Southern Sudanese

Khartoum calls Southern Sudanese ambassadors as SPLM says not aware

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February 10, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese foreign ministry called ambassadors from Southern Sudan appointed after 2005 peace deal without prior arrangements with the SPLM, said officials from the South Sudan ruling party.

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) allows the two parties to proportionally share wealth and power during the six years of interim period, giving the SPLM 28% of the national ministerial positions and 20% civil servant positions.

Prior to the announcement of the referendum results which came out in favour of independence of South Sudan last Monday, the Sudanese Foreign Affairs Ministry sent out a circular recalling all South Sudanese ambassadors and diplomats, in different countries of the world to report to the Ministry headquarters effective 1 April 2011, without consulting the leadership of the SPLM.

In 2007 and 2008, the two parties formed a high executive committee with equal representation to look into complaints raised by the SPLM and to approve identification and assignment of southern Sudanese officials into ambassadorial and senior civil servant as well as diplomatic positions. All were to remain their positions until at the end of the interim which would determine the future of the country.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday night from Netherlands, Martin Kur, a diplomat at the Sudanese embassy said all southern Sudanese ambassadors and diplomats serving in the Sudanese embassies abroad received a circular instructing them to report to the headquarters in Khartoum on 1 April.

Sudan’s former foreign minister, now GOSS minister of regional cooperation in Deng Alor denied knowledge of such arrangements, saying “we were not consulted”. He further said he would seek clarification from the minister of foreign affairs.
Grace Datiro, a state minister at the ministry of foreign affairs also said she was not aware of the circular.

Another Sudanese ambassador from the south confirmed receipt of the document, “Yes, we have received the circulation issued by Mr. Mohammad Salah Al-Din Abass on behalf of the Undersecretary dated 6 February, 2011. Abass is a Director General in the ministry of foreign Affairs”, said the official who preferred anonymity.

Other ambassadors and diplomats from different parts of the world and originally from the South of Sudan contacted by Sudan Tribune unanimously confirmed receipt of an official document numbered MFA/1/50 and dated 6.2.2011.

It is claimed that the circular is entitled “recall of all south Sudanese Ambassadors and Diplomats serving in the Sudanese Embassies abroad”, asking them to report to the headquarters of the ministry of foreign affairs in Khartoum, on April 1st April, 2011 and to remain there until June 30, 2011.

Different officials from the NCP officials stated that the participation of the SPLM officials in the national institutions would terminate immediately after the final announcement of the referendum results.

However the Sudanese presidency agreed later that the participation of Southerners in the national government and other organs will continue to the end of the interim period on 9 July 2011.

(ST)

Article source: http://www.sudantribune.com/Khartoum-calls-Southern-Sudanese,37941

Posted in Sudan Tribune: | Tagged Southern Sudanese, SPLM, sudan, Sudan Tribune

Low-key celebrations of independence vote by Southern Sudanese in Uganda

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By Philip Thon Aleu

February 7, 2011 (KAMPALA) – Southern Sudanese living in Uganda acknowledge the announcement on February 7 that South Sudan had voted for secession from the North, in a low key fashion in comparison to the jubilant scenes in South Sudan.

Southerners in Kampala followed the celebrations on television screens, the radio and over the phone. Official results from January’s self-determination poll indicate that nearly 99 percent of southerners voted to form Africa’s newest nation and the world’s 193th country.

The referendum is part of a 2005 North-South peace deal, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), that ended a bitterly fought civil war (1983—2005) that left at least two million people dead, according to the UN.

The conflict, that started in Bor town, Jonglei state, on May 16, 1983, was Sudan’s second civil war after the first, which began in 1955 before Sudan’s independence the next year.

Monday’s announcement means that South Sudan will become a nation on July 9, in accordance to CPA. Between now and July, tough negotiations will continue between northern and southern politicians over country’s debts, national assets, citizenship and border demarcation. Abyei was also supposed to carry out a simultaneous referendum to decide whether oil-producing region will join the South or remain as part of the North.

Abyei’s residents identify themselves as southern Sudanese and are expected to vote to join the South if the vote goes ahead. However, the preparations for the poll have been delayed, with the South rejecting the North’s demands that an Arab nomadic group, who enter the region with their cattle for a few months of the year, also be allowed to vote.

An independent South Sudan will face numerous challenges being one of the world poorly developed regions. Despite expectations being high some citizens in Uganda have told Sudan Tribune that the South needs to improve its democratic credentials. Last year’s elections did not meet international according to observers. However, the referendum has been almost universally endorsed.

“As southern Sudanese, we are celebrating independence [form the north],” Tuor Majok, a south Sudanese student in Kampala told the Sudan Tribune.

“We need equality and freedom of speech as tribes of southern Sudan. As we were the same people during the referendum, nobody should feel superior,” he added when asked what he expects from the government of the young nation.

With high illiteracy rates, poor roads network and insufficient social service provision to the majority of citizens, southern Sudanese leaders have many hard tasks to address.

