The newly appointed South Kordofan state governor outlines his plan of office to Khartoum Today.
Doctor Hamid Al Bashir, opened his heart and speaks about the importance of peace and stability in his state, inclusivity of all ethnicities in the government and nation building process and provision of services to the local population. The following interview was contacted by K.T Editor in Chief, Mohammed Ali Fazari.

Q . As a new civilians’ governor after the revolution, what are your priorities to South Kordofan state during your term of office?

First of all, there are so many demands by our people but most needed one at the moment is to restore peace and stability of our citizens. Then, we need to enforce law and order to stop all kinds of rampant crimes that have been carried out by criminal who are trying to cause insecurity in the area. So, once the area is peaceful, immediately you introduce law and order and everyone must respect the law.
The law and order requires a strong institutional reforms such as local government system, strong native administration system, strong police system. There is a need for controlling firearms and collect them from the hands of civilians. We need that social cohesion and social peace to be the lifestyle of today.
There have been a lot of tribal conflicts among different tribes in the area. We shall be engaging all of them, including traditional and religious leaders, youth and women. We shall all work for peace and reconciliation among local conflicted groups.
I am going to be the governor of all. Every party, ethnicity, religion and groups in South Kordofan state shall have an opportunity to serve in my government and contribute to the national building process. My cabinet will be inclusive. As the head of the state, I belong to all tribes. My tribe and my party is South Kordofan.
Q . Which tools are you going to use to achieve all these priorities?

Well, we have to organize conferences and workshops, to discuss and to analyze these issues. We will work hand in hand with our youth peace building process. As you know, they youth today are the majority population.
During the conferences or workshops, we shall be looking for solutions for the cause of conflict among groups in the state.
We shall focus on agricultures, land disputes, and elimination of poverty, drinking water supply. We need to enhance the education system that almost collapse because of the policies of the previous regime that provide very small budget for education, for the first six months will be working on school feeding to ensure that students go to school and learn provide them with meals, provide them with water sources in school, provide them with school materials also.
In the health sector, we will provide everybody with medical care, basic drugs specially for the pregnant mothers, premature care, also addressing the children of five year including the issue of nutrition, we are going to work on providing the nutrition supplement with donors and with other partners.
Citizens of South Kordofan have really suffered for more than thirty-five years and they deserve to live with a dignified life.
Q . How did you make it to the governorship of South Kordofan?

I have been selected not for political party basis, I have been selected by forces for freedom and change (FFC), my constituency are the FFC and PM, am not representing any party here, what I came to understand is being somebody with great knowledge about the region about the problems of the region, I have huge social capital in the region, I have good contact with all the different groups, the region have been of my concern for very long, I have been contributing in different development in the region, whether in education or advocating through publication.
Q . National Umma Party intends to take disciplinary measures for participation without consensus of the party ?
No there no such thing. I don’t think the party going to do that because it understands this action well.
Q . How do you plan to attract donors for your state to address the challenges of development?

I think it’s important point and at this crutial time, we need to develop some strategies that can attract donors. We need to have a clear vision, clear priorities, and above all provide them with security. We will work together with them basically towards the development area and the reconstruction area, also in the areas such as education, we work with them to establish strong unit that can accommodate donor
Q. What criteria are you going to use to resolve tribal conflicts among nomads and farmers?

I think first of all, we need to know why these communities are fighting? If we know this, then, we will be able to come up with concrete solutions for the problem. The tribal conflict in the area are basically on natural resources.
We will plan to organize series of workshops and conferences to ensure the all conflicted groups come together and reconcile among themselves. Our people need to learn how to live together and co-exist peacefully. We will work to strengthening and reform the civil administration system.
Q . What is your final message to your people in South Kordofan?

First of all, let me take this opportunity to ask my sisters and brothers in diaspora to return to South Kordofan, there are so many opportunities to stabilize the situation, there are many needs that they can contribute to, we are really in need of all brothers and sisters in Diaspora, especially who are able to contribute the native development, we also adopt the policy of the government when we are home.
My message to citizen of South Kordofan that I feel this is a call to come and help in rebuilding the region, I am not going to build it alone, but with team of my sisters and brothers. I accepted the appointment with open minded and open hearted, and with the convention that we will be working together as a team.
I am heading home with a convention that my tribe is South Kordofan and my party is South Kordofan , my constituency is humanity and commitment to the highest human goals which are prosperity , development and success of people of South Kordofan and people of Sudan at large.