Khartoum, June 16: Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir’s party and former southern rebels, partners in a unity government, must work closely together to guarantee a credible referendum on southern independence, commentators say.
Beshir announced late on Monday the formation of his new 35-ministry cabinet, after elections in April saw him returned to power.
The new government, consisting of 24 members of the president’s National Congress Party, eight members of the former southern rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and three small parties, must tread carefully to reach the key referendum on independence for south Sudan scheduled for January.
“They will have to establish a common programme, define their priorities… work in harmony in an efficient manner,” said Fouad Hikmat, an analyst with the International Crisis Group.
“The cabinet will have to work together otherwise there will be problems which could delay the process,” he said.
The NCP and the SPLM had formed a national unity government in 2005 after the signing of peace deal between north and south Sudan to end a 21-year civil war that killed an estimated two million people.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement gave south Sudan a measure of autonomy until the future of the country is determined in the referendum due to take place in January.
Six months before the much-anticipated vote, logistical matters still need to be ironed out. The referendum commission overseeing the procedure has yet to be approved by legislators.
The NCP and the SPLM must also prepare the ground in case southerners choose unity with the north, with issues like future power-sharing not yet defined.
In case of secession, the two parties must agree on oil-sharing and the question of citizenship for southerners living in the north.
The borders between north and south Sudan should be demarcated before the referendum is held.
Analysts say southerners are likely to choose secession over unity.
Even if the NCP and the former rebels see the future of Sudan differently, both are committed to making unity an “attractive” option — a key NCP campaign promise.
But this will be challenging for the southerners, as pro-independence movements are already sprouting in the south.
The new government will stay in place for six months after the referendum, even if southerners choose independence, according to the peace agreement.
—Agencies