Southern Sudan to celebrate independence on July 9th

Written By:PPS,    Posted: Thu, Jun 16, 2011

President Mwai Kibaki with the visiting Southern Sudanese President Silva Kirr who called on him at his Harambee House office today.

President Mwai Kibaki Thursday at his Harambee House office met and held discussions with the Vice President of Sudan and President of the government of Southern Sudan Mr. Salva Kiir who paid him a courtesy call.

During the meeting, Mr. Kiir briefed the President on the outcome of the high level negotiations between President Al Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), early this week, on settlement of the Abyei dispute, particularly the withdrawal of  Sudan forces and the voting rights of the pastoral Misseriya.

Mr. Kiir welcomed the deployment of Ethiopian peace keepers in the disputed Abyei region as a positive step towards peaceful separation of the North and South Sudan as independent states.

On the outcome of the Addis Ababa talks between the two parties, the SPLM leader said that arrangements for the government of Southern Sudan to mark its independence from the North were at an advanced stage.

"Preparations to mark the birth of Southern Sudan state, the newest in Africa, are at an advanced stage. We will be celebrating our independence on July 9^th", Mr. Salva Kiir said.

He expressed his total commitment to peaceful settlement of all pending issues under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which include completion of boundary demarcations, sharing oil proceeds, citizenship, national debts and future currency.

The Southern Sudan leader also expressed appreciation to President Kibaki, the Government and people of Kenya for the continued support to the people of Southern Sudan in their long struggle for independence from the North.

On his part, President Kibaki urged both the North and Southern Sudan governments to peacefully settle emerging issues that may be raising tension ahead of declaration of the Southern Sudan Independence next month.

The Head of State noted that the controversy surrounding the Southern Kordofan elections, Blue Nile and the completion of Southern Sudan draft transitional constitution need be addressed as a priority.

President Kibaki noted that the emergence of new internal rebellions in the south posed a threat to the proposed government and may sow seeds of insecurity and instability hence the need to dialogue and reconcile the parties within Southern Sudan.

 Present at the meeting were Internal Security Minister and acting Minister for Foreign Affairs Prof George Saitoti, Southern Sudan Minister in charge of Presidential Affairs Dr. Cirino Iteng and Foreign Affairs acting PS Amb. Patrick Wamoto among other senior officials.