Sudan Slow to Move Towards January Referendum

Robert Duncan

9/24/10

11:08 a.m.

There are fears that the Sudanese civil war may resume after the referendum for the independence of southern Sudan. Today there is a meeting to help “Encourage the North and South to work constructively together” says Philip Crowley, also declaring that their interactions need to be more “sustained.” The referendum was agreed upon in 2005 in order to end almost twenty years of war between the North and South. The referendum now stands that, Should there be secession, neither side will “expel each other’s minorities.” Within the confines of the agreement, the South is allowed to manage it’s own political affairs, however, it is not completely independent. Currently, voter registration has not even begun, and there has been no indication as to where the North-South border will be. In this regard, it would seem that the Sudanese government has been slow to act. The US, Britain, and Norway have already voiced their concerns about the pace of events in Sudan. These nations sent a letter last week, hoping to encourage the Sudanese government to quicken their pace.

The Sudanese government is attempting a poll in the area known as Abyei, in central Sudan, as to whether or not the area will be considered in North or South when the inevitable division of the nation occurs. However, as I stated above, it appears that the Sudanese government is “dragging it’s feet” when it comes to actually being prepared for the vote. It is already late in getting the voting registration set up, which might delay the referendum. My personal belief on the situation is that The Northern government in Sudan is attempting to delay the separation due to the amount of income that the nation will lose if the South acquires Abyei.