Sudan’s peace partners failed to reach agreement over parliamentary seats

By James Gatdet Dak

January 26, 2010 (JUBA) – The Sudan’s partners to the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) have failed to reach an agreement over the controversial results of the 2008 population census.

The dominant National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) could not agree to increase the number of parliamentary seats for Southern Sudan in the National Assembly.

The two parties had earlier agreed in principle to increase the number of seats as a resolution to the controversy over the census results which put Southern Sudan population at eight million and consequently affected the region in the distribution of power at the national level.

The Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, who also heads the SPLM team that negotiates with NCP the implementation of the CPA, said NCP has rejected the SPLM proposal to increase the seats for Southern Sudan.

Speaking at Juba International Airport shortly after his arrival from Khartoum on Monday, Dr. Machar added that NCP has also refused to amend some sections of the laws which would guarantee free and fair elections.

He described his recent meeting with the Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha as “disappointing.”

He added that NCP’s position was that the discussions on the issue would be postponed and resumed after the April elections.

Dr. Machar questioned the usefulness of the discussions after the elections, adding that he would consult with the SPLM leadership over the issue.

SPLM wanted more seats for the South in the National Assembly in order to make it possible to block any future attempt to amend the constitution by the elected national parliament which might affect the gains of the CPA in the South or the conduct of referendum itself.

Southern Sudan officials have however observed that NCP had become more intransigent after learning that the SPLM had distanced itself from forging an alliance with it during the upcoming April elections.

(ST)