South Sudan is now united one year after peace – Machar

Jan 27, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — “We came to know that some of the commissions to be established in accordance with the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) should have been formed by law and must pass all the way through the Justice Ministry, council of ministers and finally the National Assembly, a thing which takes much time. The commissions yet to be established are the Boundaries and the Demarcation Commission, Abyei Administration Commission , the Human Rights Commission and the Public service Commission”, Vice-President of Southern Sudan Dr Riek Machar said in an interview with Khartoum Monitor. Following is the full text:

First anniversary of the comprehensive peace agreement

– Now that a whole year has passed since the signing of the CPA, how do you evaluate its implementation?

Machar: Our celebration of the first anniversary of the CPA culminated in unity with South Sudan Defence Forces (SSDF) , which is a tremendous achievement because with that unity, there will only be two forces, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the Sudanese armed forces and the third force is the joint forces. The unity of the SPLM and the SSDF would mean farewell to instability and insecurity.

The celebration of the first anniversary of the CPA was done after we ratified the interim constitution of the Republic of Sudan, established legislative institutions like the National Assembly and state assemblies, the government of national unity, the Legislative Assembly for South Sudan, the government of Southern Sudan, as well as, state government and legislative assemblies. We also contributed to the formation of commissions.

Though we miss the leader of the SPLM, John Garang, we managed to get it over and that is an achievement.

Repatriation of refugees

– How do you contribute in the repatriation of the refugees and the internally displaced persons [IDPs]?

Machar: In mid-December, we started receiving returnees from neighbouring countries. We will start receiving IDPs from northern Sudan. An office in Khartoum was established to register IDPs who desire to return to their areas.

Rehabilitation efforts

– Do you envisage any problem for rehabilitating major towns in the south?

Machar: There is a programme for rehabilitating Juba town. It comprises rehabilitation of government houses, water supply, sewerage, electricity and roads. An agreement was signed with donors to take part in funding these projects as the major part of funds is shouldered by the government of south Sudan. The total cost of rehabilitation amounts to 150m US dollars. The rehabilitation would include Malakal, Bentiu, Wau, Bor, Warap, Rumbek, Kapoeta, Yambio and Awiel.

We opened roads linking us with neighbouring countries like Kuki-Juba road, which was demined, Gai-Juba road, Luki-Juba road, which links the south to Kenya and al-Juba, Gulu-Kampala road linking the south with Uganda, as well as, [DR]Congo. Some of these roads contributed in transporting goods to the south creating an abundance in the market and as a result, prices were brought down remarkably. On the other hand, these roads would serve as pillars of peace and that is what we desire .

We also have a plan for rehabilitation of the agricultural sector, particularly in Yambio, rice in Awiel and fisheries in Terkeka.

– How do you asses the political and security situation in the south at present?

Machar: Most parts in the south are enjoying stability except for areas where there are pockets of [Uganda’s] LRA, Lord’s Resistance Army, in Eastern and South Equatoria states. In the last few months, the LRA infiltrated south-eastern Equatoria. Security is the most fundamental requirement and attempts are on to persuade the LRA to emulate us in negotiating a peaceful settlement to their question.

South Sudan Defence Forces

– The leader of the SSDF joined the SPLM. How would that bear on the unity of the south?

Machar: The existence of many forces complicates the situation. But now, with the integration of the SSDF into the SPLM, there are only two forces. Politically, the unification would be a start for unification of Southern opinion. We believe in pluralism. But if parties come close to each other, that would be to the common good of the south.

– What efforts are you exerting to persuade the rest of the SSDF leaders like Gordon Kong to follow suit?

Machar: We are making efforts to persuade reluctant people to join the course of unity. Gordon Kong was in contact with the president of the South, Salvia Kiir Mayardit. Therefore, I believe that he knows what is going on.

Oil revenue

– It is rumoured that what has been so far implemented of the CPA has raised doubts, particularly for the 50 per cent of oil revenue?

Machar: There are no doubts. So far, we have not received our oil share for the year 2005. Oil revenue stands at 500m US dollars and perhaps more.

– It implies that you lack information on the exact oil revenue?

Machar: Yes, we do not know the correct amount of oil revenue and that is why we wanted the oil portfolio to be run by the SPLM because we could have dealt in a transparent way with the oil issue.

Media

– As the vice-president of the government of South Sudan, how do you view the reaction of the media?

Machar: Media is a key factor in social change and political transformation. Our policy on media would be in accordance with that enshrined in the CPA. Freedom of expression, freedom of thought and publication. No restriction on media in a multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-ethnic society. That would be our policy.

Returnees “greatest” challenge for South Sudan administration

– In your view, what are the obstacles faced by the government of South Sudan?

Machar: The greatest challenges are the returnees because those returnees, while in camp, enjoyed better educational and health services. But when they come back to the South, they would exert high pressure on us. Therefore, we must provide a good level of service for them. Secondly, the returnees have great aspirations like availability of job opportunities and urbanization of villages.

– What plans do you visualize to face such challenges?

Machar: We directed state governments to receive the returnees as first phase and then employ them.

– Do you think that such a tremendous job can be carried out by state governments?

Machar: Never. They cannot do it alone. We requested the UN to contribute in the repatriation of returnees.

Egypt refugee incident “sorrowful”

– On the incident that took place in Egypt and which resulted in the killing of a sizable number of refugees, mostly southerners, do you believe it would impair trust between the people of south Sudan and the Egyptian government?

Machar: They were sorrowful incidents. We, in the government of South Sudan, condemned the way the Egyptian security authorities dealt with the matter. We didn’t expect Egyptian police to deal with Sudanese in such a brutal way. I have never seen a scene akin to that which occurred in Egypt. There were more than 250,000 Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia but the Ethiopian government haven’t used repression against them. Also in Kenya, Uganda and the DR Congo, there were sizable numbers of refugees. We don’t understand the motivation behind it.

(Khartoum Monitor)