Southern Sudan on Friday called for a special Inter-Governmental Authority on Development to address alleged plans by their northern partners to scuttle or delay a referendum set for January. Pictured: Members of the United Southern Sudan Youth for Referendum during a
peaceful demonstration at Nairobi's Uhuru Park early this month.
Ambassador John Andruga Duku, who is chief coordinator of the International Campaign Countdown to Southern Referendum warned that any interference with the referendum could return the country to war.
Mr Duku was accompanied by his organisation's Chief Coordinator Information and Media Campaign, Mr Jervasio Okot.
Addressing journalists in Nairobi, Mr Duku who is a former Government of Southern Sudan representative to Kenya said it is wrong for IGAD countries to watch as the referendum, which is crucial to peace and stability in the region was faced with huge obstacles.
"It is not late to salvage South Sudan from sliding back to war. IGAD should undertake an extra-ordinary step with Kenya being its chair of sub-committee on Sudan calling for a special Summit to avert the situation," Mr Duku said.
He added: "It does not require a rocket scientist to realise the situation in Sudan is very serious and that IGAD has become a spectator instead of a guarantor of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).'
Signed in Kenya in January 2005, the CPA ended 21 years of war between former Southern rebels Sudanese People's Liberation Movement\Army and Khartoum's National Congress Party. The north and south Sudan have been at war for 39 out 54 years the country has been independent and the referendum was meant to enable the south decide whether they should continue under a united country or unite.
On Friday, Mr Duku said the fight, which started before independence was as a result of unit forced on south Sudan by the British, Egypt and Khartoum government.
Source: Lucas Barasa, Daily Nation (via AllAfrica.com)
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