N. Bahr-El-Ghazal rejects basing constituency demarcations on census results

By Manyang Mayom

August 18, 2009 (RUMBEK) — Northern Bahr-El-Ghazal State (NBGS) rejected the distribution of geographical constituencies on the basis of Sudan’s 5th population census results, said an official.

Garang Kuot Kuot, Acting Secretary General for the Council of Ministers confirmed this report to Sudan Tribune, saying that the NBGS lawmakers and executives had a joint meeting during which the decision to reject the distribution of geographical constituencies was unanimously reached.

The statement follows a similar move in Lakes state and is in line with NBGS’s previous rejection of the census results on technical grounds.

Kuot affirmed that “the state of Northern Bahr El-Ghazal (NBGS) has officially rejected the distribution of national, regional and state distribution of geographical constituencies on the basis of the rejected 5th census results”.

The appeal letter is addressed to the Chairman of the National Electoral Commission and copied to President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly, Central Bureau of Statistics, South Sudan Electoral Commission, South Sudan Census Commission, State Council of Ministers, State Legislative Assembly, State Electoral Office, State Census Office and was signed on behalf of the State Council of Ministers by Brigadier Arkanjelo Athian Teng, Acting Governor and on behalf of August House of NBGS by Hon. Arkangelo Marac Thiik

Mr. Garang went on to reveal to Sudan Tribune that the document was signed in the State Legislative Assembly hall in the presence of 40 members of parliament, ministers, advisors and various dignitaries from state departments.

“In this document, the State presented many arguments pertaining to why it rejects the distribution of geographical constituencies. Among them, the distribution was based on census results long rejected by the State and the Government of Southern Sudan. Besides, the distribution manifested many irregularities including omission of many villages of NBGS out of the named constituencies allocated to the State. Eyebrows were particularly raised when the National Electoral Commission left out villages along the North-South border which may give false impression that these villages have been allocated to the North – an impression that may have far-reaching implications,” he said.

NBGS made some recommendations including cancellation of the census results. Kuot stressed that the state recommends basing the upcoming general elections on the interim constituencies created by the CPA in 2005, pending a proper national census. Likewise, resource-sharing and power-sharing should continue in the current proportions as stipulated by the CPA, he said.

(ST)