Sudan announces details of contested census results

May 21, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government announced today the detailed results of the fifth national census that SPLM former rebels have threatened to reject. Counting the results was considered crucial to prepare next year’s elections.


An enumerator interviews a resident on the opening day of Sudan’s 5th National Population and Housing Census in Khartoum, Sudan Tuesday April 22, 2008. (AP)

The total of Sudan’s population is 39,154,490, with 8,260,490 living in the south, 21 percent of the national population, Central Bureau of Statistics head Yassin Al-Haj Abdin announced today in a press conference.

Khartoum’s population is estimated at 5,074,321 followed by South Darfur state at 4,039,594; Al Jazeera state is in the third place with 3,575,280 followed by North Kordofan with 2,920,992.

According to the announced census result, some 520,000 southern Sudanese are living in the north.

Sudan conducted its fifth Population and Housing Census, a milestone in the implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), from April 22 to May 6, 2008. It was the first all-inclusive census for people of southern Sudan since Sudan became independent in January 1956.

The conduct of the census-taking had been hindered by many problems in southern Sudan and South Kordofan. Moreover, political forces and rebels in Darfur called on the government to postpone it until the settlement of the armed conflict in western Sudan.

In southern Sudan, Jonglei State has the highest population with 1,358,602, followed by Central Equatoria State with 1,103,592, Warrap State 972,928, Upper Nile State 964,353, Eastern Equatoria State 906,126, Northern Bahr El-Ghazal state 720,898, Lakes state 695,730, Western Equatoria State 619,029, Unity State 588,801 and Western Bahr El-Ghazal State with 333,431.

Abidin told reporters that the reservations held by the Office of the Census for Southern Sudan on the results of the census had no basis and that these had been superseded by the approval of the presidency.

Southern Sudanese officials say they account for one third of the total population.

The Sudanese presidency in a meeting held on May 6 approved the result of the fifth census. However, the First Vice-President and head of the semi-autonomous government in southern Sudan Salva Kiir Mayadrit said he is unhappy with the results of the census conducted last year and called for it to be excluded from wealth- and power-sharing formulas articulated in the 2005 peace agreement.

The SPLM chairman, speaking on May 18 to the Southern Sudan Sultans conference in Bentiu, the capital of Unity State, said he is "unhappy and unsatisfied with the census results." He also suggested reverting back to the old constituency system in the elections to avoid controversy.

The head of the Southern Sudan Commission for Census, Statistics and Evaluation Isaiah Chol had complained that the numbers of Southerners in the North turned out less than expected. He also expressed surprise regarding the increase in the population of Darfur since the 1993 census.

Chol said that the Southern commission did not get the chance to document the information on the North due to lack of cooperation with the central office.

The fifth census was conducted under the supervision of an independent multiparty stakeholder body that included foreign monitors. Pali Lehohla, from South Africa and chief adviser of the Monitoring and Observation Committee assessed the census operation as a "success."

In a letter obtained by Sudan Tribune dated April 11, he suggested that Sudan’s census was a "unique experience that is worth replicating in other census undertakings especially for countries that are in conflict or emerging out of conflict."

(ST)

27 Forum messages

Sudan announces details of contested census results 22 May 2009 07:11, by Agutran

The so called head of statistics Al-Haj, the numbers don’t add up to the fact that the population of Sudan is 39 plus million. Mr. Yassin Al-Haj you and your team had just been confirmed deceitful with the National census.

Mr. Al-Haj the person of your should be in Nairobi bribing people because that’s what you do the best. Add all your figures up to 39,154,490 and proved to president Kiir that he wasn’t telling the truth.

Mr. Al-Haj you and your gangs should have done your home work well before you throw yourselves under the bus.