For now, however there is a tremendous celebratory and praising atmosphere across south Sudan, Uganda and other countries where southerners took refuge during what was Africa’s longest civil war.

In Kampala, the southern Sudanese community has shrunk in recent years with many returning to the south following the 2005 peace accord. Now most South Sudanese in Uganda appear to be there to continue their education.

The reaction to announcement of the secession vote did not spark the same scenes as in the South. The response was limited to student groups listening to the radio, watching South Sudan TV (SSTV) and calling relatives to be part of celebrations.

The government of southern Sudan’s mission in Uganda, which will become the embassy of the new nation, told Sudan Tribune, that plans are underway for a “full scale” celebration of the referendum result. No date has been set for the ceremony.

(ST)

Article source: http://www.sudantribune.com/Low-key-celebrations-of,37918

Posted in Sudan Tribune: | Tagged South Sudan, Southern Sudanese, sudan, Uganda

South Sudan welcomes NCP’s acceptance of referendum results

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By Ngor Arol Garang

February 1, 2011 (JUBA) – A leading official from the semi-autonomous regional government of South Sudan on Tuesday welcomed acceptance of the Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) to recognize the overwhelming vote in favor of independence, in January’s referendum. Final results are due to be announcement in the course of the next two weeks.

Southern Sudanese celebrate the announcement of preliminary referendum results in the southern capital of Juba on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011. (AP)

Sudan conducted a weeklong referendum exercise on the right to self determination for the people of south Sudan to decide whether to remain part of the united Sudan or opt to be become Africa’s 54th nation. The plebiscite ended on 15 January.

The South Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC) on Sunday announced results which showed that 98.83 percent of southern Sudanese voted overwhelmingly in favor of the region’s separation and only 1.17 percent voted for unity.

The final results of the referendum are expected to be announced on February 7 in case that there are no appeals. If there are appeals against the process the final results will be made in Khartoum on February 14.

There will be a transitional period until July 9 to pave the way for the separation of south Sudan.

Sudanese Vice-President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha on Monday announced that the Sudanese government accepted the referendum results.

“We declare our acceptance of the referendum’s preliminary results which were announced yesterday by the referendum commission and we will directly embark on the arrangements which will follow this phase,” said Taha at a press conference broadcasted live on Sudanese Television on Monday.

“We hope this positive spirit, which characterized all stages of the referendum process, would lead to containing tensions that could surround some of the outstanding issues,” he added.

Taha further reiterated continuation of cooperation and coordination between north and south Sudan, saying that “the separation, even if it has its constitutional and political consequences, the relation and common interests will remain standing and will not cease.”

The Sudanese vice-president stressed that north and south Sudan were willing to find a political settlement for the border region of Abyei issue and prevent any unilateral solutions.

Abyei was due to hold a simultaneous referendum to south to decide whether the oil-producing will remain in the north or join the south. The vote did not take place due to disagreement over who could take part.

Vice President Taha said: “We have agreed that the current administrative, political and security arrangements at Abyei would continue.”

“It has also been agreed that joint forces would be dispatched in Abyei, besides removing the south Sudan police forces which recently entered the area and that the Abyei administration would remain until a political agreement is reached.”

Taha, also said that the north and the south have agreed to exclude the option of double nationality the people of Abyei, saying that “each state will have the right to issue a law organizing the nationality and how it could be obtained and to avoid having persons with no legal identification documents.”

“We have agreed that there would be flexibility regarding presence of northerners in the south and vice versa and to protect them and their properties until their status is adjusted. There are many arrangements needed to be made to adjust the conditions of the employees at the public service and the regular forces,” he said.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, minister of information and broadcasting in the government of south Sudan said he welcomed the statement made by Vice President Taha describing it as only means through which peace can be achieved in Sudan.

“On behalf of the government of south Sudan, I welcome the statement made by Vice president Ali Osman Mohammed Taha. Respecting the will of people of south Sudan by recognizing their choice is the only way through which the peace can be achieved in Sudan”, said minister Marial.

The minister also praised President Omar Hassan al-Bashir with his first Vice president Salva Kiir Mayardit for their courage and determination in allowing the referendum to go ahead.

“It takes courage to do the right thing. President Bashir and President Kiir are great leaders. They have shown the whole world that they can overcome challenges. Their courage to allow conduct of the referendum was not just a bold thought but a heroic decision to bring peace. They are champions and we must stand by them to resolve the other remaining issues,” said Marial.

(ST)

Article source: http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-welcomes-NCP-s,37845

Posted in Sudan Tribune: | Tagged South Sudan, Southern Sudanese, sudan, Vice President Taha

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Khartoum calls Southern Sudanese ambassadors as SPLM says not aware

Low-key celebrations of independence vote by Southern Sudanese in Uganda

South Sudan welcomes NCP’s acceptance of referendum results

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Southern Sudanese

Khartoum calls Southern Sudanese ambassadors as SPLM says not aware

Low-key celebrations of independence vote by Southern Sudanese in Uganda

South Sudan welcomes NCP’s acceptance of referendum results

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English Teacher

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