South Sudan parliament briefed on 2011 Taskforce

By James Gatdet Dak

July 20, 2010 (JUBA) – The regional parliament in the semi-autonomous Southern Sudan has acquainted itself with the work of the Southern Sudan 2011 Taskforce during a presentation on Tuesday.

The Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Daniel Awet Akot, on Monday raised an urgent motion requesting the Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, to present to the August House a comprehensive statement detailing the work of the referendum Taskforce with the aim to enlighten the parliamentarians about the nature of the Taskforce.

On Tuesday, the Vice President presented to the Assembly the report on the composition of the Taskforce, its mandate as well as the status of its work progress.

The Southern Sudan 2011 Taskforce was established on 10th February this year by a presidential order of the President of the Government of Southern Sudan, General Salva Kiir Mayardit, under the chairmanship of the Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, with membership of about 15 ministers in the government. It will also establish State Referendum Coordination Committees in each of the ten Southern Sudan states. The Taskforce, based in Juba, operates in parallel but in coordination with the technical established Southern Sudan Referendum Commission headquartered in Khartoum also with its branch office in Juba.

According to the Presidential Order, the Taskforce will assist the Government of Southern Sudan with preparations for and management of the referendum and post-referendum period. “It will provide strategic thinking to assist the Government of Southern Sudan in addressing the referendum and post-referendum challenges and in strengthening the capacities of relevant institutions in Southern Sudan to face these challenges,” the Order states.

Machar enlightened the members of parliament on the work of the various sub-committees under the Taskforce. These included sub-committee number one which deals with the conduct of the referendum itself. It is chaired by the minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development, John Luk Jok. It northern-based branch chaired by Wek Mamer, a state minister in the Government of National Unity, to deal with the Southern Sudanese in the North.

Sub-committee number two on post-referendum issues is chaired by the SPLM Secretary General and minister of Peace and CPA Implementation, Pagan Amum Okiech, while the third sub-committee deals with post-2011 governance in Southern Sudan and is chaired by the minister of Cabinet Affairs, Kosti Manibe.

Machar who stressed the importance of transparency in the process further explained that the sub-committee number one which deals with the most critical issue, the conduct of the referendum in the next five months, will be responsible for security, civic education and voter mobilization in Southern Sudan, among others. On the other hand, the post-referendum arrangement sub-committee will try to tackle issues like oil, its production, transport and marketing, currency, international treaties, usage of Nile waters, assets and debts, status of southerners in the Sudan Armed Forces and vice versa, among others. Given the nature of the post-referendum issues which were not addressed in the 2005 peace deal, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), a new mediator in the person of the former South African President, Thabo Mbeki and two of his colleagues from the AU Panel, will mediate between the SPLM and the NCP in order to try to reach an agreement on such issues.

POST-2011 GOVERNANCE IN SOUTHERN SUDAN IN CASE OF SECESSION

While a unity scenario between North and South would maintain almost the status quo under the current CPA arrangements, the Vice President further explained that incase of secession the Taskforce has worked on a number of important issues to be tackled. On international relations and statehood, the South would prepare for accession to treaties and membership of international organizations (cataloguing treaties and memberships; meetings with relevant neighbors and international organizations regarding the same). Name of the future Southern Sudan, its flag and national anthem, as well as strategy to obtain recognition of is statehood by the international community featured in the report.

On citizenship and related issues, the presentation revealed that the Taskforce’s committee would look into the region’s law on citizenship, the status of foreign nationals in the South, (including their right to hold property) and civil service. Protection of human rights and fundamental freedom of minorities in a future Southern Sudan and creation of a strong sense of national identity and unity as well as transboundary agreements among states featured.

When it came to governance structures and capacity, the Taskforce envisioned a future constitutional and political framework for the South (central government, decentralization, including possibly Abyei). Future revenue-sharing arrangements between GoSS and the states; for instance how to deal with oil producing states and allocation of tax responsibilities as well as functional review to determine any revisions required for future government institutions, among others, needed to be tackled.

On the rule of law, security and intelligence, the report presented by the Vice President outlined a number of issues which included professionalization of the SPLA and GoSS law enforcement, plan for border security; associated training, security laws, status of northerners in the SPLA and preparing a security and intelligence strategy for the South as a new state, among others.

The need to restructure and reform the Southern Sudan Public Service (including Public Service Law), the issue of payroll, pensions and basic skills development were also highlighted.

On economy and finance for budgets 2011 and beyond, there was need for a financial strategy for the South as well as economic growth strategy including debt management. The issue of currency, banking and exchange rate control also featured.

Preparing an Oil Sector Strategy for the South including options to secure greater capacity and independent contracts and initiatives were also presented under the section of natural resources management and environment. These also include future natural resource management and environmental protection policies for the South including draft southern environmental laws and regulations. Water audit and water resource management strategy as well as bilateral discussions with Egypt and others regarding Nile Basin also featured. Adoption or reform of land laws and Southern Sudan Land Commission work as well as strengthened ability of ministries to plan, oversee and monitor service delivery are among the issues to be tackled in post-2011 Southern Sudan.

(ST)