Sudan announces details of contested census results 22 May 2009 08:05, by Gatbentiu

This is very superising to all of Southern Sudanese,the head of Southern Sudan commision for Sensus Statistics and Evaluation should tell us what our total population is,instead of blaming Khartoum government. MR.Isaiac Chol please satisfy us,what is the Southern Sudan’s population? or your office has not done enough to tell us what our population is.

dholbentiu@gmail.com
- Sudan announces details of contested census results 22 May 2009 12:36, by Wiyual Wech Puk D. Payol.
  
  the population is so small for the whole south sudan.let president KIIR keeps on rejecting it,i do support.
Sudan announces details of contested census results 22 May 2009 08:36, by Muoranyaar

What a classical failure for Southerners to do their own job..and what’s the better way to justify this failure than to blame our brothers in the North..!! Its a big joke and a shame for any living human to get convinced, that even the Northern Bhar el Ghazal state (Aweil) could be undermine with a figure less than a million. So if there is a failure for us to count ourselves well in the South, then how would one cry foul, someone else hasn’t properly done it for us in the North.The leaders and the statistician in charge (Isaiah Chol..et al) better stop reminding people with their failures particularly during these clock-ticking hours to the final CPA’s demise.
Sudan announces details of contested census results 22 May 2009 10:31, by Hakuna Matata

Hi all:

Lets not blame ourselves and forget that the enemy is playing the same tricks that they always employ.

i can’t blame the head of south sudan statistic commission simply because there was only one census conducted and that was "Sudan Census" there was no separate south sudan census for those of you who want new numbers from him, otherwise more resources should have been allocated for it.

why are we expecting population increase? when millions of southerners have been wiped out by the war and war related problems plus millions are in diaspora and millions displaced to the north.

to me, it is not the population in a country that matter, it is the love and unity among people, we may be 110 millions yet we hates each other, we kill each other everyday like the way murle is doing, at the end of the day we achieve nothing. we may be 8 millions and we love one another, we don’t kill each other we reproduce and multiply, our business prosper, our kids learn, our farms grow the best crop and our land is developed and we finally become a prosperous nation.

lets unite and face Arabs with one voice, otherwise we will be exterminated one by one like the three bulls in African story. beginning with Dinka the most hated and then when they are through with them they will go for Nuer and so on until they reach Murle and Dor at the end of the day.

be blessed.

Hakuna Matata, the Man of the People :)
We are reaping what we sow... 22 May 2009 14:08, by pills

Issaih Chol or GOSS must tell us how many are we, otherwise, they have to shut up and accept the results like gentlemen.

The census results are the natural consequences of incompetence, tribalism, nepotism and favouritsm on the side of Southerners. You reap what you sow...

Sudan announces details of contested census results 22 May 2009 08:17, by Monye Jur

Now the official result is aired out, for me GoSS deserve this result. GoSS is always running after corruption, doesn’t care about the tribal fighting in the south, the insecurity, bandits, and many other bad things in the south. They should have been seriously with NCP policies and should have not allow the count analysis result for south to be done in Khartoum, instead those papers should have been kept at the south Sudan center for statistic and those expert should have been here since south has its autonomous government. This is always the chances and the weak points that the NCP is seeking from SPLM. How can the census result be accurate for us since our president who is the 1st vise president is always the first vise upsent from Khartoum? How can we expect things to be ok for our side meanwhile we are always afraid of being there in confronting the NCP practices? Leaving Pagan and Yasir Arman to be the targets of the NCP of being threatened to the death point because of there standing positions to NCP Practices.

Is it a solution to say we southerners or SPLM refuses the result and that is should not be used for wealth sharing, development distributions, power sharing and many others? Whether we want or not; the NCP will use those figures (census result) for the above mentioned points, because logically; they are the one giving us our 50% share of the oil rather it is not us who are taking our 50 % share from them thought the oil is taken from our region.

This the time, if the SPLM doesn’t wants the census result to be recognized in power or wealth distribution then they must focus their attention to Khartoum and Salva has to be there, or otherwise, the 50% share of oil will drop, their number at national parliament will drop, their ministers at GONU will drop, and many other negative things will happened simply because we are representing only 21% of the total population of Sudan.

