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GOVERNANCE

PLANS FOR 2013

Government Spokesperson

Highlights On 2013 Plans

The year 2013 is highly expected to be for the implementation of post secession issues,
to focus on agriculture and speed up nation building process. The signing of the nine
agreements was last year hyped up as a milestone but its implementation is yet to put
smiles on the faces of the citizens who have had to readjust to the austerity measures. South
Sudan’s Government Spokesperson, Dr. Barnaba Marial spoke to Gurtong’s Correspondent
Waakhe Simon Wudu on the government plans for 2013.

Intense efforts to resolve the post
independence issues between Sudan and
South Sudan will again dominate in the
New Year as the two nations try to turn
the fortunes of the countries.
To date, Sudan and South Sudan have
failed to finalise the implementation of
the Nine Agreements and the remaining
post secession issues of Abyei and other
disputed areas.
In September 2012, the Heads of
States of the two Nations; President
Salva Kiir and Omar Al Basir of South
Sudan and Sudan respectively signed
the Cooperation Agreements under the
auspices of the African Union High
Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP). The Government Spokesperson Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin during a press conference
at the Government Secretariat in Juba. [Gurtong | Waakhe Simon Wudu]
However, to date, the agreements have
remained on paper and the leaders from which nearly reached fully fledged war spokesperson however knows that
the two countries are re-negotiating the over Heglig and other border issues. implementation of the agreements won’t
agreements. The UN Security Council had to pass be easy as he accused Khartoum of being
The year, 2012 faced enormous Resolution 2046 giving both nations an reluctant to execute the implementation
economic and political challenges that ultimatum to resolve the issues or face of the deals signed.
have halted most of the development sanctions. He pronounced several sources South
projects following the oil shutdown in Besides the bilateral conflicts with Sudan is looking at to push on in case
January. Sudan, internal conflicts in Jonglei, the oil does not start to follow soon as
The infant nation then had to resort Lakes and Western Bahe el Ghazal states expected.
to the now famous austerity measures took more effort from the government “Now if these agreements are not
which never used to be common aThe implementation of the agreements implemented, then AUHIP will make
terminology before the oil shutdown. according to Dr. Marial is a key a report to the AU Peace and Security
Tensions and hostilities flared between priority for 2013 as well as boosting Council (AUPSC) which is in a position
the two countries in April last year the agricultural sector. The government to propose solutions like the final status

16 | Gurtong Focus Monthly February 2013