North, South Sudan border of 1956 is incorrect – expert

By James Gatdet Dak

September 18, 2007 (JUBA) – An international expert said that the current border between northern and southern Sudan is not correct because it gives some parts from the south to the north.

A member of the Abyei Boundary Commission, Douglas H. Johnson, indicated that the present perceived North-South boundary of 1956 is not correct. The original boundary lines between North and South Sudan moved up to the North while the current boundaries, which were redefined by the Northern governments after independence in 1956 have moved Southwards significantly.

The British expert made these statements in a public lecture on the North-South boundary was organized on Saturday, 15th September 2007, by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs in the Government of Southern Sudan in collaboration with the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly in Juba.

Douglas Johnson, who is a great scholar, has lived and worked in the Sudan for more than forty (40) years. He published several books about the Sudan likes: Sudan (British Documents on the End of Empire) in 1998, the Root Causes of Sudans Civil Wars in 2003, and History and prophecy among the Nuer of the southern Sudan in 1980.

Douglas was requested by the Presidency of the Government of Southern Sudan to do some research on the North-South boundaries and to present it to the Government. He did very extensive research dating back to maps and descriptions of boundaries of the old provinces during the European colonial period, particularly the British era in the Sudan.

The public lecture was attended by Ministers and Advisors of the Government of Southern Sudan, members of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly, representatives of various political parties, SPLA senior military officers, senior civil servants, and representatives of international organizations in Juba.

Engineer Riek Dogol, an expert and member of the North-South Boundary Commission, also made a presentation on their work in the Commission formed by the Presidency of the Government of National Unity.

He stated that their work is in phase II, and that is collection of relevant information.

Engineer Riek informed the participants that the team has collected more than one hundred different maps from around the world which relate to the North-South boundary line since colonial period. He said the team is also conducting interviews with local elders and chiefs around the border line to get some more information in this regard.

He said the team is given a period up to February 2008 to complete its work of demarcation of the boundary. He blamed the delay of the work on the delay of release of funds by the Government of National Unity in order to carry out the necessary and important technical activities.

Further Riek explained that upon the completion of the Commission’s work, the team will present their findings to the Presidency of the Government of National Unity for approval as stipulated in the CPA.

The National Congress Party rejects the conclusions of Abyei Boundary Commission on the findings of Abyei boundaries since 2005 even before the death of the late First Vice President despite the CPA stipulation that the decision of the international experts shall be final and binding.

The North-South boundary has great bearing on the implementation of most protocols in the CPA. Without a demarcated North-South boundary, the redeployment of Sudan Armed Forces across the border to the North will not be correct and successful. The share of oil revenue in the South will not be correct also because the North claims that some oil wells fall on the Northern side of the boundary and therefore not for share as stipulated in the CPA. Establishment of political constituencies along the border line will fail, which will then affect the coming general elections.

The 2011 referendum itself will be delayed because the people of Southern Sudan shall not vote on self-determination without knowing the boundaries of their entity or would-be independent nation.

(ST)