Sudan announces details of contested census results 22 May 2009 09:28, by Wilson Wutchok Dhal

Please Chol you should not fear if you know really what you did in the south otherwise people are resenting for nothing. In the fouth census Northern Bhar el Ghazal was six million alone what happen now is it bse of CPA that is underminding our population or what? Arabs and Umaar Al Bashir must put in their minds that south at this time even 1.50000 people, they must get thier own state.

Central Africa republic is about 1.94535 and she is a country. forget your manipulation this no must be recounted inorder to get accurate no of the south sudan. look! Western Equatoria that should alone be five million above is lest than two million. it is a total failure.
Sudan announces details of contested census results 22 May 2009 09:30, by Rodolfo Riak

Dear Southerners

I think the result is good for us. Because of the following reasons:

1. Insecurity in the south sudan prevented counting in many areas. And that is our mistake, not north.

2. Census commissioner doesn’t know his job desciption. Why there were no southerners in the counting centre in Khartoum. And why census office in south doesn’t kept the copy of their own operations.

3. Corruption in the south and sabotages from some officials who don’t want a success of GOSS contributed in this result.

4. lack of experience in the south also is another obsacle.

5. Northerners knows that we will easily forget the result starting from tomorrow if we receive some fund from the north. we will be busy running away with millions of dollars. Also Northerners for sure will come up very soon with new agenda to let us forget the result, and get busy with their new agenda. Example is the rumours of new SPLM-DC coming up soon.

6. some enumerators were not honest when counting people in the areas not belong to them. Just to reduced the numbers of MPS coming from that area.

7.And many other reasons

Let us clean our dirty houses before we laugh at our neighbours dirty houses,
Sudan announces details of contested census results 22 May 2009 10:05, by Isaac Treter

Yes, Southerners who have posted Comments on this web site Regarding detailed Census results;

You are right my friends especially Mr. Monye Jur, the population will be used by the country to share wealth and power accordingly, which mean South will suffer reductions in all matters related to wealth and power and North or the ruling party government in Khartoum is trying to suppress the idea for separation for the Southern People through Such indirect means like lowering Census Results.

What our president Salva Kiir is saying is really right in its sense complaining for the figured out numbers of South Sudanese being 8.2 million which every body in the South is trying to frame up could not be exact as well as the population numbers of Southerners in Khartoum or North in general.

The fight cann,t be leaved to Salva alone, the issue he is talking about is for our case and we have to stand firm during the election of 2010 and referendum on 2011.

There is no means the right for self determination which is very meaningful for Southerners can be dropped out unless there has be a positive change to be figured out by the ruling party in Khartoum equalizing governance to all people in the Country, try to change the previous negative vision of the Government by means of Islamic parameters or sharia.

South Sudan Gov,t have to continue sticks to the preliminaries of the CPA implementation and have to stand firm in putting wide sight to issues related to power and wealth sharing since to an end to serve her people.
Sudan announces details of contested census results 25 May 2009 02:27, by mariar

Good commment Mr Monye Jur. GOSS deserve that census result, because I was kind of cautiouse about the silent of the two leaders, Kiir and Riak on the tribles clashese in the state of Equatoria, Bar-el gezal, Jonglei. Also Kiir seem to have no problem with a result of census and even proved in the first place, then later on complain. So let watch and also be concern for the future of Southern Sudan and the Sudan in general.

