Vol 51 No 3

Published 5th February 2010

Southern leaders compete for a new state

5th February 2010

There are fears that the thrice-delayed national elections, now due on 8 April, could trigger an escalation of fighting in Darfur and the South, given the probability that few will accept the results as free and fair. The Khartoum regime has failed to implement most of the key democratic reforms agreed under the 2005 peace deal. The 2008 census and the constituency boundaries lacked credibility and the Islamist government has done nothing to promote an independent judiciary or independent electoral administration.

referendumA new wave of violence and fraudulent elections could block any chance of progress on Darfur and undermine the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) led by Salva Kiir Mayardit, who is also President of the Government of South Sudan (GOSS) and national First Vice-President. There is growing international concern at this prospect: Sudan’s crisis has been on the agenda of both the United Nations Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council in recent weeks. Yet events suit the National Congress Party (NCP, aka National Islamic Front) regime, which has been trying to make the organisation of next year’s referendum on independence for Southern Sudan as difficult as possible and to weaken the potential Southern state.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 2452 words.

End of preview

Subscribers: Log in now to read the complete article.

Account Holders: Log in now and use your Account Credit to buy this article. No Credit? Top up your Account now.

Forgotten password?

If you are logged in, but still cannot access the full text of this article, email customer services or telephone us on +44(0)1638 743633.

Africa Confidential's reporting and analysis is valued by a wide range of organisations and individuals: from corporate executives, country risk analysts, national politicians and members of the diplomatic corps, to intelligence operatives, academics, journalists and NGO personnel.

Here's what our readers say about us:

"If you want the detail and you want the dirt, the little blue newsletter [Africa Confidential] that drops through your letter box is like having your own private spook who knows Africa inside out and who's also one hell of a gossip."
Jonathan Miller, Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Channel 4 News, London, UK

"Since the demise of reporting on Africa in Western newspapers, and especially in the UK, in recent years, Africa Confidential has become ever more indispensable to anyone trying to make sense of the continent.

It provides the context one needs to understand vast changes Sudan has undergone since the signing of the peace agreement in 2005 and the explosion of conflict in Darfur.

The scope of its coverage of everything from the latest mining deals and rebel uprisings in the Democratic Republic of Congo to the political crisis in Kenya since the 2007 election is simply unparalleled."
Karl Maier, Africa & Middle East Editor, Bloomberg News

"We regard Africa Confidential as one of our best and most reliable sources of information and analysis." Intelligence Assessment Service, Privy Council Office, Government of Canada

"You are the best reporter on Africa alive. I look forward to your Intel."

Robert Stewart, CEO, Hawk Uranium Inc., USA

"In short: it is excellent! Very informative and interesting. Also well organised and easy to browse through and access to the different articles."
Lt. Col. Daniel Martella, Military Planning Service, Department of Peacekeeping Operations, United Nations

Vol 51 No 3

Southern leaders compete for a new state

End of preview

Not a subscriber?

1. Subscribe

2. Use my account

3. Buy this article

Stories by country