AU Security Council assures to respect people’s choice in South Sudan referendum
By James Gatdet Dak
November 26, 2009 (JUBA) – The African Union’s Peace and Security Council has pledged to respect the choice of the people of Southern Sudan in the outcome of the referendum on secession scheduled to take place in January 2011.
The Council’s delegation comprising 15 ambassadors of the African Union arrived in Juba on Wednesday to assess the security situation in Southern Sudan in particular and implementation of the 2005 North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in general.
They met with the Government of Southern Sudan’s cabinet in a meeting chaired by the Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
The Peace and Security Council delegation was headed by the organization’s ambassador for Rwanda, Professor Joseph Nsengimana.
The delegation was briefed by the cabinet about the current general situation in the country, urging it to be vigilant as the country enters into major political events.
The meeting mostly dwelled on the issues of elections, referendum for Southern Sudan and Abyei and popular consultations for both Southern Blue Nile and Southern Kordufan.
The delegation assured the government of the African Union’s position to respect the choice of the people of Southern Sudan in the referendum.
The meeting also stressed the need to bring peace to Darfur and participate in the democratic transformation in the country.
The people of Southern Sudan will choose between confirming the current unity of Sudan and creating an independent country in January 2011.
(ST)