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Head of Sudan referendum commission accuse donors of withholding cash

November 14, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The head of the South Sudan referendum commission (SSRC) Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil voiced frustration on Sunday with foreign donors saying they are unwilling to disburse cash directly to his group.

Southern Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC) Chairperson Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil shows a sample voting card during a news conference at the SSRC headquarters in Khartoum, November 14, 2010 (Reuters)
Southern Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC) Chairperson Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil shows a sample voting card during a news conference at the SSRC headquarters in Khartoum, November 14, 2010 (Reuters)
“They give us finished goods, materials just as you cater for a minor. You don’t give a minor cash in case they should misuse it but give them finished goods and services which, incidentally, we resent,” Khalil was quoted as saying by Reuters.

“The party which has not availed us of any usable money so far is the international donors,” he added.

The statements by Khalil come one day ahead of the kickoff of voter registration for those eligible to decide the fate of Southern Sudan on whether it would remain united with the North or establish its own state.

The self-determination right was afforded by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed between the National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan people Liberation Movement (SPLM).

This month, the United Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) said that it has more than half the $63 million pledged by the donors to support the referendum. However it is not clear if how much of that amount has been received in cash versus logistical material needed for the vote.

A number of donors including the European Union (EU), Sweden, Denmark, Australia, Netherlands and France have yet to fulfill their pledges in full for the referendum process, according to figures provided to Innercitypress website by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The U.S. development agency (USAID) said it had budgeted up to $50 million (31 million pounds) to help with the referendum but confirmed it would not pay any money directly to the commission.

British International Development Minister Andrew Mitchell said no one but the Sudanese government should pay cash directly to the commission.

Khalil also blasted hiring foreign contractors and experts which in one situation complicated the process rather than facilitate it without seeing if there were competent Sudanese to do the same job. He said they had appointed a U.S. law firm which made incomprehensible regulations based on the referendum law. The commission finally had to find a Sudanese firm to do the job.

“This is an utter waste of money,” he said, adding the commission had been delayed by six weeks in moving into its offices because of the delay in funds from the donors.

The national government had paid the commission 9 million Sudanese pounds ($3.8 million) and the semi-autonomous southern government 10 million pounds. But he said international partners were not even consulting the body on much of their work.

Khalil also underscored the very tight timetable for the referendum process which starts with the registration process which will end in 17 days and the voter lists will only be completed just before voting begins on January 9. He revealed that the commission had asked the presidency to make a decision on whether to stick to the tight timetable.

“We said to them that the schedule is very, very tight, pushed to the maximum and it does not have any margin for error, like trucks (carrying voting materials) crashing,” Khalil said. “We are working night and day.”

Khalil said last month that it would be a “miracle” to hold the plebiscite as scheduled on January 9, 2011.

The commission chief also announced that registration would be delayed a few days in Egypt because of a communication breakdown with the government. It would also be delayed in the United States and Australia because southerners there had asked for more registration centers.

(ST)

7 Comments

  • Abuoi Jook
    Abuoi Jook

    Head of Sudan referendum commission accuse donors of withholding cash
    Dear Junubeen,
    I personaly don’t support referendum registration and voting here in Australia leave alone delaying it or opening more centres. voters’ eligibility criteria are not well defined in a formal way that may have included ethnically, State, County, Payam and Boma levels that steadfastly easier identification. let our people back home do the job as IOM is full of Egyptian employees who strongly favour unity of Sudan because of their Northern brothers.
    Please, remember that i am neither being bias here nor negligent about the participation of the Southerners in determining their fate collectively. However, i just view our participation definitely lean towards our own disadvantage and it’s better for those in Australia to abstain from participating.

    As for the referendum chief, please blame both Khartoum Government and the International Community and not international community alone as you have shamelessly alleged. Khartoum has so far failed to give SSRC its share why yelling at donors who even contributed half of their total pledge and keep quiet at Khartoum that did not produce a cent to your committee.
    Hope you get me clear here and thanks.

    Reply
  • emadven
    emadven

    Head of Sudan referendum commission accuse donors of withholding cash
    it’s obious the the Ibrahim is just favoring the government and he does not want the south to separate. People alone in South Sudan is enough to declare South Suda’s independent. all these delays and his voice tone is discouraging people of SOuth Sudan and international community. it’s just his way of delay tactics.. that’s why it should have been appointed a Southerner in first place… how hard is it to make people register in 17.. it’s their future i know Southern Sudanese won’t play with it. As long as it’s done democratically and peacefully it’ll go out well. But the government is just talking down the referendum and not being helful at all..

    Reply
  • makuei
    makuei

    Head of Sudan referendum commission accuse donors of withholding cash
    Mr. Khalil,

    Do you know why the donors are hesitant? Quite simple, they don’t wanna waste their cash on an exercise with flaws that so many people have already menioned. They learnt a lesson from the recent election which was done without proper prior preparation, civic education, and the fact that rigging took place at the time. With the Referendum now, the above shortcomings are evident, too.
    Blame them not.

    Raphael Makuei

    Reply
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