entitled The Islamic Way:

Why? In 1983 he introduced a version of Islamic law, which included the

hudud punishments, with much public display and increased repression

in the face of growing unrest. There were public executions and sever-

ings of limbs as a new Puritanism was imposed across the north of the

country.

Nimeiri’s new path in the north, coupled with his efforts to impose

his will on the regional government in the south, resulted in growing

opposition. In the south, his turn to National Reconciliation had sounded

a warning in the context of economic developments. The south feared

that the exploitation of newly-discovered oil deposits would rob the

region of what rightfully belonged to it. At the same time, Nimeiri and

Anwar al-Sadat, the president of Egypt, decided to begin construction of

the long-discussed Jonglei Canal in southern Sudan to improve the flow

of the White Nile by bypassing the swamps of the sudd and delivering

more water for irrigation in northern Sudan and Egypt. Growing discon-

tent in the south saw this as another downright robbery, for it would

contribute little to the region and some argued would have damaging

The Sudan Handbook, edited by John Ryle, Justin Willis, Suliman Baldo and Jok Madut Jok. © 2011 Rift Valley Institute and contributors environmental effects.

(www.riftvalley.net).