Sudan’s peace partners launch post-referendum negotiations
July 9, 2010 (JUBA) – Sudan’s peace partners, the dominant northern National Congress Party (NCP) and Southern Sudan’s ruling party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), are scheduled to officially launch negotiations on Saturday on post-referendum issues in the national capital, Khartoum.
A high level delegation of ministers of the Government of Southern Sudan, led by the Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, traveled to Khartoum on Friday for the occasion.
Meanwhile, the Southern Sudan Referendum Taskforce, also under the chairmanship of the Vice President, on Friday finalized its three days meeting during which they planned on the work of the Taskforce under which the post-referendum issues form a sub-committee.
On Thursday, the Taskforce brainstormed on the role of the second and third sub-committees on the post-referendum arrangements and post-2011 governance in Southern Sudan.
In a statement to the press, the minister of Information and official spokesperson, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, said the meeting discussed issues to do with the type of system of governance the South would want to adopt in case of referendum resulting to independence of the region.
The CPA stipulates that if the people of Southern Sudan would vote for unity, such a unity would be based on the current CPA arrangements of governance during the interim period.
However, in case of the South gaining independence, the Southern Sudan Referendum Taskforce has come up with a number of issues in preparation for independent statehood.
These issues include lobbying for recognition of the result of the referendum, good relations with the neighboring countries and beyond, international treaties, review of foreign policy as well as the question of citizenship and right to property, among many others.
Review of Southern Sudan constitution and decentralization system, in addition to design of flag and composition of national anthem were also highlighted.
The meeting also highlighted the question of what to do with Southern Sudanese working in the North, either in the civil service, police, army, judiciary and internally displaced persons, and the need to restructure civil service, etc.
(ST)