SPLM to nominate 5 women as Sudan’s ambassadors

By Isaac Vuni

April 2, 2008 (JUBA) — Five Southern Sudanese women would soon be nominated to ambassadorial positions by President of the government of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, Sudan minister of foreign affairs, Deng Alor has revealed.

Minister Alor stated that the ambassadorial quarter allocated by the Government of National Unity in Khartoum to the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) as stipulated in the CPA. In fact, out of ten ambassadorial positions, only eight were filled by male during the fiscal financial year 2007.

The SPLM foreign Affairs minister further disclosed that in this year 2008 budget, foreign affairs ministry has allotted various diplomatic positions to Southern Sudan up to 45 including five ambassadorial positions that ought to be filled by women who have been deprived from the first allocation quarter of foreign affairs ministry during the CPA era.

The ministerr made the above remarks when responding to question raised by visiting African Union Ministerial Committee on post conflict reconstruction of Sudan, that why GoSS has not appointed women in Ambassadorial positions since it has initiated and adopted a popular affirmative action for women’s twenty five percent positions at all levels of governments to women who are also allowed to compete for the remaining seventy five percent positions together with men.

Alor further disclosed that out of the ten five ambassadorial positions allotted to government of Southern Sudan last year following the signing of the CPA on 9th January 2005, all positions were occupied by men except for those nominated individuals who failed to take up their appointments for the best reasons known to them.

He advised all aspiring Southern Sudanese women for ambassadorial positions should be more articulated in presenting issues of Southern Sudan and of the whole Sudan wherever they are going to be posted.

Samon Kwaje, minister of agriculture and forestry of southern sudan stated that the twenty five percent women’s mandatory positions at all level of governments in Southern Sudan have been fairly fulfilled by both governments of Southern Sudan and of national unity in Khartoum.

However he noted that out of 24 executive positions in GoSS only three went to women and also out of ten governors of southern Sudan only one female governor, two deputies Governors, one undersecretary, short of twenty five percent with exception of 21 female Directors Generals in various ministries of the government of Southern Sudan are fairly allocated.

Meanwhile the director for Peace and Security of African Union Commission, Geofrey Mugmya, announced that African Union commission will soon open its liaison office in Juba to enable the commission to observe and monitor implementation of the CPA; adding that within the commission there will be a gender officer who will be directly dealing with problems facing Southern Sudanese women especially in regard to linkage with outside world.

(ST)