Constitutional breakdown in Sudan may lead to secession by South: Former PM
By: Wasil Ali
October 12, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — Former Sudanese Prime Minister and leader of the opposition Umma party Sadiq al-Mahdi said that the power crisis that erupted between the two partners in the government may lead to the secession of the south.
“If the NCP and SPLM fail to resolve their problems the latter has two choices; they can request foreign mediation or they can decide to declare their independence from the rest of Sudan. We hope they don’t pick either choices” Al-Mahdi said.
Last Thursday the SPLM decided to suspend their participation in the national unity government because of what they describe as the NCP’s failure to fully implement crucial elements of the CPA.
The latest move by the SPLM raised concern that the Comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) that ended two decades of civil war between the Arab and Muslim-dominated north and the mainly Christian and animist black southerners may unravel.
The US called on the SPLM and the NCP to exercise restraint and to implement all terms of the CPA.
The outspoken opposition leader said the recent deterioration in the political situation came as no surprise to him given the way the CPA was brokered and the terms that it came with.
“The CPA was signed under pressure by foreign mediators on the two sides. Many parts of the agreement were vague and mysterious. The result was that the SPLM and NCP signed an agreement against their will. Both sides have practically been in a cold war ever since” he added.
Al-Mahdi said that resolving the problems in the country require a comprehensive solution once and for all that involves all political powers in Sudan. But he said that the SPLM and NCP rejected the idea.
“Under the agreement peace was associated with the NCP and SPLM. How can you have fair and free elections if their rules and procedures will be decided by only two parties while leaving out all other forces?” Al-Mahdi said.
The former prime minister stressed that the next elections will not be free because the NCP holds all the strings of power in Sudan just like any totalitarian regime in other countries.
Asked whether the call by the NCP to conduct more consultations with the SPLM could end he crisis Al-Mahdi said that any bilateral solutions reached are likely to be nothing but “painkillers”.
Observers raised concern that the current situation may negatively impact efforts to resolve a separate crisis in the war torn region of Darfur. Peace talks between Khartoum and Darfur rebel groups are overshadowed by escalation of violence and boycotting by some factions.
On Thursday, the only Darfur rebel faction to sign the 2006 peace agreement led by Minni Arcua Minnawi the head of the SLA who became presidential adviser in Khartoum, called for an international investigation into an attack on their forces in Muhajiriya, where at least 45 were killed and dozens injured.
“The Sudanese regime is cornered by the showdown with Minnawi and SPLM; cracks in the recently signed agreement with Eastern rebels; their stalling on the hybrid force and the upcoming report by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court that will declare that the government is not cooperating with his office” Al-Mahdi said.
The Sudanese leader said that his party is in contact with all the political forces to contain the face-off between the SPLM and NCP.
The 2005 peace agreement brokered by the US and other western countries that ended Africa’s bloodiest conflict left some 2 million people dead in fighting, related disease or famine.
(ST)
Augustino
Constitutional breakdown in Sudan may lead to secession by South: Former PM
CRITICAL ANALYSIS BY AL-MAHADI SEEM TO HAVE BOTH FEATURES IN THE DECISION OF SPLM.THE REALLY PART OF IT IS SEPARATION FROM THE NORTHERN GOVERNMENT AND THE SOUTH SUDAN HAVE TO STRUCTURED THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT WHICH HAVE ALL WINGS OF A LEGITIMAT GOVERNMENT. IT HAS BEEN DONE ALREADY.
IF THE GEEDY PARTNERS FROM NORTH SUDAN DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DESIRE OPTION OF SOUTHERNERS THEN THE RESULT WILL HAVE DEATH FEATURES ON TWO LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.BUT IF THE SOUTH SUDAN DECIDE FOR PEACEFUL SEPARATION THEN THEY MUST BE ALLOWED TO DO SO SUCH THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH REMAIND SMOOTH.
I STRONGLY ADVICE SOUTHERN GOVERNMENT TO REMAIND CALM IN ALL THEIR AREAS BUT READY TO DEFEND THEIR BORDERS FROM A TERRORIST GOVERNMENT OF NCP WHICH SURVIVE ON BLOOD OF SUDANESE.
AUGUSTINO IN SYDNEY AUSTRALIA.
Kifly Merhu
Constitutional breakdown in Sudan may lead to secession by South: Former PM
Hi,
If all concerned parties are serious about the unity of the Sudan, why then don’t sit together and draft a unity constitution, which serves all Sudanese equally, otherwise you couldn’t have it both.
In my view, as long as no progress is made in this direction, one could take it for granted, that the secession of the south for not avoidable.
The climate of mistrust and the what if question must be removed from the surface. Be visionary, think out of the box and create a modern united Sudan, which could be an inspiring example for the Horn too.
Toposa Boy southerner
Constitutional breakdown in Sudan may lead to secession by South: Former PM
Best south Sudan I refuse completely the idea of united Sudan we will never ever again be lie to by those terrorist in Khartoum evil of Arab
Pothwei Apet Bangoshoth
Constitutional breakdown in Sudan may lead to secession by South: Former PM
According to the CPA, the secession of South or unity of Sudan is not SPLM or NCP choice. It would be determine on referendom in 2011 by those Sudanese citizens whom don’t want to be second class citizens in their own country.
But the current situation may requires SPLM to engage and take necessary action if NCP does not respond positively and logicaly to this SPLM important decision.
I also, believe that SPLM has a very large capacity to win everything in Sudan smoothly; therefore, SPLM is not eager to lead Southern Sudan to secede from the entire country because SPLM leadership knows that Sudanese people will choose their future fate.
I think that the serious violation that need immidiate attention from CPA mediators is NCP undermine and ignorance to the implementation of the CPA not the SPLM withdawal from the national Unity Government SPLM wants all CPA elements to be implemented not part of them because SPLM is care about all Sudanese citizens.
To allege that, let NCP mandate and reveal the real CPA implementation by moving SAF from South Sudan soil and oil field areas, South and North demarcation of Jan 01, 1956 and all critical contents of the CPA.
I wonder why former prime minister MR Sadig El-Mahdi still talking about other Sudanese political forces jointing the CPA while letter C in CPA standinds for word comprehensive. What I understand is that any other political party has a chance and right to joint the CPA.
Pothwei Apet Bangoshoth, Resides in New York State, USA
Juach D Juach
Constitutional breakdown in Sudan may lead to secession by South: Former PM
The NCP policies are a continuation of what you left in your office Mr former PM. Therefore if you can critically analyse the situation like that, do not need to blame Bashir solely but you included for the suffering of the marginalised peoples in the Sudan.
But thanks for the superb critique of the current political atmosphere in Sudan.