South Sudan govt discusses challenges to census process
By James Gatdet Dak
March 5, 2008 (JUBA) — The Council of Ministers of the Government of Southern Sudan on Wednesday in Juba, under the chairmanship of the First Vice President of the Sudan and President of the Government of Southern Sudan, General Salva Kiir Mayardit, discussed challenges facing the process of the upcoming 5th population census due to be conducted next month in the country as well as the way forward.
The Chairperson of the Southern Sudan Commission for Census, Statistics and Evaluation Center, Isaiah Chol, in his briefing to the Council of Ministers enumerated a number of technical and political challenges for a possible resolution by the Council. These include, among others, lack of sufficient funds for public mobilization and training of census enumerators, insecurity issues, and inadequate personnel to carry out the enumeration exercise as well as lack of mobility.
The Council further examined any possible negative impact the population census would have on some other provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) if carried out before resolving the North-South border demarcation, Abyei and Darfur issues and redeployment of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) from Southern Sudan territories near the border.
The Cabinet also noted with great concern the omission of ‘ethnicity and religion’ in the forms containing the questionnaire for the census. It also noted lack of some certain uniformity of the format between the English and Arabic versions of the forms.
The Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the Government of Southern Sudan, Gabriel Changson Chang, told the press that the inclusion of ethnicity and religion in the questionnaire is important because it would determine whether Sudan is of African or Arab and Islamic country.
Changson further explained that Khartoum has always claimed to the contrary that Arabs are the majority in the Sudan and that Islam is also the religion of majority in the country.
Honourable Ministers also inquired how the Southern Sudanese Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) currently living in the North would be counted in such a de facto conduct of population census; whether they would be counted to the southern or northern population of the country.
They also carefully analyzed how the results of this population census would relate or affect the upcoming general elections in 2009 and referendum in the South in 2011.
The Council is expected to come up with a resolution on these issues in its next meeting.
(ST)
Mr Famous Big_Logic_Boy
South Sudan govt discusses challenges to census process
Isaiah Chol and mr Kiir i think the postion of Southern Sudan Commission for Census and Goss is too heavy for you people,please refer such issues to sameone who can manage to ran the census and real ideology to ensure that our country has a bright future,snice last time you need time to get organised until now your still planning to transfer the census(need time).what is the matter with Sudan about relgion and language if Sudan was colonised by British,Mr kiir it’s hard to say as above infront of Arabs?????,its only because Sudan is acounted under Arabs power that is why its consider as Islamic country but through personal ambitious of bring real Sudan to its name its deep to its background of African Nation,should you keep ignoring such issues for reality we are the losers if we adpot unwanted beleifs in Sudan.
promises and ambition can bring reality but dont keep ignoring the major issues of the country Goss,be postive and liable for your own nation,for those black chameleones group of Riek Macher who are intending to be Arabs such as Nuba,Durfurina and same others will have their case to be judge when we come to open eyes.Bloody black skins are acting aganist other blacks for sure**.Durfur peace and unity comes if south and north are in real CPA but Abeyi lack logically leader who can solve the case in a week.
Samson Liberty
South Sudan govt discusses challenges to census process
The Sudan’s 5th Population and Housing census 2008,will definitely face problems in April,like roads,rains,related conflicts,limited information to various communities,irregular returns not specified,unrevealed armed groups operating within South Sudan,etc.However the omission of ethnicity and Religion in the enumeration questionaire may pause doubts in the minds of many,because the decentralized system of planning for civil administrative settings will in the future be very difficult to interpret as Sudan still rests on fundemental rights of communities/tribal and religious sects.
Deng Aruei Yak
South Sudan govt discusses challenges to census process
dear president Kiir and Hon Chol, they census is delaying because of poor management, poor administration and so on . if chol is not capable,why not he resigned give chance to other person who will manage that work instead of delay the census.
if Arab are again the cenus then , what do we want from them and we sign comprehensive peace agreetment and our governmet is operating like government of national unity . please save time for census to take ugency.