Machar directs officials to begins preparations for South Sudan independence celebrations
ARTICLECOMMENTS (12) EmailPrintSave April 5, 2011 (JUBA) - The Vice President of South Sudan, Riek Machar Teny, has directed the various sub-committees under the High Level Committee for independence celebrations to immediately begin work to prepare the region for its secession from north Sudan in just over two months. South Sudan will formally become an independent country by July 9 following the overwhelming vote for secession from the North in a self-determination referendum in January this year. The plebiscite was a result of the peace deal signed in 2005 that ended 21 years of civil war between southern rebels (SPLM/A) and the Khartoum governemtn controlled by the National Congress Party (NCP) since 1989. The region is expected to host more than 1,500 foreign dignitaries, including their support staff. Around 30 heads of state from around the world are expected to attend the independence celebrations. Machar who chairs the High Level Committee tasked to prepare the nation for the July 9 independence celebration issued the directive on Monday in a meeting with officials in charge of 10 various sub-committees. These include sub-committees on security, information, catering, ceremonies, protocol, health, organization, accommodation, transport, finance and entertainment. Almost all of the sub-committees is headed by a relevant minister in the Government of Southern Sudan. For instance, security sub-committee is headed by the minister of Internal Affairs, information sub-committee by the minister of Information, accommodation sub-committee by the minister of Housing, transport by the minister of Transport, health by the minister of Health, finance by the minister of Finance and entertainment by the minister of Culture and Heritage. A budget for the celebration was passed by the Council of Ministers last week which amounted to over 94 million Sudanese Pounds. Machar explained that the approved budget by the Council will further be presented to the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly, which he said may increase or reduce the current amount approved by the Council. The money will be released by the minister of finance and transferred to an account in the Office of the President under the supervision of the Minister in the Office of the President, Dr. Cirino Hiteng. Each of the ten Southern Sudan states has been allocated one million Sudanese pounds for the celebrations in their respective states. (ST -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
