KENYAN PRIME MINISTER WARNS UN, AU AND THE USA OVER SUDAN REFERENDUM

South Sudan President Salva Kiir (left) at a meeting with Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Kenya is mobilising international support to avert political violence in Sudan through next year’s referendum on independence for the South. File

By WALTER MENYA
Wednesday, February 3 2010
NAIROBI

Kenya denies that it was assisting the government of Southern Sudan to re-arm
Raila Odinga warned of a return to war if the Southerners are denied the freewill to determine their future.

Kenya is mobilising international support to avert political violence in Sudan through next year’s referendum on independence for the South.

In a statement on Wednesday, Prime Minister Raila Odinga warned the United Nations, the African Union and the USA against taking sides in the vote to determine the future of Southern Sudan.

Kenya also denied that it was assisting the government of Southern Sudan to re-arm as political violence looks even more imminent.

The PM’s statement came after reports from the AU meeting in Addis Ababa quoted the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon vowing to ‘avoid the secession of south Sudan in a referendum’ though he later retracted the comments.

The AU also appeared to oppose secession, a position that risks setting the international community against proponents of independence in the region.

Kenya played host to mediation talks that culminated in the signing of the CPA that ended 21 years of fighting between the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army/ Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLA/SPLM).

But Mr Odinga warned of a return to war if the Southerners are denied the freewill to determine their future.

“Given the unprecedented advances the CPA entrenched in promoting democracy, it has been distressing to learn that senior-most officials in the two organisations (UN and AU) oppose the referendum’s option of creating a sovereign nation in the South.”

“Having done so much to advance this historic process of self-determination, it is preposterous that anyone would now seek a predetermined outcome,” Mr Odinga told an international press conference at his Treasury office on Wednesday.

Such a stand, the PM noted, had the potential of undermining the principle of peaceful resolution of disputes.

On January 30 while addressing the AU head of States Summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, Mr Ban warned against a push for secession in the Sudan according to the Financial Times.

While the UN supports the referendum Mr Ban disclosed that the international community was looking for a formula that would satisfy both the South and North as long as the two antagonists remain united, comments that were supported by Jean Ping, the AU chairman.

However, Kenya which hosted the peace negotiations until 2005 when the CPA was signed on Wednesday took on the two organisations and asked them to remain neutral.

US which has been giving mixed signals about its position on the referendum, through its Special envoy to the Sudan, Scott Gration also came under criticism from Mr Odinga.

On the role of the US, he said: “We urge the US as a major international power to cooperate with us. Unilateralism will not help the process.”
Mr Odinga called on the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which was the convenor and overseer of the peace talks in Kenya to take lead in the ensuring the implementation of the CPA.

Igad, he noted, was familiar with all the issues concerning the CPA and was in a better position to resolve outstanding issues such border demarcations at the oil-rich Abyei region and the population census process.

These twin issues, Kenya said, must be resolved as a matter of urgency to avert any threats to prevailing fragile peace.

The permanent court of arbitration in The Hague in July ruled to split Abyei province but left control of the Heglig oil field with the national Government in Khartoum.

“At this delicate moment when so many issues need to be sensitively addressed in Sudan, I believe it is incumbent on all of us to assist the Sudanese to freely exercise the right to choose their future peacefully,” Mr Odinga said.

Kenya, the PM said, was committed to respect the outcome of a free and fair referendum, as he once again denied that the government was re-arming GOSS.

Mr Odinga termed allegations that Kenyan tanks have been spotted in the GOSS military headquarters as unfounded claims.

“There is no truth in the allegations. We issued a comprehensive statement in regard to he matter and any other claim is unfounded.”

Apart from the referendum, Sudan is also preparing to go into General Election this year after many decades.

COMMENTS FROM READERS:

Submitted by Alimama
Posted February 03, 2010 05:00 PM

Southern Sudan should be let free. They have suffered for so long at the hands of the North. For those who care to follow the history of Sudan.

Submitted by MichaOlga
Posted February 03, 2010 04:47 PM

@ Lukongodo you're right! I don't understand English but I do understand that if the US has a stake in Southern Sudan, they'll do everything in their power to ensure it acquires sovereignty. The same will happen if they have a stake or a grudge with the north. They'll either make it or destroy it. There! That I do know.

Submitted by lukongodo
Posted February 03, 2010 04:44 PM

@MichaOlga You either do not understand English you you are pretending in order to antagonize people through your comments, Please refrain from making comments on things you know zilch about!

Submitted by gietmany
Posted February 03, 2010 04:42 PM

The only way to avoid another conflict is to allowed south sudan to withdraw from the north sudan. But if the United Nation, African Union and United States swept this whole thing under the carpet,then there will be another crisis in both south and north sudan. Prime Minister Raila is very right in warning this bodies to act quickly or there will be a consequences

Submitted by yaaalif
Posted February 03, 2010 04:36 PM

the people of South Sudan have every right for the referendum....let them decide..But Kibaki,Raila what happened to the arms saga????by the way the people from the Kenya's coast have the right to claim their Strip.....

Submitted by MichaOlga
Posted February 03, 2010 04:35 PM

@ Lebuvu let's not get emotional and personal here. Neither your nor my emotions would do any good for our country or the republic of Sudan and whether or not I like Raila/Kibaki is inconsequential in matters such as these. All I'm saying is that no one should have to warn anyone least of all the AU and the UN not to take sides. They should be mature enough to know that there is only one proper way of doing things? Get it, Levubu?

Submitted by levubu
Posted February 03, 2010 04:20 PM

@MichaOlga your comments on this blog reprent the old school of thought which is a true reflection of high level of ignorance, exploitation, oppression, dehumanization and extraction. You seem to criticise the PM just because your hate for him can not allow you to display level headedness and objectivity on this critical issue. It's internationally known that the war in S.Sudan has brought extreme suffering to the pple there. Any external interference devoid of free and fair referendum must be rejected at all cost. The pple must be allowed to decide their own destiny.

Submitted by AbuDeng
Posted February 03, 2010 03:25 PM

We in Sudan take disapproving note of SG Moon's anti-separatist comments at the recent AU Summit, - and believe no one should dictate the future of our long-suffering people, but us. Since the modern invasion of the Sudan in early 1800s, the people of Sudan has been killed, kidnapped, enslaved for labour, armies and harems around the world, subjugated in the palaces of the Middle East and plantations of the Americas and Europe. The Sudanese have been one of most the exploited people in the history of the world, the infamous Khartoum slave market speaks profoundly to that legacy.

Submitted by angle2090
Posted February 03, 2010 02:37 PM

Why the PM is crying wolf so early is unclear. It is known this is a Kenyan affair. But 'seeing is free' for the world. Raila has a history to incite the public to cause anarchy. The world is watching. Kenya is bigger than either Kibaki or Raila!

Submitted by tuffgong
Posted February 03, 2010 02:11 PM

yeah that rite the US,UN and other alphabet bodies have been taking sides otherwise this so called war wouldn't be goin on for centuries what we have to overstand is that war is a very profitable business.

Submitted by MichaOlga
Posted February 03, 2010 01:57 PM

What does he mean by taking sides. Whom would they side with anyway. The future of a country is at stake here and the path must be one and must be clear otherwise you're forced to do the obvious like warn people not to take sides. Which is quite ridiculous.