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Sudan: Govt Tells of Progress Over Peace Deal With the South
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The Nation (Nairobi)
17 March 2008
Posted to the web 17 March 2008
Godffrey Olali
Nairobi
Implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Sudanese government and former southern rebels is near completion and proceeding well to the full satisfaction of both sides, a representative of the country's Information ministry has said.
Dr Rabie Abdul, an adviser to the Sudanese Information minister, said most of the controversial issues which threatened to derail the January 2005 Nairobi brokered peace pact, have been sorted out.
Dr Abdul was speaking to the press at a Nairobi hotel when he submitted a progress report on the CPA. He said that only 10 per cent of the pact, is remaining to be implemented while ninety per cent is on course.
He added that governors in the North and South states, have been duly appointed while legislative assemblies for the states have been formed.
"All Northern states have adopted their constitutions which have been signed by respective governors after issuance of compatibility from the Ministry of Justice," he said.
He said that all legislative assemblies in the southern states have passed the draft of their constitutions which had been sent, through Government of southern Sudan and the Justice ministry.
On the National Population Census Council, a presidential decree establishing the Council, was issued on January 9 2006 which appointed a team of four experts.
The council held its first meeting on March 7, 2006 and approved the proposal of the organisational setup of the census including the formation of the National Technical Committee (NTC).
He added that the Estimated budget for the fifth National census will be $73 million (Sh4.7 billion), out of which the Government of National Unity will contribute 40 million US Dollars while the rest will contributed by donors.
The pilot census project took place between April 15 and 30, 2007.
Special commission
Dr Abdul said that a special commission to ensure the rights of non-Muslims has already been established and has started its work with its members already approved by the Presidency. On National Security Service, the official said consultations are underway between the two parties and a number of meetings and workshops have been held on the issue.
He said that the deputy director of the intelligence and security bureau had been appointed from the SPLM. "One hundred and seven officers from the SPLM were appointed by the President of the Republic in the intelligence and security bureau."
According to a report on the CPA, presented at the meeting, the two parties in accordance with the peace prepared a draft Interim National Constitution. The National Constitution Review Commission (NCRC), established on April 31, 2005, has since accomplished its mandate by adopting the draft interim national constitution on June 18, 2005.
"Seventeen parties and political institutions participated in the work of the NCRC that prepared the draft constitution," the report says.
It added that both the National Assembly and the Liberation Council of the SPLM approved the interim National Constitution which was signed by President Omar Hassan el Bashir on July 9, 2005.
The official denied reports that Sudan is actively participating in the Chadian crisis. He said the crisis emanates from the historical background of Chad. On Darfur, conflict, he said civilians from western and northern part of the region are protected.
The Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and its political wing, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), signed a Comprehensive Peace Agreement with the Khartoum administration in January 2005.
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The agreement brought to and end a protracted 22-year-old war.
It is very encouraging, I am sure, to all Africans to see that details of peaceful settlement is being worked out by the one and ONLY means, NEGOTIATIONS, between the government of Sudan and the former rebels of South Sudan. It is without any doubt that by going this route, both sides in the conflict should be able to grasp that almost solid feel that you are creating a very wonderful future of hope not only for yourselves but most importantly for your children and grand children and generations to come. Both sides should always and constantly... [Read Full Text]
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