US special envoy on a new tour of Sudan
September 8, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The US special envoy to Sudan Scott Gration will begin tomorrow a five-day visit that will take him to Juba, Boma, Darfur and Khartoum, the US State Department said today.
The SPLM wants the geographical constituencies to be based on the 1956 census percentages alleging that the 2008 census results were “rigged” understating the population of the South and overstating that of Darfur.
Both sides are also deadlocked on the 2011 referendum process over the voters’ population, the percentage of votes required in the referendum to declare it favoring independence and the share of Sudan’s debts the South would carry with it if it secedes.
The US State Department said that Gration will fly to Borna to “observe conservation efforts and see an example of the untapped eco-tourism and development potential in the South”.
The US special envoy will also tour Darfur IDP camps after skipping it his last visit for unknown reasons.
The US State department said that while in Darfur Gration “assess the humanitarian situation, meet with camp administrators and IDP’s, and engage with women leaders in the camps about gender-based violence and programs to address this dire problem”.
He will travel to El-Fasher and meet with African Union – United Nations mission in Darfur (UNAMID) newly appointed force commander General Patrick Nyambumba.
He will also meet with civil society leaders in North Darfur village of Ain Siro.
In Khartoum, he will meet with members of the African Union Panel on Darfur (AUPD) formed by the AU last February in the wake of the imminent issuance of an arrest warrant by the issuance of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.
The panel is gathering testimonies and opinion from Darfur parties and regional players on the ways that could best help in bringing lasting peace and security in Darfur while balancing it with accountability and justice.
(ST)
Dinka Boy
US special envoy on a new tour of Sudan
Good luck,
Boma is the beautuful are you will like.
The Town was captured by Agerap battalion.
Thanks To Agerap and SPLA/M heros that loss their live in our beautiful towns.
Thanks to Nyacengak, the general for Agerap battallion.
SPLA Oyeee, SPLM Oyeee.
suffeeyo
US special envoy on a new tour of Sudan
Scott Gration, you are doing very good job, i tick all your trip to sudan, with your pervious experience as an army guy you known what to do ,very good man?
Angelo Achuil
US special envoy on a new tour of Sudan
I know American people, they “defend freedom (democracy), justice and peace for all.” Some Southerners are concerned that Khartoum will manipulate America to be against Juba (South), this will not happens. If the USA turns her back to South’s interest, it might be becoz of some of her own political or economical interests, not becoz of ‘manipulation.’ US knows Khartoum regime well (Read Eric Reeves’ article at gurtong.net – Khartoum’s Strategic Assault…). A friend asked me last week, “What if Khartoum rejects referendum for the South, after all, they have more weapons than before and they don’t care?” I told him, that CPA’s goal (which Khartoum signed) was the referendum and if it is denied again, war is imminent, intimidation from Khartoum will not cut it, and I hope they understand that. I continued saying that after all, there is nothing so worse that could happens that Khartoum didn’t do before. 2.5 millions confirmed dead by 2005 in the South and a blown genocide in Darfur (West), what worse can Khartoum do? I hope both of us had learnt our lessons by now that referendum (Separation) must ring.
Bottom line of it all, Southerners need not fear about what position USA will take in regard to referendum, if USA do not help us, our help will come from somewhere else, and USA will live to regret it. Dear Southerners, God is alive, take heart!