South Sudan interior minister visits Jonglei to assess referendum security

November 9, 2010 (BOR) – Southern Sudan’s minister of internal affairs Gier Chuang Aluong says inaccessible road network and the hesitance of some armed groups to disarm or join the official army of south Sudan are standing in the way of a peaceful referendum.

In January the south is due to hold a referendum, which many observers expect will split Africa’s largest country.

The vote is part of a 2005 peace deal between the north and south that established the former rebel movement the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) as the only legal armed group in southern Sudan, with the exception of some units from the Sudan Armed Forces controlled by Khartoum.

Despite the deal Jonglei has remained troubled most recently due to armed insurrections by George Athor and David Yauyau both losing candidates in April’s elections.

The minister is visiting Jonglei to assess security ahead of the beginning of voter registration for the referendum. He said that “enemies of peace” who had refused to accept the regional presidential amnesty for other armed groups (OAGs) had created a bottleneck to peaceful referendum processes.

“The [Southern Sudan] Referendum has enemies – there are enemies of peace; all over the world,” said Gier to reporters following a close meeting in Bor with Jonglei state governor Kuol Manyang Juuk.

Referendum voter registration is due to begin Monday November 15 and run to December 1, 2010. Voter lists – important as a 60% turnout is needed to validate the vote – will be completed only days before January 9, 2011, when voting begins.

Tension around the poll have raised fears that the six year peace accord could end in a return to north-south conflict, which caused over 2 million people to lose their lives between 1983 and 2005.

Jonglei state high committee (SHC) for the referendum has already expressed concern over the mobility of referendum material as the floods have further weakened the states poor road network.

Reuben Garang Yuol, the chairperson of Jonglei SHC told a press briefing two weeks ago that vehicles meant to transport referendum staffs to voter registration centers will not be traveling due to floods.

Local authorities say there was a recent attack in the state. But they have declined to name the suspected group or the location if the incident.

“It seems that some elements are still ambushing people but we hope they change their mind and come back,” said Gier on the security challenges in Jonglei state.

He called upon the people of Jonglei state to assist law enforcing agents by “providing information”.

“Our people should make sure that the referendum is conducted [peacefully] because it’s a one time exercise and nobody should be allowed to tamper with it. This is the conclusion of all suffering and it must end on positive note,” he said.

Flanked by Jonglei state governor Kuol Manyang Juuk and other state ministers, Gier addressed police, wildlife officers, the fire brigade and prison officials at the newly built police headquarters on Makuach road, east of Bor town, the capital of Jonglei state.

Both the governor and regional minister urged law enforcement agencies to work closely for the safety of civilians during the referendum processes.

Governor Kuol said he was impressed by the fitness shown by police and the fact that young people outnumbered older officers.

(ST)