Sudan MPs pass key independence referendum law

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

 

The referendum, scheduled for January 2011, is a crucial part of the peace deal signed nearly five years ago which

 

There have been angry demonstrations this month about electoral reforms

Sudan's parliament has passed a key law paving the way for a referendum on independence for the oil-rich south.

 

The move ends months of wrangling between the north and south about how the referendum should be conducted.

 

Last week, southern politicians walked out of parliament in a row over where southerners would be able to vote.

 

The referendum, scheduled for January 2011, is a crucial part of the peace deal signed nearly five years ago which ended two decades of civil war.

 

The 2005 peace agreement saw President Omar al-Bashir's northern National Congress Party (NCP) going into government with former Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) rebels from the south.

 

It is widely predicted that the south will vote for independence but there are concerns that tensions will increase in the run-up to the referendum and a general election in April.

 

'Second-class citizens'

 

Mr Bashir and SPLM leader Salva Kiir reached a deal on the referendum earlier this month in crisis talks that followed angry demonstrations by southerners about electoral reforms.

 

 

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But when northern politicians tried to amend a section of the referendum bill about where people could vote last week, southern MPs walked out of parliament.

 

This prompted the United States to put pressure on the NCP.

 

The law passed on Tuesday now stipulates that southerners living in the north will be allowed to vote there if they were born after 1956 but those born before that date will have to register and vote in the south.

 

The SPLM had feared the north would manipulate the vote if southerners who had not lived in southern Sudan since independence in 1956 had been allowed to vote anywhere.

 

"Anybody can claim: yes I have my grandparents from the south... unless you go and verify yourself in southern Sudan, this can be abused," SPLM MP Aligu Manawa told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.

 

BBC Africa analyst Mary Harper says Sudan's politicians try - in public at least - to talk of enduring unity and good relations between the north and south.

 

But they sometimes slip up and Mr Kiir recently warned southerners that if they voted against independence they would become second-class citizens in their own country, she says.

 

There are also problems regarding the border between the north and south, as the status of some areas has not yet been clearly defined.

 

And there are serious tensions in southern Sudan, with different ethnic groups fighting over land.

 

More than 2,000 people have been killed and 250,000 people displaced this year alone.

 

The 22-year war between the mainly Muslim north and the Christian and animist south claimed the lives of some 1.5 million people.

 

 

 

Source: BBC

[Liqaye]

Well xaji cant you see that the joint parliament is the one to make the call.

 

Self administered refenda with 100% turnouts and 95% support means nothing if both constituencies dont agree to it.

 

Any way, this referendum wont happen simply because the north wont allow it.

[Jacaylbaro]

Interesting development ....

[MAXIMUS POWERS]

The world, will no doubt be watching the outcome of the South Sudan referendum in 2011, which many analyst predict will redraw the borders set by the colonial powers and open a Pandora box of nations seeking self-determination, which Somaliland is surely primary candidate. The African Union has for a long time now been worried about re-drawing arbitrary borders set up the colonial powers. South Sudan referendum will open up the flood gates and Somalilanders will at least have the opportunity to have their voice heard.

[Che -Guevara]

LooooooL@Liqaye...No room for margin error. It is definitely interesting. I'm more interested in the implications this has for Ethiopia ethnic federalism which constitutionally allows nations within to secede granted the legislative body of those nations supports secession.

 

 

Other interesting developments to watch this would be the coming Ethiopian and Kenyan elections.

[RedSea]

^^^Great news for Ocadenia then...

[GAAROODI]

FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDOOOOM !

 

i have been following, this story since john Gerrang signed the treaty with the north, recently a delegation from South Sudan came to Somaliland to ask for expertise on democratisation and traditional methods of governance. South Sudans independence will for sure herald a new era for africa which will allow Somaliland to move on. Good luck. its like hitting two bords with one stone. Getting back at the arabs and getting your recognition all at the same time.