USSP says not member in new southern Sudan alliance

July 7, 2008 (JUBA) — The United South Sudan Party (USSP) denied taking part in a political alliance established between opposition parties in Southern Sudan last week.

Eight south Sudanese parties established on June 30 the Alliance of South Sudan Political Parties abbreviated as ASSPP. The name of the United South Sudan Party (USSP) was published as member of the gathering.

But Clement Mbugoniwia, the chairman of the party, informed Sudan Tribune by email that the USSP had sent a delegation to attend the two-day meeting in Juba in order to dialogue with the other political formation on issues of common concern.

We “only to listen to the views of other parties in South Sudan and to present USSP’s views and stance on important national issues such as Peace, Democracy, Unity among South Sudanese people and the 2011 Referendum, but NOT to join in an alliance;” Mbugoniwia, said.

He also underlined that the USSP delegation did not have the mandate to sign or commit USSP to any alliance. “Any agreement that the USSP delegation may have been lured into is totally null and void.”

To join in any alliance with other parties, whose aims and objectives and strategies are different from USSP’s, would be contrary to the USSP Constitution and vision.

In its final communiqué the ASSPP members said totally committed to protection of national interest of the people of south Sudan as per January 1st 1956 border, urgent convening of the south-south dialogue in order to put the house of south Sudan in order ad build political consensus amongst people of south Sudan to ensure smooth road map to scheduled election of 2009 and to prepare the people of south Sudan for referendum in 2011.

They also said of full support of SPLM calls on President Salva Kiir Mayardit to convene the south –south dialogue as soon as possible.

(ST)