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Libyan Warning over South Sudan Secession Criticized

   Peter Clottey 10 October 2010
   Southern  Sudanese men hold a pro-independence poster as they wait for
   the  arrival  of  envoys  from the UN Security Council at the southern
   Sudanese capital Juba, 6 Oct 2010

Photo: AFP

   Southern  Sudanese men hold a pro-independence poster as they wait for
   the  arrival  of  envoys  from the UN Security Council at the southern
   Sudanese capital Juba, 6 Oct 2010

   A  former  south  Sudanese  envoy  has  rejected Libyan leader Muammar
   Gaddafi suggestions over the weekend that south Sudanās secession will
   be a disease that will spread throughout Africa.

   Ambassador  John  Andruga Duku told VOA this is yet another attempt by
   the  ruling  National Congress Party (NCP) to derail south Sudanās the
   scheduled 9^th January referendum.

   āI  say  that  absolutely  has no basis because the situation in south
   Sudan  and  in Sudan was different from any other situation in Africa.
   The  agreement  which  was  signed  on  the  9^th  January  2005 was a
   voluntary  negotiated  agreement  between  the  two  parties, the SPLM
   (Sudan  Peopleās  Liberation  Movement) and the NCP (National Congress
   Party). The international community guaranteed the agreement.ā

   Mr.  Gaddafi  said at the African and Arab leaderās summit held in the
   Libyan  city  of Sirte over the weekend that the semi-autonomous south
   Sudanās  secession  could  set  a dangerous precedent that will hamper
   Africaās much-needed foreign investment.

   Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi

   But,  Ambassador  Duku said that, since Sudanās independence, southern
   Sudanese have always been suppressed by northerners, which he said led
   to the countryās long running civil war.

   āTo  come  around  now at the 11^th hour when we are left with only 91
   days  for  our people to go to referendum, they are saying now, if the
   people  vote  for  independence,  it will open the Pandora(ās) box (of
   problems). Why didnāt they say this six years ago? He asked.

   Duku  said  Mr.  Gaddafiās  statement is aimed at supporting President
   Omar Hassan al-Bashir as the south Sudanās referendum ādraws near.ā

   āThis  is  yet  another tactic of the National Congress Party obliging
   their  friends  to  talk  on  their  behalf.  (Mr.) Gaddafi made (this
   statement) during the Arab League meeting when Mr. Bashir was there.ā

   Meanwhile,  President  Bashir  has also accused the SPLM of failing to
   abide  by  the  provisions  of  the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement
   warning  that  another  round  of war could ensue if sharp differences
   between   the  two  partners  are  not  resolved  before  the  January
   referendum.

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