Abyei: Bashir and Kiir set for talks over delayed referendum

November 25, 2010 (JUBA) — Plans to hold a referendum in the oil-producing Abyei region may remain on course after it emerged that Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir and his Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) counterpart, Salva Kiir Mayardit are due to hold talks this weekend.

Pagan Amum, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Secretary General told a media briefing in Juba, upon arrival from Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia that discussions between the parties were “positive and promising”.

Amum, who had prior to the Addis Ababa meeting delivered a statement before members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on Sudan, maintained that the SPLM and the southern government remain committed towards ensuring the full implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

He specifically cited the timely conduct of both the southern referendum and that in Abyei region.

“Our party’s position and that of the government of Southern Sudan has always been very clear. We are determined to see that our people participate in a peaceful referendum process that will reflect their will and choices,” Amum, also Minister for Peace and CPA implementation in the southern government said.

The SPLM Secretary General also lauded Southern Sudan Referendum Commission for organizing a peaceful and timely voter registration process, which he said was being reflected in the high levels of voters’ turn-out.

He however warned the Khartoum-based National Congress Party (NCP) to desist from negative propaganda aimed at disrupting the peaceful process leading to the referendum.

“Initially the NCP claimed the referendum would not take place as scheduled. But we kept telling them that all was set until we began voters’ registration. Now they have again emerged to disrupt the process. What does this all mean?” he asked.

The SPLM Secretary General rubbished claims by the NCP alleging that their agent was arrested at Juba airport, saying the culprit simply had problems with immigration officials at the airport over his nationality.

“Have you seen any NCP rally in support for unity being organized any where here? They cannot even conduct rallies to convince people, but simply engage themselves in politics of sabotaging peaceful processes for the southern referendum,” he said.

South Sudan is due to hold a referendum in January, which could see the south secede from the north. The referendum is a key part of the 2005 CPA; the accord which ended over two-decades of a bloody civil war fought between north and south of the country.

(ST)