Carter Center Urges Inclusive Transition Process in Southern Sudan
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Carter Center Urges Inclusive Transition Process in Southern Sudan
March 17, 2011
Distrust between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and
opposition parties is a critical challenge that undermines the unity
of Southern Sudan on the eve of its independence. To ensure a
successful transition, The Carter Center urges all Southern Sudanese
political leaders to agree on genuinely inclusive processes for
reviewing and adopting the transitional constitution and planning for
the transition.
Initial efforts by the SPLM leadership to include opposition party
members in the constitution drafting and transition processes were
positive steps, and demonstrated the Government of Southern Sudan’s
commitment to national unity and inclusion. However, recent decisions
to expand the number of SPLM members on the Technical Committee to
ensure SPLM dominance over all decisions and to inhibit meaningful
participation from opposition members run counter to that spirit.
Background: Following the successful Southern Sudan referendum in
January, the leaders of Southern Sudanese political parties met in
Juba Feb. 16-17 under the auspices of the Political Parties Leadership
Forum to follow-up commitments made at an October 2010 meeting of
Southern Sudanese political parties. The parties at the February
meeting re-affirmed their commitment to an inclusive transition
process and agreed to increase opposition participation in the
Technical Committee charged with drafting the transitional
constitution. They also agreed that the committee’s draft would be
presented to the Political Parties Leadership Forum for their
consideration before going to the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly.
On March 7, however, five opposition parties announced their
withdrawal from the Technical Committee primarily citing the use of
decision-making procedures that preclude genuine discussion of key
principles of the transitional constitution draft as the reason for
the withdrawal.[1] In addition, they noted concerns about statements
by some SPLM members that suggest a planned expansion of the duration
of the transitional period and the mandate of the current government.
The following report gives further background and analysis on the
transition process in Southern Sudan and is available along with
previous Carter Center reports at www.cartercenter.org
The Carter Center has maintained a field presence in Sudan throughout
the entire referendum process. After the referendum polling was
concluded, President Kiir welcomed The Carter Center to extend its
presence in Southern Sudan to monitor the transition. The Carter
Center recognizes that the political reform and transition process
presently underway in Southern Sudan is of great importance and
intends to issue statements periodically to assess progress.
Currently, the Center has 12 long-term observers in Sudan monitoring
and reporting on post-referendum processes, and on the postponed
elections in South Kordofan and the Popular Consultations in Blue
Nile.
####
The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy
Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, in partnership with Emory University,
to advance peace and health worldwide. A not for- profit,
nongovernmental organization, the Center has helped to improve life
for people in more than 70 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing
democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing
diseases; improving mental health care; and teaching farmers to
increase crop production. For more than 20 years, The Carter Center
has worked to improve health and prevent and resolve conflict in
Sudan. Please visit www.cartercenter.org to learn more about The
Carter Center.
[1] Nine parties signed the press release announcing the withdrawal
from the committee. However, only five of the nine parties actually
had representatives on the committee.
[1] Nine parties signed the press release announcing the withdrawal
from the committee. However, only five of the nine parties actually
had representatives on the committee.
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