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2009-10-20 Africa Horn

[Al Arabiya Latest] The Juba Declaration, signed at the Friendship Hall in Khartoum, stirred controversy in Sudan as it stipulated that the fate of Southern Sudan is to be determined by a small majority vote, according to press reports Sunday.

The declaration, signed by Sudanese President and head of the National Congress Party (NCP) Omar al-Bashir and Deputy Chairman of Sudan's People Liberation Movement (SPLM) Dr. Riek Machar, granted Southern Sudan the right to hold a self-determination referendum with two thirds of the registered voters.

The agreement sparked debates as it was seen as a sign of an imminent secession of the south, the London-based Asharq al-Awsat reported Sunday.

The agreement transcended the disagreements between the two parties and focused on the importance of holding the self-determination referendum on time, said NCP leader professor Ibrahim.

"The relevant authorities will look into the Referendum Bill which will later be referred to the National Assembly [Sudan's parliament]," he told the paper.

The ongoing dispute between the two parties was primarily about SPLM's insistence that the self-determination referendum be held in 2011 as scheduled with a simple majority vote (50+1), whereas NCP wanted an absolute majority (more than 71 percent ).

Sudan's political scene is now ready for partition, said Joseph Melwal, Minister of Tourism in Sudan's National Unity Government, established in 2005 following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), and Chairman of the southern United Democratic Salvation Front (UDSF).

"The north and the south have not been working together for such a long time," he told Asharq al-Awsat. "It is hard now to talk about unity."

Joseph Okelo, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and leader of the southern Union of Sudan African Parties (USAP), seconded Melwal's opinion. "All Southerners, whether in the south or north of Sudan or outside the country, want secession," he told Asharq al-Awsat. "The conflicts that took place lately made secession a must."

Posted by Fred 2009-10-20 00:00|| || Front Page|| [7 views ] Top
File under: Govt of Sudan

#1 A good thing, unless you are the United Nations where territorial is sacrosact, or one of the third world despots that depends on the UN's stand.

Posted by phil_b 2009-10-20 00:19|| 2009-10-20 00:19|| Front Page Top

#2 no common culture or terrain between the north and south of Sudan

Posted by 3dc 2009-10-20 12:31|| 2009-10-20 12:31|| Front Page Top

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