By Andrew Heavens
KHARTOUM (Reuters) – Sudanese politicians claimed Barack Obama as one of their own on Saturday as they belatedly celebrated his election as U.S. president, hailing his family roots in their country.
Much has been made of Obama’s father’s origins in Kenya. But he acknowledged his distant Sudanese roots in his autobiography ‘Dreams From My Father’.
“His father came from the Luo (tribe), who are from the Nile. The Luo originally moved from Sudan to Kenya,” said Yasir Arman, a senior member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, former southern rebels who are now in a coalition government with the north.
Hundreds of SPLM supporters crammed into their headquarters for a belated party marking Obama’s victory.
Many held up banners marked ‘New Sudan Yes We Can’ – a message that merged an SPLM slogan with Obama’s rallying cry.
Arman said members were inspired by Obama’s election as the United States’ first black president.
“It is giving a message to our society that Sudan can do the same, that Sudan can recognize its own diversity,” he said.
“We hope he will be able to give more attention to all of Africa, not just Sudan.”
The United States has had a troubled relationship with Sudan’s Khartoum-based government. It has imposed trade sanctions on Khartoum, included it on its list of state sponsors of terrorism, and accused northern troops and militias of committing genocide in the Darfur conflict.
The south has been exempted from most of the sanctions.
The SPLM fought the north for more than 20 years in a conflict that pitted the Islamist Khartoum government against mainly Christian and animist rebels. The war ended with a 2005 peace agreement.
(Editing by Angus MacSwan)
9 thoughts on “Sudan politicians say Obama has Sudanese root”
This Obama thing is getting weirder and weirder by each passing day. I am afraid that in the near future aliens would claim him to be one of their own.
As the saying goes “Victory has millions of fathers, defeat is an Orphan”. How come no one is claiming to have any relation with John McCanin?
Some are saying he is from Oromo. Well it wont be to long before we hear from one of the Woyane gangs that Obama was a memeber of TPLF.
We can claim he has ethiopian blood too
I always wonder: Why africans are interested more on race/ethinic group than the actual work we badly needed to to do in order to develep?
Let them enjoy him as their own. What do you to have to lose? Yes, the Luos come from Nile, that is why South Sudan is claiming relationship. What is wrong with that, Debal?
That is good,we Ethiopians also should claim for it.
If Obama’s father was originated somewhere near to the Nile,he might have Ethiopian blood too.Please,Elias search for it.You never know,you might come up with some thing surprising.
Which part of Sudanese are claiming him? I suppose those half breed, murderers Arab wanna be of northerner will not claim him…….As Dabala pointed out……wonder who have claimed him, if he has lost
Dwatta,
Luo is a very diverse ethnic group scattered all over East Africa. Their languages have differentiated somehow and are known in different countries by different names. In Ethiopia they are known as the Anuak, a minority ethnic group in southwestern part of the country.
what is the big deal to lead a country that do not even consider blacks as human beings & the rest of the rest of the world as aliens!
What is disappointing is our pride comes from our shame!