Sudan announces details of contested census results 22 May 2009 08:55, by Maker Deng

It is very unfortunate that we Southerners are minority in the 2008 census,Which is not true.This shows the Anti-Southerners by Arabs and we shall stand by our leaders and it will be recorded in the Sudan history that Southerners are the majority because our eyes are widely open.SPLM Leadership potray the true concern of their Motherland."The truth of the matter is that there’s nothing you can’t accomplish if:You clearly decide what it is that you’re absolutely committed to achieving,You’re willing to take massive action,You notice what’s working or not, and You continue to change your approach until you achieve what you want, using whatever life gives you along the way.Therefore,the number given by the so call bureau of statistic is a good-failing lie that the world shall never consider unless the new census is conducted within Sudan and uproad,.Even myself and others were not counted.We shall keep our vision alive and the Black people will be the first class citizen in The Sudan.Long Live SPLM,Long live Black man of the land,Long Live New Sudan,Long live Leading figures of the South.

Sudan announces details of contested census results 22 May 2009 09:13, by Thondet Manyang

Dear Southerners this is how Arabs always sheat us. In reality, this is not an ascuse for Arab again. That is totally not our census figure they know what they have planned for this eight million. Look!!!!Khartoum is 5 million S.Darfur is 4 million, Aljazeera 3 million and N.Kordufan is 2 million if you sum these figures my people, you will definetly realized that ARAB had had done a great trick in this census. I am not counted in this census personally and even more of my colleagues too. Then why should we bother let them work on Northern Sudan census only. And leave us alone we shall come up with our census. Where these find more figures????? On mobile network by forcing people to send their details more special ZAIN. I am sorry to let our people`s names being read by Al Haj. We are not in Mecca, and we are not Arab. Oh!!!! When are we be free from these poor animals (Arabs) killing and cheating us in our virgin land South Sudan. I DON`T WANT TO HEAR THAT FAKE FIGURE BEING USED IN ANYTHING!!!!!!

Sudan announces details of contested census results 22 May 2009 09:31, by Chier Akueny

Dear all, Why do you think arabs cheat us and we don’t also cheat them. I want to ask this question simply because we can have ability of cheating them too and if not, it is because our leaders are weak since they can’t be able to perform any political act.

Wait for 2011, Arabs are going to win us because Southerners didn’t find the right ruling they were expecting during the struggle. I can tell you that some people have never realised whether we are in peace or not, and if such things still happening, then it would better not fought against Arabs of North.

We were struggle for better living atmosphere yet the people are suffering which not expected. If so, we better stopped fighting since.

Cheers

Chier Akuenydit, South Sudan.

Sudan announces details of contested census results 22 May 2009 09:18, by Manyok Manyuon

The census result should not be a supprised to the people of Southern Sudan because we all knows the trick of Arabs.they don’t want anything that will benefit Southerners.

mr Yassin Al-Haj Abdin, you and your war criminal of Sudan don’t forget ICC on your nect,the issue of corrupting census is a minner case because soon we are going to separate from you.

leaders of southern sudan should focus on the CPA so that we reaches referundom.our late H.E Dr Jonh Garang De Mabior told people of Sudan that "this CPA is not for me,for Osman Taha or president Besir,it is for the people of Southern Sudan and all marginalised people of Sudan".my fellow country men if we don’t forget all what he was telling us and put them in practices during referndom we will all be whelming and get the clostrum of CPA because CPA is pregnant with our right.census is already twisted and nothing we can do about.get courage and said JUNUBIEN WAYEEEEEE! for separation.

Sudan announces details of contested census results 22 May 2009 10:04, by Great thinker

Let us not rush to blame the arabs. The fifth census was conducted in South Sudan by South sudanese. It is therefore because of the ignorance and stupidity of the leaders of the South Sudan Population and housing census that our population has been projected low. During the census, uneducated youths were recruited to carry out the census when the leadership of the census commission knew that such people can not successfully conduct the census. Every one wanted his friend and relative to work there so that they can get the money that was going to be paid out to such enumerators and supervisors. The SPLM knew that the census was not going to be a success and they kept quit until the last moment and then start complaining. Let us suffer in silence because of puting wrong people in the most important possitions in our government. We know that the Northern National congress party has been an enemy of South Sudan for a long time but we can not start blamming them for our mess.
- Sudan announces details of contested census results 22 May 2009 11:24, by Nal Dit Kum
  
  As long as white hair Abel Alair is involved in these election efforts, nothing will turn out right. Abel Alair who betrayed southern Sudan in the 1972 peace agreement according to some of my friends here in Cairo, Egypt should not be let to head the election commission because of his historical background betraying the South in 1972.
  
