July 29, 2009 (WASHINGTON) — The people of South Sudan will most likely choose to have their own state either through the referendum or unilaterally, a former US official said.
“I believed the “democratic transformation” of Sudan had a chance to succeed. I believed that “maybe” there was a faint chance the NCP “might be” willing to “make unity attractive” and so sustain a unified state of Sudan. But Khartoum has killed all that. Those goals are not in any way achievable any longer,” the former US State Department special envoy to Sudan Roger Winter said in prepared remarks before the Senate Foreign relations committee.
“In my view there are only two general directions that are supportable by the people of South Sudan at this point….the South will vote overwhelmingly for separation in the Referendum provided for by the CPA or…..the South will be forced into unilaterally declaring its independence because its CPA-mandated Referendum is frustrated by Khartoum’s actions and/or the hollow commitments of the International Community,” he added.
In 2011 a referendum is scheduled in which Southern Sudanese will vote to decide on whether they want to have their own state or remain part of united Sudan.
However, doubts are raised on whether the self-determination process can be held on time given the delay in approving the referendum law.
Among the key sticking points is the percentage of votes required in the referendum to declare it favoring independence, the population allowed to vote, determining the post-referendum process and the share of Sudan’s debts the South would carry with it if it secedes.
The dominant ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has said that it interprets CPA as asking both the North and the South to make the separation option more difficult.
Winter said that it is “mandatory” that Washington supports the Southerners to “achieve a soft-landing as the result of a successfully-held Referendum”.
“The U.S. must be clear and upfront that we will support and protect the outcome of that Referendum; many people died to achieve that right,” he stressed.
The former US official acknowledged weaknesses within the South Sudan government but said that progress has been made since the peace agreement was signed.
“The South’s progress is also being undermined by internal forces, especially in terms of some civil violence, some official corruption, and some serious weaknesses in governance,” he said.
“These problems are serious, especially as they erode popular confidence, but they do not eclipse the progress that has been made, given where they started from and the constant undermining by Khartoum,” he added.
Winter called on the US administration to craft a “full-blown partnership” with the South to improve its governance quality “so it can deliver services to and inspire the hopes of the people of South Sudan and Abyei”.
(ST)
حركة العدل و المساواة السودانية
موقع متخصص بنقل آخر الأخبار و البيانات و القرارات لحركة العدل و المساواة السودانية