The Sudan Handbook

200 thE sudan handbook

southern chiefs, their position was never abolished, even in 1971. The

intermediate level of omda has also retained potential legitimacy, but

here there is greater individual variation in terms of links to govern-

ment. Sheikhs are appointed by omdas, and omdas are themselves elected

and appointed internally by nazirs, rather than directly by governors or

commissioners (who retain the powers of approval). The omdas and the

higher-level leaders, like nazirs, also play an important role in managing

access to natural resources, and this can create attachment even to an

unpopular nazir, if he is seen as a means by which to defend communal

interests.

The perceived politicization of the higher levels of traditional leader-

ship has contributed to vocal criticism in many regions, and usually

predominantly among younger generations and urban populations.

Critics also point to the incompetence of traditional leaders, particularly

in relation to accessing the resources of relief and development. In eastern

Sudan, for example, the Native Administration leaders have been criti-

cized for allowing (or profiting from) the alienation of communal land

for mechanized schemes, and for failing to access relief and development

effectively, particularly during floods or droughts. But such criticisms

are also contributing to ongoing change in the personnel of the Native

Administration across Sudan, as communities and families seek to

choose leaders with greater education and the kind of experience that

will enable them to access aid and development resources more reliably.

In the south, international organizations have relied heavily on chiefs to

assist the implementation of relief or development projects, and some

recently selected chiefs have prior experience of leadership in the refugee

or IDP camps.

Such camps, whether inside or outside Sudan, are very revealing of

the fragile legitimacy of traditional authorities. Frequently they have

offered leadership opportunities to new, younger or more literate or

multilingual individuals, who might have seized upon the disruptions

of displacement in order to challenge the established authorities. Yet

in many cases even these new camp leaders have some connection to

The Sudan Handbook, edited by John Ryle, Justin Willis, Suliman Baldo and Jok Madut Jok. © 2011 Rift Valley Institute and contributors the traditional families, and in other cases the traditional leaders have

(www.riftvalley.net).