Avoid over dependence on oil-revenue, Machar tells governors

By Julius N. Uma

October 27, 2010 (JUBA) – South Sudan should embark on a broad-based economic strategy of diversifying into other sectors of the economy to avoid over dependence on oil revenues, Riek Machar Teny, the Government of Southern Sudan’s (GoSS) vice president told state governors Tuesday.

Machar made the remarks at the official opening the 8th Governors’ Forum, being held at the south’s parliament the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly (SSLA).

The annual event brings together all governors from the 10 southern states to discuss and find solution to issues affecting their states and the people they represent.

there was a need, Machar said, to focus on food security through improvement in agricultural production, describing it as the engine for attaining real sustainable development.

“We will never achieve or realize a vibrant economy unless our political and socio-economic problems are properly addressed. This is only possible through a broad based economic approach,” Machar said as he officially opened this year’s forum.

There are less than 10 weeks to go until the south votes to decide whether to split from the north and form a new country.

Describing it as probably the last forum to be held prior to the January referendum, Machar lauded the organizers and sponsors of the event, saying it was held at a critical moment.

The assembly was packed to capacity and security remained tight, as government officials, legislators, diplomats and UN agencies jammed into the SSLA to attend the opening day of the five-day event.

As expected, a moment of silence was observed in memory of the late John Garang de Mabior, who led the former southern rebels the SPLM in a 22 year civil war against successive Khartoum governments.

Garang died in 2005 less than a month after becoming the 1st Vice President of Sudan and the President of the newly autonomous region of southern Sudan as part of a peace deal.

The power and wealth sharing agreement established a timetable for the south to vote on secession and for the oil-rich region of Abyei to opt to join what is widely expected to be an independent south sudan or remain in the north.

Machar repeated SPLM calls for both the Abyei and south Sudan referenda to begin on 9 January as scheduled.

He assured those in attendance that the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), who have governed south Sudan since 2005 remain committed a free, fair and transparent referendum.

“The Government of Southern Sudan is opposed to any attempt aimed at delaying the conduct of both the Abyei and Southern Sudan referendum,” he said to applause from legislators.

Machar said that the southern government has already allocated SDG 100 million (just over $42 million) to assist the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC) in preparations for the poll.

The Vice President urged the various state governors to put aside differences that may have resulted from April’s general elections, saying the 8th forum should be an avenue for devising constructive mechanisms capable of moving the country forward.

Earlier on, Clement Wani Konga, the Central Equatoria state Governor decried what he said were irregularities existing between his state administration and the GoSS leadership, especially in the management of state-generated revenues.

“To-date, we still experience challenges in how state generated revenues can be managed from within. If these issues are not immediately addressed, achieving good governance and democracy may be a difficult in Southern Sudan,” the governor said.

This year’s forum, which is based on the theme, “Laying the foundation for a strong, vibrant and peaceful post-referendum” is being sponsored by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

(ST)