Arman says SPLM’s northern sector to part ways with the south after secession

December 16, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The leader of the SPLM’s northern sector, Yasir Arman, has broken a long-standing silence over future of the relationship between the northern sector and the SPLM in south Sudan after the latter’s widely expected secession in January 2011.

Arman announced in an interview published on Thursday by the independent daily newspaper Al-Sahafah that the northern sector would terminate its engagement with the SPLM in the south and move to form a mass opposition movement in the north.

According to Arman, the disengagement would be done through the SPLM’s third general-congress which is scheduled to be held after the referendum.

The referendum on the full independence of south Sudan is due to take place in January 2011. The vote was promised under a 2005 peace deal signed between the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) in north Sudan and the SPLM of the south, ending decades of north-south civil war.

Southern Sudanese, aggrieved by years of civil war and perceived exploitation by successive northern governments, are widely expected to vote for independence.

Arman, who also serves as deputy secretary-general of the SPLM, further revealed that the northern sector would form a popular movement preceded by a general assembly to select its name title and elect its leadership according to the basis and visions of the New Sudan Project.

Although Arman confirmed that the SPLM was still one entity under a single manifesto and constitution, he later added that in the event of secession, the SPLM would hold its third general-congress to disengage the clash with the northern sector.

“In the north” said Arman “we will establish a mass movement and we will not ask permission from anyone.”

(ST)