From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Mon Sep 28 2009 - 09:50:19 EDT
South Sudan Leader Predicts A South Break Away From the North
By James Butty
28 September 2009
The President of the semi-autonomous Southern Sudan has reportedly said that
there is a real chance the results of the 2011 referendum on the future of
South Sudan will lead to secession from the north.
Salva Kiir, who heads the Christian and animist south, reportedly made the
comment Sunday to the ongoing conference of 20 Sudanese political parties in
the Southern Sudan capital, Juba.
Fouad Hikmat, the African Union and Sudan advisor to the International
Crisis Group said President Kiir's statement was probably motivated by what
the South sees as the lack full implementation of the CPA.
"He is talking about.the southerners of South Sudan might most probably
decide in the referendum to go for separation. And he's saying this because
he feels that the major partner in the government of national unity is not
helping him in the total implementation of the Comprehensive Peace
Agreement," he said.
Hikmat said the South Sudan leader also told the Juba conference that any
unity between the North and South must add value to the current status of
the South.
"What I heard him saying today is that unity they (the south) don't mind to
think about it. And he raised a very significant question. He said what kind
of unity? Is it unity to maintain the status quo of Sudan of the last years
which didn't address all the grievances and didn't allow political
accommodation for all the Sudanese? If that is the unity then it is not
attractive for them," Hikmat said.
He said Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP)
was invited but did not attend.
"Everybody was invited, including the rebel groups and so on. But the NCP
unfortunately did not attend and also the DUP (the Democratic Unionist
Party). And so this is really unfortunate because it is an opportunity
because this is not about regime change. This is about trying to save Sudan
from implosion because very clearly Sudan is moving toward a very dangerous
situation," he said.
Hikmat said President Salva Kiir's comment does not threaten the peace
process in Sudan.
"It's not because it is part of the peace process. At some point they (the
South) are going to determine their status whether they go for unity or
separation. It is not in violation, but it is actually total implementation
of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement," Hikmat said.
He said the first day of the conference made substantial progress.
"Today (Sunday) was the opening session when all the people were invited,
including the observers from the international community. And every head of
the political party presented his position. And so far everybody thinks that
this first session was very successful," he said.
Hikmat said participants were divided into five working groups dealing with
five different issues which the committees will start to deliberate on
beginning Monday.
He said the committees would meet probably Tuesday to present their
recommendations.
The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) calls for national elections in
Sudan next year, followed by a referendum in 2011 on the future status of
the south.
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