Sudan’s dominant party rejects any review to census results
August 13, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudan’s dominant National Congress Party (NCP) has ruled out any review of the population census results but hinted at the possibility of political agreement over the issue.
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) the other partner in the National Unity Government rejected the census outcome saying it did not reflect the true population of Southern Sudanese in the country.
The SPLM says it should not be used as the basis for allocating wealth and power sharing in the region.
Speaking to the press at the NCP premises, Mohamed Mahdi Mandour Political Relations Secretary excluded any review of the results of Sudan’s fifth census of population.
He said the census is a technical issue conducted by an independent Office and monitored by international observers in line with international standards.
“So I do not think there will be a review with respect to the outcome of the census but if there are other solutions, the partners are going to find it,” he said.
The Central Bureau of Statistics said that the total of Sudan’s population is 39,154,490, with 8,260,490 living in the south or 21 percent of the national population.
The fifth Sudan Population and Housing Census, conducted from April 22 to May 6, 2008 is considered crucial in the implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
(ST)