Sudan Activist Says Obama Administration Wobbly On Darfur

A former Sudanese slave turned peace activist will be walking from New York City to Washington DC over the next few weeks to raise awareness against possible delays to South Sudan’s referendum on independence scheduled for January 2011.

Simon Deng was abducted from his village in South Sudan and forced into slavery at the age of 9, but after more than 2 years of imprisonment, managed to escape his captors and return to his family. Deng has continued to share his incredible story since immigrating to the New York in 1991, and is one of the leading US voices on human rights in South Sudan. 

“The Sudanese Peace Plan was in great part a result of US work and pressure. But today, the  current administration is wobbling when it comes to the issue of Sudan” says Deng “We have made commitment and promise to millions of Sudanese. We want the Obama administration to know these promises must be respected.”

Deng believes President Obama needs to clearly endorse January 2011 date for the referendum and ensure that political and security conditions within the region allow the people of South Sudan a legitimate chance at self determination. 

 “I am wallking to speak to the American people, to speak for those who have no voice, to tell the world the blisters i will have on my feet are the blisters of the victims of Southern Sudan, who for 60 years, have been wandering between Ethiopia and Uganda, Central African Republic and Zaire. Those we call the Lost Boys and the Lost Girls. No one should be a lost human being.”   

Deng is expected to arrive in Washington on October 7th, where a rally has been organized in front of the Capitol. A day by day schedule of his walk can be found at:  sudanfreedom.org