June 26, 2010 (SSNA) — North and South Sudan are set to begin secession negotiations on July 5. The announcement comes three days after the two parties signed an agreement hosted by Addis Ababa.
On June 23, South Sudan’s ruling party, SPLM, and NCP, signed an agreement in Mekelle, Ethiopia. Under the agreement, the two sides will expand their discussion on issues of national debt, citizenship, water, and international treaties.
The revenue sharing will be one of the issues negotiated, Pagan Amum, South Sudan’s new Minister of Peace and CPA Implementation said.
The comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) stipulated that, oil revenues will be share equally between North and the South. For the last five years, the semi-autonomous government has been accusing Khartoum of “oil price manipulation” but Khartoum denies the charges.
“Is this going to continue? Is it going to change? It may likely change,” he said. “Is Southern Sudan going to pay fees for the use of the pipeline that is going through the north? These are issues that we will be discussing”, Amum told Bloomberg.
A high level delegation led by Pagan Amum visited the United States this month, where they met with United Nations and U.S. officials.
“We have received assurances from the Security Council that they will ensure the conduct of the referendum to take place on time in January 2011 and that these members will recognize, accept, and respect the choice of the people of Southern Sudan,” Amum was quote by the Bloomberg as saying.
The Security Council is one of the United Nations main organs and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Under the UN charter, the Council, can establish peace keeping operations anywhere around the world.
The self-determination for Southern Sudan will take place by January 9, 2011. South Sudanese are widely expected to vote for separation.