Final Communiqué of Southern Sudan Parties Conference on Referendum

On the kind invitation of the President of the Government of South Sudan, H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, The All-Southern Sudanese Political Parties Conference (ASSPPC) was held at Nyakuron Cultural Centre, Juba, in the period 13th – 15th October 2010. The conference was under the theme: “Southern Sudanese united for a free, fair, transparent and peaceful referendum”.

The opening session was addressed by H. E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan and President of the Government of Southern Sudan; Ustaz Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, Vice President of the Republic; President Daniel T. arap Moi, Former President of the Republic of Kenya and H. E. Bona Malwal, Advisor to the President of the Republic.

The Conference was then addressed by the chairpersons and representatives of the parties present. The parties wish to wholeheartedly thank the President of the Government of Southern Sudan for his initiative to convene the conference, so that South Sudanese political parties come together to build a consensus on issues related to the upcoming referendum on Self-determination in South Sudan. The parties also wish to affirm their commitment to the unity in diversity of the people of South Sudan, and amongst themselves.
The discussion was frank and resolved the following:

1. Peace and Reconciliation

1) The conference commits itself to adhere to the principles of democracy and respect of multiparty system;

2) the parties call on the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) and its ruling party – The Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM), to ensure that political parties exercise the freedom of association and expression all over Southern Sudan;

3) the Government-owned mass media should give equitable chances to all the political parties to reflect their views;

4) all efforts must be exerted to redress the political and military consequences of the contested elections results as these consequences can certainly affect the referendum process;

5) the Conference commends the amnesty granted recently by the President of GoSS to the groups fighting the Government of Southern Sudan and appeals to those affected to respond positively to this national call and initiate dialogue with the GoSS.

2. Adequate Preparation for the Referendum

(a) The South should be united as parties and people, to support the conduct of the referendum and completion of the CPA interim period on time;

(b) in doing so, we must be mindful of the fact that in this crucial and historic decision of our people, the result of the referendum must not be a subject of dispute. A free, fair and transparent referendum, is a sine qua non for the recognition of the result. Therefore, more than anybody else, the South must be keen to ensure that the requirements of a conducive environment for the conduct of a free, fair, transparent and peaceful referendum provided in the Southern Sudan Referendum Act 2009, are met. In particular, all parties, civil society organizations and individuals, must be free to propagate their preferred options in the referendum;

(c) in campaigning for the referendum, we must be orderly and desist from provocative actions or utterances.

3. Issues Raised by the Decision of the South in the Referendum

(a) In the event that the decision of the South in the referendum be the unity of Sudan, the South should be prepared to play an effective role in the constitutional review process that will follow the referendum, in order to safeguard the gains of the South in the new dispensation in the country;

(b) In the event that separation is the winning option in the referendum, this Conference shall be reconvened as a National Constitutional Conference within one month from the announcement of the result of the referendum to:

1) Carry out a constitutional review on the Interim Constitution of Southern Sudan 2005;

2) draft a permanent constitution for the new independent and sovereign state of South Sudan;

3) discuss and agree on an interim broad-based national government, under the current President of the Government of Southern Sudan, H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, to assume office as of 10 July 2011. This government will be charged, inter alia, with the duty to carry out the general elections for the Constituent Assembly that will pass the permanent constitution;

4) decide on the length of the interim period, necessary to carry out the general elections for the Constituent Assembly.

4. Formation of Leadership Forum

(a) A South Sudan Political Parties Leaders Forum (SSPPLF) shall be formed with the membership of the chairpersons or Presidents of all South Sudan political parties, to be chaired by the President of GoSS and tasked with the follow-up of the implementation of these resolutions. The Forum should meet at least twice during the remaining period to the referendum;

(b) the Forum should be supported by a secretariat of an appropriate size, to be formed by the Forum.

Juba, on October 18, 2010