Belgium Ambassador pays visit to South Sudan office in Egypt

By Roba Gibia

July 6, 2009 (CAIRO) — The Belgium Ambassador to Egypt and Sudan today paid a visit to Southern Sudan government mission in Cairo where he discussed the implementation of 2005 peace agreement and security situation with the head of the mission.

Ambassador Daniel Leroy, who is based in Cairo, was briefed by the Principal GoSS Liaison Officer, Parmena Makuet on Monday about the CPA implementation, Abyei Arbitration Tribunal which its award is expected end of this month.

Makuet went on briefing Belgium Ambassador on border demarcation, coming general elections in April 2010 as well as 2011 referendum which is seen crucial, since people of south have to choose between succession and unity.

The Belgium Ambassador, who visited both Khartoum and Juba several times, has got much concern about tribal conflicts in south. The security problems in southern Sudan are perceived by many western diplomats as expressing the rejection of Juba authority or GOSS incapacity to deploy troops in the vast semi-autonomous region.

Makuet stressed that tribal conflicts are direct result of the dissolution of local governments by the former President Gaafar Nimeiri. The traditional chiefs at the time of the Native Administration were responsible in keeping the law and order at the midst of their folks.

The head of GOSS office further said during the years of war, the central government flamed the tribal conflicts in a way to fight the former rebels and serve their own political agenda.

The two diplomats also discussed the ongoing preparations for the first free general election in the country since more than twenty years.

Makuet said GOSS rejects the census results and asks to allocate constituencies based on the results of the fourth census. He added that census operations were not inclusive and never counted the entire population of the south.

(ST)