Sudan says no dual-citizenship for southerners
July 17, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s governing National Congress Party (NCP) has reaffirmed refusal to granting dual-citizenship to Southern Sudanese, in contrast with pledges by South Sudan to grant citizenship to northern Sudanese.
South Sudan president Salva Kiir announced on 10 July that his country is prepared to grant citizenship to northerners in the south, expressing hope that the northern government would do likewise.
However, northern officials maintained that southerners in the north would not be allowed to become citizens. Khartoum already terminated the employment of southern Sudanese in the government and the military.
This month the Sudanese cabinet approved changes to the immigration law which would automatically strip all Southerners of their citizenship though it is not clear how this would be practically implemented.
Explaining the government’s refusal to grant dual citizenship to southerners, NCP’s spokesman Ibrashim Gandur, cited the high percentage of south Sudanese’s vote in favor of secession as well as what he termed as the SPLM’s quest to monopolize the south’s resources while leaving its citizens to stay in the north.
According to Gandur, if southerners are given citizenship, seven million of them would remain in the north while the SPLM acquires the South’s resources with a population as few as 2m.
Many southerners fled to the north during the more than two-decade of north-south civil wars which raged mainly in the south and devastated the region. The war ended with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005.
The NCP official further said that the issue of dual-citizenship would be sorted out as soon as borders between the two countries are established and the nature of bilateral relationship are known.
(ST)
George Bol
Sudan says no dual-citizenship for southerners
NCP should be clear to those who thing that North is their home. Please, those who stay there must listen to songs of Kut Kuei properly before the time expire. this is what the NCP are telling them. Thannks
Young
Sudan says no dual-citizenship for southerners
To hell with NCP none of the Southerness needs to citizen in North.
Cuei Rooi
Sudan says no dual-citizenship for southerners
Why is the North sudan so bitter with south sudanese citizens retaining their sudanese citizenship.I thought northern brothers were educated enough but this idea shown the world how weak their mentality is.they are very much being conformed to the mindsets of the so called islamic tenet of supperiority over others religions and cultures.These are your fellows sudanese a week ago,they fought with you defending sharia law and islamisation.give them choices wether to be with you or joining their families in the Republic of South sudan instead of betraying them.
I thought prophet mohemade was sent to you as a messager of peace,love and forgiveness.those southerners who don’t want to leaves are those that being Islamised and enslave minded by Islamic teachings.they are not seeing their future in the new nation,the Republic of south sudan which is composes of 98 percent christians but that ideology is not what we have.the Republic of south sudan is founded on nonreligious foundation.we are the beacon of freedom to all people regardless of religions,race and ethinicity
Anei Matungphat
Sudan says no dual-citizenship for southerners
I was also verys keptical and wondering as to the decision made by Mr. President of the Republic of South Sudan. His decision to grant citizenship to Northerners was one man decision if I may analyse because Mr. President didn’t consult with his executive and legislative assembly to announce that decision of granting citizenship to Northerners.
I think it’s very early for both nations to eat in the same bowl given the fact that wounds are still bleeding and hurting from both sides. Look around Mr. President, those cripples, wounded and orpans are still mourning their dear one who’ve been taken by the struggle of our nation.
Citizen
Sudan says no dual-citizenship for southerners
Dear commentators and my honorable readers.
The idea of dual citizenship as press by the President of RSS is not about Southerners living in the North it is for the seek of accommandating our brothers in struggle from Khordofan and Blue Nile, leave alone Abyei. It is because of this people that is why President Salva was so concerned. Otherwise was that not the matter who care about having a citizenship in the northern. North is hell on earth who doesn’t know that, they north is so naive in everything but they need to explicitly understand that the fact that the Southerners vote 99% should be a signal that, Southerners are tired of that hell and not even a Southern chick or goat will remain to live under that poison oxygen. So all of you should worry not.
Nhomlawda
Sudan says no dual-citizenship for southerners
Tit for tat, revoked all privileges for northerners in South Sudan and deports them to North Sudan. Implement a strict border policy between North and South Sudan.
Give Khartoum what it wanted; who will lose in this, time will tell but I think north Sudan will lose more.
Sombiri
Sudan says no dual-citizenship for southerners
On the other hand dual citizenship may improve North-South relations in the long term. Another solution is for the North and the South to have special relations.
This means that northerners in the South do not need to take southern citizenship but will be treated equally with their southern counterpart. This should also apply to southerners in the North.
In the special relations northerners and southerners may not need a passport to cross their common international borders either by air, land or sea. As part of the special relations peaceful coexistence should be for dividends to the North and the South.
In contrast threats of violence will only polarize people. Sudanese have suffered more than enough that all efforts should be exerted to steer clear of war breaking out.
In conclusion, the North and the South have a lot to gain by being good neighbours in harmony with each other. People need to move on from the backwardness of the past to the future of opportunities to turn the Nile valley into a land of prosperity for all.
The masses both in the North and the South have the same basic needs for a better and higher standard of living. This is the challenge to the North and the South and together much can be achieved through genuine collaboration.
Marco A. Wek
Sudan says no dual-citizenship for southerners
I agree with north that Southerners who don’t want to come back to their independent country shouldn’t be given any northern citizenship.
Let those of George Athor, militia Gadet, Abdel Bagi and the rest of the traitors stay in the north as refugees or come back and surrender themselves.
Anei Matungphat
Sudan says no dual-citizenship for southerners
Mr. Citizen;
Thanks alot for hammering the point into my head. The brotherhood in the north deserves special attention in South Sudan. However, the question remain for how long should we protect our brotherhood in another nation?
Remember, we’re already number 54th nation in Africa and if we’re protecting brotherhood in the north, what about Ethiopia too, we’ll grant them dual citizenship aren’t we?
The idea of dual citizenship is good & I like it but I think it’s too early and even though not too early for that comment then it shouldn’t be given to someone who’ll stabe you in the back later.
Northern Sudanese
Sudan says no dual-citizenship for southerners
Dear commentors
you are speaking and commenting easily but the situation that you are in is different than your southern brothers in the North. those who are commenting must be living in USA,Europe seeking asylum living a good life. if they go to the south they will have lot’s of problems especially next year for e.g may be civil war , food shortages , no education , economic problems ect……..