South Sudan’s leadership invites political parties to participate in post-referendum taskforce

January 31, 2011 (JUBA) – The leadership of the emerging independent state of South Sudan has called on all the political parties in the semi-autonomous region to join the government’s taskforce to find solutions to the post-referendum issues in the country.

In February 2010, the President of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS), Salva Kiir Mayardit, through a presidential decree established a body known as the Southern Sudan 2011 Taskforce, chaired by his deputy Riek Machar.

The taskforce was mandated to provide guidance to the government on the conduct of the self-determination referendum in order to help the GoSS meet its obligations such as provision of security during the referendum process and assisting the referendum commission financially and logistically in order to carry out the exercise successfully.

The taskforce is also mandated to guide the government on post-referendum issues between the north and south as well as preparing the government in the south for governance after independence.

Preliminary results officially announced in the region’s capital, Juba, on Sunday by the chairperson of the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission, Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil and his deputy Chan Reec Madut, indicate that 99 percent of southern Sudanese have voted for secession.

The turnout of those who registered and cast their votes also reached 99%, according to the official announcement. The final result will announced and confirmed in the national capital, Khartoum, either on February 14, if there are appeals against the result, or earlier on February 7, if there no appeals.

Sudan’s Second Vice President Ali Osman Taha, who negotiated the agreement with former southern rebels, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), said Monday that Sudan’s ruling party, the National Congress Party (NCP), would recognize the result.

The official declaration of statehood will occur on July 9, at end of interim period timetabled in the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

However, there remain many post-referendum issues that need to be resolved between the two parties. These include the future of the south’s oil (currently shared 50-50 with the north), national assets, debts, currency, water, citizenship, international agreements and treaties.

Before independence the south will also have to review its current interim constitution. Issues of governance and inclusiveness are also among the main challenges the southern government says it wants to tackle in order to stabilize the political environment, strengthen institutions to reduce corruption and work to achieve development.

Chairing a meeting with members of the Oversight Committee of the Southern Sudan 2011 Taskforce which includes GoSS ministers and international experts, Vice President Machar, announced that all South Sudan’s political parties were invited to join the government’s taskforce in implementing one of the resolutions which the parties agreed to during the All-Political Parties Conference that took place in October 2010.

Machar explained that every political party will nominate one representative each to become a member of the taskforce and contribute to the discussions on post-referendum issues.

The conference “called for the participation of Southern Sudanese Political
Parties, civil society organizations and faith-based groups in the Referendum
Taskforce established by GOSS,” reads resolution #24.

“Therefore, in the light of the spirit of the All Southern Sudan Political
Parties’ Conference resolutions and as a part of preparing the Southern Sudan to
tackle the challenges of post-referendum period, the political parties, the
civil society organizations and the faith based groups, signatory to the
resolutions of the aforementioned conference, are invited to nominate a member
of their party or organization or group to participate in the Taskforce structures,” reads the letter the Vice President had sent out on 26th January
2011 to all heads of the political parties, civil society organizations and
faith-based groups.

He revealed that the emerging new state has about 59 objectives it wants to achieve in the coming period, adding that the situation requires the participation of all the political groups in the region.

The soon-to-be independent south is also making preparations to repatriate Southern Sudanese officials working in the north. Comments from NCP officials indicate that many southern Sudanese will not be able to keep their jobs after independence.

These include members of the National Assembly, Council of States, executive in the national government, executive in the Khartoum state government, members of national commissions, security agencies, diplomatic corps, teachers in public schools and universities, members of the judiciary and civil servants including those who were appointed to fill the 20 percent quota agreed in the CPA.

The repatriation plans also include South Sudanese who have skills such as technicians, carpenters, electricians, construction specialists, engineers, masons, builders, plumbers, among others who have years of experience of working in the more developed north.

Thousands of South Sudanese prisoners currently serving prison sentences across the 15 northern states are also expected to be released to the South and will be subjected to judicial reviews to evaluate the causes for incarceration.

The minister of information and official spokesperson of the government, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, told the press that the government would constitute a committee to make the necessary arrangements during the transition.

He said the current institutions in the north will continue to exist with South Sudanese members until July 9, when the two regions are scheduled to officially become two separate and sovereign independent states.

Some of these 59 strategic objectives identified in preparing GoSS for post-2011
period after secession include: name of the future Southern Sudan, flag and national anthem, coat-of-arms, etc; strategy to obtain recognition of its statehood by the international community; creating a strong sense of national identity and unity; development of foreign policy; relations with regional neighbors and entities; preparing for accession or succession of treaties and membership of international organizations; revision of the constitution and accompanying legislation to develop the transitional constitution; future constitution building and development of the permanent constitution; decentralization and political framework; Abyei framework; consolidation and restructuring of Southern Sudan public service; professionalization of SPLA and law enforcement; managing international borders; preparing a security and intelligence strategy for the South as a new state; financial strategy for the South on currency, banking and exchange rate control; economic growth strategy for the South; preparation of diplomacy strategy (regional and international); strategy for future aid architecture/aid management; preparing an oil sector strategy for the South; future revenue sharing arrangements between GoSS and states; strategy for engagement in Nile River Basin Initiative and building of related capacities; strengthened ability of ministries to plan, oversee and monitor service delivery; and strategic communications plan in managing public expectations regarding post 2011, among others.

(ST)