UK earmarks $100 million dollars for Southern Sudan referendum

By James Gatdet Dak

June 21, 2010 (JUBA) – The United Kingdom has earmarked $100 million US dollars for the conduct of the upcoming referendum in Southern Sudan. The money will be availed through the British International Foreign Development organization that will be based in Juba.

This was revealed in a meeting between the Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, and the visiting delegation from the United Kingdom led by the British Ambassador to Sudan, Nicholas Kay.

Last week the US allocated sixty million dollars to assist in the process of the upcoming referendum in Southern Sudan.

The meeting discussed the general role the British government can play in supporting the process of the referendum. It will also provide expertise and assist in the civic education among the population in Southern Sudan prior to the conduct of the referendum.

Ambassador Kay stressed the importance of making the referendum a success, adding that it was to avoid repeating mistakes committed during the recent elections.

Vice President Machar had earlier stressed the importance of revealing specific assistance budgets by international community partners so that the government prepares accordingly.

He briefed the UK top diplomat in the country on the formation by the Government of Southern Sudan an oversight Referendum Task Force under his chairmanship to assist the would-be formed technical Southern Sudan Referendum Commission in preparing the ground in Southern Sudan for the conduct of the referendum.

He further explained that the Task Force will be composed of three main sub-committees. These will include the Committee on the conduct of the referendum to sensitize the people of Southern Sudan and mobilize them to vote, among others.

The second sub-committee will focus on the negotiations on the post-referendum issues such as oil, waters, assets, liabilities, security, international agreements, citizenship, etc.

The third sub-committee, he further explained, will focus on preparing the Government of Southern Sudan for the post-2011 governance in Southern Sudan in case of secession.

Dr. Machar further explained that this will include addressing the issues of governance, particularly on decentralization including the review of the Southern Sudan interim constitution in case of the South becoming an independent country.

He earlier said if the vote results to unity of the Sudan, structuring of the Sudanese state on secular basis to reflect on its diversity, including eradication of the Islamic Sharia law, would also be discussed by his referendum Task Force.

(ST)