Closing Remarks of H.E. General Salva Kiir Mayardit – President of the Government of South Sudan at the 8th Governors’ Forum

CLOSING REMARKS OF H.E. GENERAL SALVA KIIR MAYARDIT

President of the Government of South Sudan at the 8th Governors’ Forum

Theme: Laying Foundation for a Strong, Vibrant and Peaceful Post-Referendum Southern Sudan

Juba – October 30, 2010

• H.E Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Dr Riek Machar Teny
• The Rt. Honorable Deputy Speaker, Daniel Awet Akot
• Deputy Speakers of the National Legislature
• Leaders of Political Parties
• Presidential Advisors
• Ministers at all levels of Government
• State Governors
• Distinguished Guests
• Ladies and Gentlemen

I am delighted to hear that during the last three days of this 8th Governors Forum, you were able to engage in frank and constructive deliberations. I could not attend the opening in person, because I was in Khartoum to attend the Presidency meeting which discussed various issues of national importance.
Although I was not here in person, I was able to follow your deliberations with keen interest. I am pleased to learn that the presentations made by our State Governors were very wonderful. I congratulate all the Governors for the achievements of their respective states during the short period they spent in Office.

The key emerging issues you have identified in this Forum, and the recommendations and resolutions adopted are all very important. The key issues raised by this Forum pertaining to security and referendum are very important and need to be addressed urgently.

• Ladies and Gentlemen

The Governors’ forum is a reflection of our continuous commitment to promote constructive dialogue on all issues pertaining to decentralization and good governance. It enables the different levels of government and institutions to jointly address issues of common interest and build harmonious intergovernmental relations.

Decentralization is a very complex process that no country in the world can ever claim to have accomplished 100%. There will always be overlaps in competencies by the different government levels. There will always be complaints against the higher level of government regarding centralization of powers. There will be complaints against the lower level of government for lack of capacity. And there will be complaints regarding equitable sharing of revenue and other resources. The list can go on and on.

What this Forum therefore intends to achieve, is to provide an appropriate venue for expressing such views and complaints, and to find amicable and workable solutions to address them.

I think we in this Forum, can all agree that since the creation of the Governors’ Forum in 2006, a lot has been achieved in the areas of the decentralization of powers, sharing of resources and effective coordination between different levels of government and institutions. This should not however make us become complacent in addressing the enormous challenges that remain ahead of us.

• Ladies and Gentlemen

As a result of the successive recommendations and resolutions adopted by this Governors’ Forum, the Government of Southern Sudan and the State governments have been able to make progress in all areas of governance. We have made significant progress in public sector reforms including building the capacity of our human resource and government institutions. We have improved the standards of our roads and communications. We have taken measures to improve security for our people. We have increased Block and Conditional transfers from GOSS to the States. We have increased the delivery of education and health services. And efforts have been exerted towards improving agricultural production to ensure food security.

These are great achievements that deserve our acknowledgment and appreciation. However, all these would have not been possible without our collective hard-work and commitment.

• Ladies and Gentlemen

Recently, I attended the meeting of the Presidency in Khartoum where we discussed various outstanding issues including the 2011 Southern Sudan referendum and Abyei. The Presidency directed the harmonization of press releases pertaining to the referendum, because Southerners are reportedly running away from the North and Northerners running away from the South. It is important that both the National and Southern Sudan Governments re-assure both communities that they will be provided full protection during and after the referendum. Our position in the Government of Southern Sudan has been clearly stated in several occasions that Northerners living in Southern Sudan will be fully protected. We continue to call on the National Government to do the same.

The Presidency also resolved to demarcate the agreed area of 450 km of the north-south border, which is located in the north-eastern part of Southern Sudan. The Presidency has not reached agreement on Abyei issue, and the SPLM and NCP are expected to continue with further discussions on the outstanding issues. The two parties are also continuing their negotiations on post-referendum arrangments.

• Ladies and Gentlemen

Although we are now left with only 70 days for the conduct of the referendum, the Presidency was not able to approve the budget of the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission. The budget has been referred to a committee for final preparations.

Given our unwavering position in the Government of Southern Sudan that the referendum must be conducted on 9th January, 2011, it is our collective responsibility to do everything possible to facilitate the timely conduct of the referendum.

We must therefore mobilize any resources neccessary to support the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission through the Southern Sudan Referendum Bureau to enable it conduct the referendum on 9th January, 2011.

In this regard, the concerned Ministries and institutions in the Government of Southern Sudan and States must take this directive very seriously. I believe that our people are prepared to for-go even one month salary for the sake of holding the referendum in time, should funding become the main excuse for those who want the referendum to be delayed or cancelled.

• Ladies and Gentlemen

As you depart from this Forum, I would like you to immediately embark on mobilizing our people in the states to register. It is also vital for them to understand the implications of registering and not turning up to vote. We must as a matter of urgency address any security concerns in order to create a conducive environment for the conduct of a free, fair and transparent referendum. In order to ensure security, our police must have the necessary support and facilitation to cover all areas of the State. This is not only the responsibility of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but of the states as well. The two levels of government need to work collaboratively throughout the referendum period.

The referendum taskforce and MPs should step-up their activities to sensitize our people on the two options of unity and secession. The two sides must be permitted and facilitated to present their views equally.

• Ladies and Gentlemen

We must continue to cement unity among the people of Southern Sudan, and guard against attempts by those who plan day and night to divide us.

You may be aware that certain media houses in Khartoum are deliberately spreading cheap propaganda alleging divisions within the Government of Southern Sudan and the SPLM.

They have even gone further by manufacturing differences between me and my Vice President by attributing certain comments on me against Dr Riek Machar and even our great hero Dr John Garang.

I simply see all these as a desperate attempt by a group of people who have run out of ideas and strategies to undermine the timely conduct of the referendum.

No amount of propaganda can break the will of the people of Southern Sudan to remain united to confront the challenges associated with the referendum and beyond. We will not permit anyone to divide the leadership of the Government and people of Southern Sudan.

The people of Southern Sudan are committed to determine their political destiny
in a free, fair and transparent referendum on 9th January, 2011. They are free to choose whether to remain in a united Sudan, or form a new state. They are therefore the only judges on this, and no amount of media stories or press statements can alter this fact.

I therefore call upon the people of the Sudan and all political forces in the country to respect and abide-by the will and choice of the people of Southern Sudan in 2011.

• Ladies and Gentlemen

As regards to the resolutions you have adopted in this 8th Governors’ Forum, I expect all the concerned institutions to implement them in letter and spirit.

Although it may not be possible to implement some of them due to financial constraints, all efforts must be exerted to implement those that are practically feasible.

In conclusion, I would like to commend the Vice President Dr Riek Machar Teny, and all the organizers of this 8th Governors’ Forum for ensuring its successful conclusion.

I also wish to extend my appreciation to the Governors, Ministers, Legislatures, Development Partners and all invited guests for their effective participation and contribution. I thank UNDP for its continuous support to the Governors’ Forum.

I wish all Governors’ and their Ministers a safe return to their respective states.
With these remarks, I declare this 8th Governors’ Forum Closed.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL