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By James Gatdet Dak
Posted to the web on June 27, 2010 |
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June 27, 2010 (JUBA) – The two parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the National Congress Party (NCP), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a roadmap for issues of post-referendum arrangements.
The document was signed this week in Mekele town in Ethiopia between representatives of the SPLM, also representing the Government of Southern Sudan and the NCP, representing the Government of National Unity (GoNU).
In a statement to the press, the minister of Information and official spokesperson, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, said the agreement was about the modalities and structures for future discussions on the post-referendum issues.
Dr. Marial further explained that the document was a culmination of the work of the current Southern Sudan Referendum Task force, chaired by the Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
The Task Force serves as an oversight body that guides the whole processes and prepares the ground for conduct of free and fair elections a part from the would-be formed technical Southern Sudan Referendum Commission.
The first session of the post-elections Council of Ministers held its meeting on Friday, chaired by President General Salva Kiir Mayardit, and approved the agreement as presented by Dr. Luka Biong Deng, GoNU’s minister of Cabinet Affairs, on behalf of the GoSS minister of Peace and CPA Implementation, Pagan Amum Okiech.
The Taskforce is sub-divided into three groups that include the sub-committee for the conduct of the referendum that will be responsible for mobilization of the people to vote among many other preparations.
Another sub-committee is on the post-referendum arrangements, including the future of oil, assets, liabilities, security, international agreements, etc., while the third one is on preparations of the Government of Southern Sudan for a post-2011 governance on decentralization, including the review of the interim constitution of Southern Sudan.
The sub-committee on the conduct of the referendum is headed by the Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development, John Luk Jok, while the other sub-committee on governance in post-2011 Southern Sudan is headed by the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Kosti Manibe, three of them making up the overall Task Force chaired by the Vice President.
Dr. Barnaba Marial added that negotiations with the National Congress Party on such issues are expected to resume on 1st July 2010.
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