South Sudan Chooses on Independence

Khartoum, Sudan

South Sudan has officially voted for its independence from the north following release of the January referendum results that showed an overwhelming vote for secession.

 In an official announcement ceremony of the results on Monday, displayed figures showed that 98.83 per cent of the 3,837,406 valid ballots cast had voted on independence against 1.17 per cent who voted for unity.

 The event held in the capital Khartoum was attended by President Omar Al-Bashir and south’s leader Salva Kiir. In his address on state television, Bashir said he accepts and welcomes the results because they represent the will of the southern (Sudan) people.

 “We are committed to the links between the north and the south, and we are committed to good relations based on co-operation”, he said.

 In his congratulatory statement to the people of South Sudan, US President Barack Obama said he was pleased to announce the intention of the US to recognize Southern Sudan as an independent state in July 2011.

 “After decades of conflict, the images of millions of southern Sudanese voters deciding their own future was an inspiration to the world and another step forward in Africa’s long journey toward justice and democracy”, read the statement.

The January 9-15 referendum was the final phase of implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended over two decades of north-south civil conflict where two million people died and thousands displaced.

Formal declaration of independence is expected to be made on July 9, as unresolved matters like possible north-south border and sharing of national resources and debt remain still.

Referring to his earlier pledge, Obama said that the US will continue to support and work with both governments to ensure a smooth and peaceful transition to independence. He said all parties have a responsibility to ensure that the peace agreement is fully implemented and outstanding disputes are resolved peacefully, at the same time end conflict in Darfur.

Last November, the US government extended existing sanctions on the country following slowed efforts in resolving disputes and fully implementing the peace deal. The measures, declared in October 2006, restrict trade and investment in Sudan and block assets of the Sudanese government and concerned officials.

UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-Moon has welcomed the referendum results, urging both Sudan and South Sudan governments to build on the momentum generated by the successful historical exercise to reach an agreement on outstaying issues.

Over 66 people have been killed in Malakal town of the Upper Nile State since fighting broke out on Thursday between factions of Sudan’s northern army-SAF, after they were ordered to relocate to the north after south’s landslide vote on secession.

The fighting characterized by heavy artillery and machine guns created panic among civilian, paralyzing operations of oil companies in the region. South’s forces, Sudan People's Liberation Army-SPLA, have intervened and restored order, as no civilian casualties have been reported so far.

 Cairo, Egypt

Protesters in new Bid to Force Mubarak Out

Thousands of anti-government protesters in Egypt have poured again into central Cairo’s Tahrir Square and other major cities in a new wave of demonstrations to pressure President Hosni Mubarak to relinquish power.

The protesters regrouped again in the square where thousands others have been camping in tents for three weeks now, despite Mubarak’s latest concession on constitutional reforms.

 Mubarak has made several concessions since demonstrations broke out in January 28, but has failed to appease demonstrators who are demanding for his immediate step down. He first appointed a vice president, then his announcement that he will not seek re-election, also allowed for resignation of top leaders of his party and later 15 per cent pay rise for country’s 6 million civil servants.

 The newly appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman has begun meeting representatives of some opposition parties, including the Muslim Brotherhood, to draw up a road map for a democratic transition.

 President Mubarak has set up commissions to review amendments on the country’s constitution and to inquire into last week’s clashes between pro-government supporters and the protesters. His move is viewed that he is not willing to step down from power within the next seven months.

 Opposition leaders have said that the dialogue is going nowhere, owing to the continued arrests and harassments and they want their key demand to be met.

 The Human Rights Watch says 297 deaths have been confirmed in the past two weeks of chaos, based on reports from nine hospitals in the cities of Cairo, Alexandria and Suez. The victims were mainly of clashes between protesters and Mubarak’s supporters, as others were of battles with police.

 The demonstrations, mainly inspired by the Tunisian uprising, have spilled over to most of the Arab countries, in protest over oppression, widespread corruption and poor economy.

Economic activities in the capital seem to be resuming back to normal, as the army circle the square where the demonstrators are based. The unrest is estimated to be costing the country an average of $310 million daily.

Harare, Zimbabwe

ZANU-PF Minister Linked to Harare Chaos

A minister allied to President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party has been blamed for masterminding Monday’s violence in the capital, Harare that almost stalled operations in the city.

Saviour Kasukuwere, Minister for Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment is believed to have hosted a ZANU-PF youths meeting at his residence where plans to stage a demonstration were devised.

The mob is believed to have spun out of control and went rampage, raiding and looting  businesses and residences in Harare owned by foreigners and coalition partner Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party supporters under watch of the police.

Kasukuwere, whose business interests range from oil to transport and banking, is reportedly to be in charge of the group that is leading chaos in Harare.

ZANU-PF youth militias have been leading unprovoked attacks throughout the country on MDC supporters in recent weeks, a move seen to intimidate people into submission to the party ahead of the planned elections.

The coalition government, formed after disputed election in May 2008, is still divided on issues of equal sharing of posts, and continued rivalry among the two coalition parties- ZANU-PF and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC.

MDC’s ministers have raised concerns over government’s slow response to the now escalating violence which as sources reveal could be state-sponsored. The police have been accused of their partisan stance for failing to arrest perpetrators of the violence but instead they are arresting victims.

MDC's deputy Minister of Justice, Obert Gutu showed his disgrace of the violence directed against his party members, terming them as being “state-sponsored and state-orchestrated”.

The UK based SW Radio Africa reported that ZANU-PF has distanced itself from the youth militias, after arrest of some who have been branded as MDC members who had sabotaged a ZANU-PF demonstration.

The US and European Union have been reluctant to end financial sanctions and a travel ban imposed on Mugabe and his inner circle until continuous human rights abuses and unrelenting power-sharing wrangles in the inclusive government are resolved.