  He will be manipulated in his own interest to betray the South again in 2011 if he’s not dismiss from this post.
  
  Dear President, Vic-president, and other key leaders in southern Sudan, please take this issue seriously. Bring this issue into question with the knowledge that Abel Alair should not be trusted 100% to not betray the South again. You should bring into question his credibility and trust in the process.
  
  If possible, he should be dismiss from this post and appoint somebody trust worthy. Or two people should be appointed into this post. I just don’t trust this bastard Dinka bor white hair. He’s old. He should be retired.
  
  Reply to this comment
- Sudan announces details of contested census results 22 May 2009 15:14, by Manyok Manyuon
  
  your comment is correct mr Great Thinker but that was the Arab word of 1956 when they told southerners on the issue of power sharing that "should somebody come from cattle camp and become a minister or an MP"segregating ourselves will not lead us to the distination,we better ignored blaming ourselves in front of our enemy and focus on the growth of Southern Sudan.
  
  our leaders actual do not know their role but they know their natural enemy that is why we have this opportunity to expressed ourselve,it’s through their struggle for 21years so that we have freedom and it will be our role to eliminated corruption,Triblism,lack of leadership skill and all though of things which lead to distruction of the Nation.

Sudan announces details of contested census results 22 May 2009 10:14, by Chol Manyiel

I am very unhappy for the announcement of the Census result. These results are fake or cooked figures. How can southern sudan have a population of 8,260,490 only. It would have been better not announced these results.

Sudan announces details of contested census results 22 May 2009 12:04, by Mr. Rat Rebites

It this a kind of joke?.

I commented yesterday but one that the SS president should accept the result Kumbe(not knowingly)this is how they have gone so far.

How can my state(lakes state) have a population density of 17.29 people per kilometre(695730/40235km2)i.e 86966.25 people per 8 counties of the state. It is a real comedic Census the world has ever experienced.

Imagine the South sudan of approximately 619746 km2 with 8263490 people and a population density of 13.33 people per km2. i must go back to War(slap the desk and raise the fist).

What is the percentage of women, men and children in this results. i want to know so that we can evaluate the census. i know upto 1987 the number of children(below 18) and women according to UNICEF was 89% combined compare to men in the south Population, do you Guys in south sudan think only 11% men of this population shall have fought the North for 20 years?. the census results are not yet detailed then i shall have gone to the Khartoum tomorrow.

Sudan announces details of contested census results 22 May 2009 12:15, by postmortem

Thank you all for the comments. To those who look into the future of Southern Sudan, the results are not so much bad as Adolfo said. Our house is very dirty and sick from corruption, nepotism, tribalism, community conflicts, disrespect, ignorance, wooliganism, lack of vision and lack of patriotism.

In the real corrupt world, leaders set long term plans to eat while painting a lipstick on their lips that they are doing something for the wanainchi. In southern Sudan, corruption is not a secret and you can see people carrying millions of dollars in kaveras no body say a word. They cause banks to collapse and they are regarded heroes.

Our leaders are rejecting the results because there will be a reduction in resource allocation meaning their looting will reduce dramatically and not because they have an agenda for the people of Southern sudan.

My grandfather told me he has nothing to lose from the consequences of the census results because he has not in the first place benefitted from the little government has received since the CPA was signed.So whether the status quo remain or changes, it doesn’t affect him. All he is waiting for is death and the sooner it befalls him the better he goes to rest from seeing a boat capsising because of negligence.

Isn’t it a right for Chol to get copies of the statistics and results from Khartoum if he knows his terms of reference or he just do not know what to do?

