Minister denies obstructing South Sudan states’ constitutions
Oct 14, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The Minister of Justice, Mohamed Ali Al-Mardi, has denied accusations that his ministry intends to impede the constitutions for the southern states, stressing that the states’ constitutions shall harmonize and conform to the national Interim Constitution.
Al-Mardi affirmed the readiness of the federal Ministry of Justice to review the states’ constitution drafts and to give its remarks on them before issuing documents of conformity in this regard.
The federal minister was responding to statements given by the Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development of South Sudan Government, Michael Makwai, who accused the federal Minister of Justice of hampering to the southern states’ constitutions.
The Minister of Justice has stressed the necessity of the conformity between all the constitutions of the different states with the National Interim Constitution.
He said that his ministry has only received the constitutions of six southern states out of the 10 states of south Sudan, adding that the federal Ministry of Justice returned the six constitutions for revision.
He said that the Ministry of Justice has issued one conformity documents for Eastern Equatoria State.
The federal Minister of Justice said the remarks that South Sudan minister, Michael Makwai, has rejected were related to federal authorities’ competences dealing with: general elections, arrangements and procedures to exercise the right of self-determination, the General Auditor Act.
He also underlined that Abyei area could not be included in any regional state because it has a particular status under the CPA, because it depends directly to the presidency of the republic.
Ali added that some constitutions of southern Sudan states treated things which are already provided by the national constitution such as the states capitals’ and their geographical borders.
(ST)