UN Panel Monitoring Sudan Referenda Concerned

Chair Of UN Panel Monitoring Sudan Referenda Concerned Over Limited Progress

New York, Oct 17 2010 10:10PM

The head of a United Nations panel monitoring the upcoming referenda on whether southern Sudan secedes from Africa's largest country has expressed concern over the lack of progress in several key areas, especially voter registration, with less than three months remaining until people head to the polls.

The three-member body -- appointed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and led by former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa -- wrapped up its week-long visit to Sudan on Friday.

"We have been pleased to hear from all the parties that they are committed to playing their part to make the referenda a success," Mr. Mkapa said at a press conference in Khartoum.

On 9 January, the inhabitants of southern Sudan will vote on whether to secede from the rest of the country, while the residents of the central area of Abyei will vote on whether to be part of the north or the south.

The re ferenda will be the final phase in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which was signed in 2005 to end two decades of warfare between the northern-based Government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) in the south.

Mr. Mkapa, who witnessed the pact's signature in Nairobi, Kenya, said that the two referenda represent its "decisive milestone."

He voiced hope that "the wonderful relief and optimism of that day can be reflected here, whatever the outcome of the votes."

But he expressed the panel's deep concern about the oil-rich Abyei area, "which is crucial for peace and stability in Sudan," said the panel's leader. "The situation on the ground there is reported to be very tense."

He said that the body is aware of continued efforts by the parties to find an "acceptable solution."

Another round of talks is slated to take place later this month, and it is "vital that they succeed so that the Abyei referendum can take place," the pane l leader said.

He also pointed to the "negatively charged atmosphere" on both sides, with threats and accusations being made. "Toning down the rhetoric will go a long way towards easing tensions and promoting dialogue and it will contribute to providing a conducive environment for the referenda."

Mr. Mkapa emphasized that southerners living in the north and northerners living in the south deserve guarantees on their protection and freedoms, regardless of the outcome of the January referenda.

The panel's task is to play a good offices role on behalf of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to ensure that the referenda are free and fair, as well as to provide recommendations.

"We are not here to run the referenda process, or be election observers, or certify the results," Mr. Mkapa underlined. "This is a Sudanese-owned process, and the primary responsibility for ensuring that the referenda are credible lies with the Sudanese themselves. The role of the international community is to prov ide support to them."

The challenges facing Sudan less than three months before the referenda cannot be resolved overnight, he said.

"But with enough will and hard work from the Sudanese parties, as well as increased support from the international community, we are confident that the referenda can still be successful," the panel leader said, pledging to continue working with all parties to reach this goal.

During its visit to Sudan, the body visited Khartoum, as well as Juba, the capital of Southern Sudan, and Abyei.

The panel members met with Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir and Government of Southern Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit. They also held talks with senior officials from both governments, members of the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission and Bureau, the Chairman as well as Deputy Chairman of the Abyei Administration and representatives of the UN, diplomatic corps, observer groups and civil society.

Mr. Mkapa is joined on the panel by António Monteiro, fo rmer Minister of Foreign Affairs for Portugal, and Bhojraj Pokharel, former Chairman of the Nepalese Election Commission.

Their next visit to Sudan is expected to take place in November.

ENDS

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