Sudan statisticians prepare for national population census

KHARTOUM, June 24, 2004 (SUNA) — The Central Statistics Bureau is rearranging its administrative structures in anticipation of the general population census, to be conducted during the second year of the interim period stipulated by the peace protocols initialed on 5 June by the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement(SPLM).

The census is meant to specify in solid terms the share of the Southern Sudan in the national government to be determined in the light of the size of region’s population as compared to that of the rest of the country.

Abdulrahman Mohammed Hassan, the Bureau Director, said this fifth national population census was supposed to be conducted during 2003 but was delayed because of instability in some regions of the country. He said the census will cover all Sudanese territories, including the ten Southern states and other war affected regions.

“The census is a strategic project which could help the Government to build an important database on the demographic characteristics of the entire country,” he said.

“We have started the re-arrangement of our internal administrative position to cope with this tremendous job,” he said, reaffirming that “the Bureau will be technically prepared for the census project.”

He said preparatory work was in full swing in the Northern part of the country, whereas such preparations will take off in the South once a final peace agreement is signed.

Hassan has, meanwhile, reaffirmed the need to rally due financial and technical resources in order to accomplish the tremendous job in the best way.