Gadhafi’s support to South Sudan seen as interference in internal affairs: official
July 1, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s ruling party slammed the support of the Libyan leader to the independence of southern Sudan describing it as interference in Sudanese internal affairs.
In accordance with the peace deal signed in January 2005, the southern Sudan will decide during a referendum to be held in 2011 on his future within the current Sudan and to establish an independent state.
Rabi Abdel Atti, one of the Sudanese government negotiators of the Comprehensive Peace Deal (CPA) said today that Gadhafi pledge to support southern Sudan independence is an “interference in Sudanese internal affairs.”
He further added this Libyan move could affect the future of bilateral relations between the two countries but also the vote of southern Sudanese for the independence.
During Naivasha peace talks, the referendum on self determination was seen as a tool to reaffirm the adhesion of southern Sudan to the country. However, Salva Kiir who succeeded to the late John Garang always says it is to southerners to decide on their future.
Pagan Amum, the Secretary General of southern Sudan ruling party, the Sudan people’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) minimized today in Khartoum the impact of Gadhafi statements.
He further reiterated his rejection to statements made by the speaker of the federal parliament saying that his party, the National Congress, would not facilitate southern Sudan secession through a referendum law that still under discussion between the two partners of 2005 peace deal.
Observers fear that increasing statements by SPLM leaders about the 2011 referendum could push the NCP to support southern Sudanese opposition parties and at the same time would weaken the popularity of the SPLM, in the rest of the country.
(ST)