SPEAKERS’ FORUM OF THE SOUTHERN SUDAN (SF)

PRESS RELEASE

THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY

The Speakers of Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly (SSLA) and the ten State Assemblies met on the 22nd-23rd September 2007, and made a consensus decision to establish a Speakers’ Forum of Southern Sudan (SF) for working together to realize the ideals of the CPA, the Interim Constitution of Southern Sudan and the Interim Constitution of the ten States in concert with the Government of Southern Sudan at all levels.

The signing of  Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in Nairobi, Kenya on 9th January 2005 by the then First Vice President of Republic of the Sudan, Ali Osman Mohamed Taha on behalf of the Government of the Sudan and the late Dr John Garang De Mabior, Chairman of SPLM on behalf of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement brought in  spontaneous jubilation and relief all over the Sudan. The CPA ushered in political stability which the country has never witnessed since 18th August 1955 with the exception of the brief period from 1972 to 1982 which was brought about by the Addis Ababa Agreement that was unilaterally abrogated by dictator Gafaar Mohamed Nimeiri in June 1983. The CPA has given hope to our people to develop the country evenly.

The Speakers of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assemblies have closely followed the implementation of the CPA by the two partners; the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM). The CPA stipulated clearly that implementation should be in spirit and letter. In this regard, there have been positive signs such as the withdrawal of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) from greater Equatoria and greater Bahr El Ghazal. However, to our dismay, SAF has stalled its withdrawal from greater Upper Nile and particularly in the oil fields of Western Upper Nile and Melut area. Contrary to expectation, SAF has increased in numbers in those areas which is a clear violation of the CPA. SAF should be withdrawn without delay to conform with the CPA provisions.

The partner in the agreement which is the National Congress Party has been reluctant in the demarcation of borders between the North and South. This is contrary to the provisions of the CPA because it is difficult to determine the areas belonging to each side in the absence of demarcating the borders. There is urgent need to demarcate the borders between North and South.

The National Congress Party has refused to implement the Protocol on Abyei by rejecting the findings of the Abyei Border Commission (ABC) on the ground that it has exceeded its mandate. This has placed Abyei people in an awkward position because without implementation of the protocol, no administrative structures can be put in place and consequently no services can be rendered to the people of the area. There is imperative need to implement the protocol of Abyei to alleviate the condition of the people, who have been exposed to ordeal for all this period.

Another important area which we have been following with concern is the share of the oil wealth which is supposed to be divided equally between the North and the South. The Government in Khartoum has not been transparent in letting the Government in the South know the total amount of oil production in the South. From the start, things were good, but now what is allocated to the South in terms of money has gone down and there is no convincing reason for that. We feel that this situation should be properly rectified without any further delay.

The signing of the comprehensive peace Agreement was witnessed by the International Community and it is incumbent on them to follow closely the implementation to avoid derailing the process. This is necessary because previous agreements had been dishonored such as the Khartoum Peace Agreement, Fashoda Peace Agreement etc.

We, the members of the Forum of the Speakers of Southern Sudan (SSLA and State Assemblies) are duty bound to rally behind our President of Government of Southern Sudan, Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, in his endeavor to press for timely implementation of the CPA which we regard as the milestone for political stability and progress for the Sudanese people.

May Almighty God give wisdom and courage to our Leaders to implement CPA in good faith.

Date: 25th September, 2007
Juba, Southern Sudan