Top Sudan leaders upbeat about vote, say separation the way to go

By DAVID OCHAMI

As January 9 approaches officials in South Sudan’s towns including President Salva Kiir Mayardit are growing bolder in calls for secession from the Sudanese Union.

And they are making no secret of their desire to move the expected new state towards East Africa.

"If the referendum is held successfully the new state (in South Sudan) will be one of the younger members of the East African Community. No doubt about it...," Kiir told visiting Kenyan legislators in his Juba office on November 9 last year.

Kiir who has ruled South Sudan since the sudden death of former rebel leader Dr John Garang said "prophets of doom" are predicting instability in the run-up to the vote and after and promised a "free vote" for unity or separation.

Reclaim dignity

But he was categorical that a vote for unity by Southerners will force them to "live in an Islamic state" or in "unity under oppression where somebody sits on you and says you are equal." He argued that "the people in Khartoum" referring to the National Congress Party of President Omar Hassan al Bashir have never been ready for this referendum because "they thought they were going to dismantle the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) during the (2005-2011) interim period."

Kenyan officials have declared support for Southern secession and promise to recognise the autonomous region’s independence.

Speaking during a Kenyan delegation visit to South Sudan in November 2010 East African Community Assistant Minister Peter Munya told Kiir the referendum provides an opportunity for South Sudanese to "reclaim your human dignity."

In a meeting with Kenyans in Juba the Speaker of South Sudan’s legislature James Wani Igga declared that "South Sudan is a viable state" with "70 per cent of Sudan’s oil" adding that "opinion polls indicate over 97.5 per cent of the people in South Sudan support independence."

However, South Sudan diplomats and civil society have accused the Kibaki administration of displaying open support for the Juba administration citing President Omar Hassan al Bashir’s visit to Kenya in August last year.

Twice in November and December last year two delegations of Kenyan Members of Parliament have visited South Sudan and participated in separatist rallies.

Mend relations

Before the MPs visit suspended Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula met Kiir to mend relations following al Bashir’s visit.

A Kenyan minister who asked not to be named admits that these visits to South Sudan were motivated in part by the need "to mend fences with Juba following President al Bashir’s visit."

The minister added that the Kenyan Government is finally resigning to the fact that South Sudan will break away from the Union and hence the need to offer support to consolidate existing Kenyan investments in banking, hotels among others in South Sudan in anticipation of the economic dividend after the separation vote.