Politics: Deaths of Leaders: John Garang of South Sudan; King Fahd of Saudi Arabia

SUDAN: JOHN GARANG

Death of former rebel chief tests Sudan peace John Garang, who signed a peace accord with Khartoum ending two decades of war, died in a crash this weekend, by Abraham McLaughlin, Christian Science Monitor, August 2, 2005. The death of John Garang, newly elevated under the terms of a peace treaty between the rebellious Black South of Sudan, which is Christian and animist, and the north which is Arab and Muslim - except for the huge influx of Black refugees into the capital city of Khartoum the center of Arab civilization and politics for the North - this lamentable death of John Garang places 20 years of war and negotiation involving hundreds of non-government organizations and diplomats of many governments, especially in Africa, places it all in jeapardy. Both the new office he filled, and the old role he played among the Black community's various elements, one that held some hope of him making a difference for the Blacks in rebellion and starvation in Sudan's Western region of Darfur, all this is in jeapardy. lamentations! - Politicarp

Northern (Black Christian & animist), southern (Arab Muslim) Sudanese clash violently after vice-president's death, by Tanalee Smith, Canadian Press via Yahoo!News, August 2, 2005.

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SAUDI ARABIA: KING FAHD

Saudi dynasty has new king, same agenda, by Dan Muerphy, Christian Science Monitor, Aug 2, 2005. Abdullah is a reformer, but new king's hands are tied by hard-liners.

King Fahd dies; Abdullah takes throne, by Rasheed Abou-Alsamh, Washington Times, August 2, 2005

King is buried with stately simplicity, by FT.com via New York Times, August 2, 2005.

In contrast to the situation of severe uncertainty generated by the death of John Garang in Sudan, that of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia came after he had been disabled for some time, and his brother's stewardship of the royal responsiblities in the meantime made transition to a new monarch (one with real power, but not absolute) an apparently easy process of change. But time will tell where next the seams in Saudi society burst, just how fast democracy can get off the ground (don't hold your breath), and what terrors will be visited upon this Kingdom that shelters the holiest shrines of all Muslims. - Politicarp