GOSS Press Rrelease on 5th National Population and Housing Census

Wednesday, 16 April 2008

THE REPUBLIC OF THE SUDAN

The Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS)


GoSS Press Release Dated 16th April, 2008

1. Yesterday the 15th of April 2008, the Council of Ministers of the Government of Southern Sudan in its extraordinary meeting No. 3/2008, listened to the briefing of H.E General Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Government of Southern Sudan, on the discussions of the institution of the Presidency regarding the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Government of Southern Sudan (No. 95/2008 dated 11th April 2008) deferring the conduct of census in Southern Sudan. The Council of Ministers also critically studied and analyzed the contents of the Press release sent from the Institutions of the Presidency to the office of the First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan , H.E General Salva Kiir Mayardit, stating the response of the Institution of the Presidency on the resolution of the Government of Southern Sudan.

2. After listening to the brief of H.E President General Salva Kiir Mayardit and, after careful and critical analysis of the Press Release sent from the Institution of the Presidency, the Council of Ministers of the Government of Southern Sudan appreciated the efforts made by H.E General Salva Kiir Mayardit to defend the concerns of the Council of the Ministers of the Government of Southern Sudan in the Institution of the Presidency and noted the following:

2.1 That the Institution of the Presidency did not set aside resolution No.95/2008 of the Government of Southern Sudan concerning deferment of the 5th National Population and Housing Census in Southern Sudan.

2.2 That the Institution of the Presidency concurred with the concerns raised by the Government of Southern Sudan in its resolution No. 95/2008 and made positive proposals to resolve some of the difficulties highlighted in the resolution. Some of the important proposals the Institution of the Presidency, in recognition of the concerns of the Government of Southern Sudan, made are that it;

2.2.1 Directed the GONU, GOSS and all the concerned institutions to exert all efforts to work collectively and to mobilize more resources and exert more efforts to overcome any obstacles which may hinder the voluntary return of the Internally Displaced People (IDP) from Northern Sudan.

2.2.2 Directed all levels of Government in the Sudan to secure the process of population and Housing census all over the Country, including the provision of the necessary resources.

2.2.3 Directed all the concerned institutions to use the National census, National surveys and the results of statistical analysis to determine the socio-cultural diversity of the Sudan , plan for sustainable development and to strengthen the positive values of diversity in our Country.

2.2.4 In view of the above, the Institution of the Presidency deferred the Census date from the 15th April 2008 to the 22nd of April 2008 to allow time for the above proposals to be implemented so as to address the concerns expressed by the Government of Southern Sudan.

3. Without Prejudice to the resolution of the Institution of the Presidency, the Government of Southern Sudan envisages that the following needs to be urgently addressed in order for the 5th National Population and Housing Census to go ahead on the 22nd April 2008 as proposed by the Institution of the Presidency;

3.1 Funds for security arrangements to secure the process of Population and Housing Census throughout Southern Sudan be availed.

3.2 The repatriation of the Internally Displaced and Refugees to Southern Sudan be expedited and intensified.

3.3 Forms and census questionnaires in the appropriate language and the required quantities be taken to the various areas of Southern Sudan since the forms and the questionnaires delivered to most of the areas in Southern Sudan are inadequate and in most cases in language that is not used in particular area.

3.4 Inadequate mobility and logistics facilities in almost all the areas of Southern Sudan needs to be addressed as this will undoubtedly impact on the success of the census process.

4. The Government of Southern Sudan recognizes that funding requirements for the entire census process is within the competency of the Government of National Unity and it appreciates the positive proposals made by the Institution of the Presidency that funds be released to address the concerns of the Government of Southern Sudan as enumerated in 3.1 to 3.4 above.

5. The Council of Ministers of the Government of Southern Sudan concluded, in its extraordinary meeting in No. 03/2008 dated 15th April 2008, that if funds were availed and the other concerns addressed, the Government of Southern Sudan has no objection to proceed with Census on the 22nd of April 2008 even though the deferment period of seven (7) days appears too short for all the concerns raised by the Government of Southern Sudan to be addressed.

6. In light of the above, and in order to address the concerns of the Government of Southern Sudan, and achieve the desired objectives of the 5th National Population and Housing Census, the Institution of the Presidency may have to extend the deferment period or extend the counting period in Southern Sudan, which ever may be deemed most appropriate by the Institution of the Presidency.

7. Finally, the Government of Southern Sudan, under the current incomplete status of preparedness for a successful outcome of the 5th National Population and Housing Census, reserves the right to have an opinion on the general outcome of the Census results and the application of such results to:

7.1 Determine the ethnic, religious, cultural, social and economic diversity of the Sudan .

7.2 Confirm and/or adjust the power and wealth sharing arrangements as stipulated in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

END OF PRESS RELEASE

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