Let us just move ahead with or without the right figures because our ultimate goal is the referrendum.

A part from individuals in the government coming up to say the results were not the correct figures, what is the joint statement of GOSS with regards to these results? What is the way forward?

Sudan announces details of contested census results 22 May 2009 13:16, by Mr. Moto Moto

It is amazing that Southerners are still in disbelieve about the results of the census. I hope it is a nice wake up call for the governement of south sudan to reflect on its role since 2005. Massacres have been taking place throughout south sudan from Jonglei where it has attained the status of an art to Warap, Lakes, Upper Nile and recently Central Equatoria where it is gaining appeal very fast. Western Equatoria traditionally the pride of south Sudan has been left at the mercy of foriegn terrorist who have embarked on a slow genocide program and this is no longer shocking to anyone, but common happening. In fact some people on this website have been advocating for blood bath base on dubious tribal patriotism, certainly where do you expect the added population to come from. On the other hand, hunger and diseases has severely weaken the ability of certain individuals and communities to carry mundane activity such as sex and resort to child abduction from their agile neigbours to swell there numbers. This is quite embarrassing yet not undisputable considering that almost two generations of southern grew on UN relief food that often hadly have enough nutrients to do very demanding activities and never had any form of healthcare. what do you expect? South Sudanese should not be surprise that we are heading to extinction because of poor leadership. Let’s stick with the results, because we are the same people defending these undeserving leadership that have imposed themselves on the southern population.Sometime I wonder whether all of us in south sudan are homo sapiens, I get tempted to accept perhaps we do have homo erectus amongs us

Sudan announces details of contested census results 22 May 2009 16:19, by Dinka Aliap Chawul

This census results is another conspiracy by NIF regime to undermind indenpendent of Southern Sudanese people and must be rejected it in highest terms.Our soveriegnty is clear even if one person is considered to be the only counted to be in Southern Sudan ,i urges SPLM leaderships to be tougher enough on this issue because we Southerners are highly still praticing polygamies marriages by which one individual owns up larger families,our populations is not as that.......NCP`S LYING US.KEEP UP SOUTHERNERS

Sudan announces details of contested census results 23 May 2009 02:56, by Nal Dit Kum

Southerners should worry about these results since we’ll be breaking out anyway. The eight million of southern Sudan will have their own country and we’ll see the Arabs how they are going to distribute their wealth.

But, if southerners are still thinking about United States, then you should worry about these result because the future of southern Sudanese in every public life in Sudan will depend on this result. Now, SPLM supporters need to think twice before moving forward with their stupid New Sudan ideology while northerners keep playing game like this. Ngundeng wayee!!!!!!
- Sudan announces details of contested census results 23 May 2009 08:52, by Hillary B.M.L,M
  
  No way out, complaints Superseded by the Approval, we always cry when things happen. We are to be patient and try next Time.

Sudan announces details of contested census results 24 May 2009 01:21, by J.James

Good

I heard Jongolei got the highest population because Murle turned out to be majority in Jongolei.

Now let it be posted by county and county.

God bless

The writer is a peace activist

Sudan announces details of contested census results 24 May 2009 13:26, by pasa think big

Dear Southerners and the patriotic native of the south Sudan, the below is the only option to trace out whether the results for Census are being highlighted out correctly without logic behind or there is logic behind: Chol Aruai is the head of SSCCSE for 10 states, the is a person who is the head of CBS in the North leader for 15 States. question; is the result for South and the North combined before it could be analsied first by the aprticular part? i.e. the Southerners might know first their number before it could be added to the results in North Sudan.what was the data processing for in Rumbek the Head office for SSCCSE? Should the questionnaires in the Store be checked for approval of results? yes, the store in Rumbek is like a meseum , it stores the old things for future refrence. please, census results is not for joking this time unlike the time when there were no questionnaires to be checked in order to approve that there is logic take care and call for chol Aruai for clearification/explanation