Kibaki urges Sudan support over referendum

President Kibaki has called on the international community to lend its support to Sudan as it prepares for a referendum in January.

The Kenyan leader told a meeting on Sudan at the sidelines of the 65th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York Friday that such support should be within the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (Igad).

Thanking the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, for convening the meeting, President Kibaki noted that Sudan was staring at a defining moment with regard to the lifespan of implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

The Head of State affirmed that the Igad region has faith that the unprecedented political settlement holds the key to peace and stability not only in Sudan but also to her neighbours and the entire region at large.

The President noted that Kenya’s sustainable peace was significantly linked to stability in the Sudan.   

President Kibaki said that early this year, he hosted an IGAD Special Summit on Sudan in Nairobi, which called upon the two parties to develop a working formula that would ensure collaboration for the effective implementation of the CPA. 

The Summit, noted the President,  welcomed the decision by the two parties to immediately commence negotiations on post referendum arrangements.

“As the Chair of the IGAD Committee on Sudan, which is the principal guarantor to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that was signed in 2005, I have remained actively engaged with the peace process in the Sudan,” the Head of State said. 

President Kibaki applauded the parties to the CPA for achieving significant progress in its implementation and for demonstrating remarkable courage under difficult circumstances to remain on course. 

The President stated that he was particularly encouraged by the personal assurances he had received from both President Omar Al Bashir and First Vice President Salva Kiir to work together to resolve the outstanding issues.

“Early this month, I dispatched my Minister of Foreign Affairs to Khartoum and Juba to urge both parties to stay the course on the implementation of the CPA,” the President said.

Noting that regular high level consultations are important at this stage of implementation, President Kibaki committed to be consulting both parties with a view to convening another Igad Special Summit on Sudan in November, 2010. 

“The Summit will take stock of progress achieved in addressing the outstanding issues, including efforts relating to the post referenda arrangements.” 

He expressed confidence that the high level convention would enable involved parties to emerge with renewed commitment to solidly stand with Sudan and its people as they made critical steps into the future.  

Earlier, President Kibaki at his hotel separately met and held discussions with the First Vice-President of Sudan and President of the Southern Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit and Second Vice-President Ali Osman Twaha.

During the meetings, President Kibaki urged the two parties to remain faithful to the contents and spirit of the CPA to ensure its successful implementation.

He urged them to remain on course with regard to the forthcoming referendum scheduled for January, which could bring independence to the people of southern Sudan, and to ensure it is conducted peacefully as well as to accept the verdict of the process.

They both affirmed to remain faithful in the implementation of the CPA.

In attendance were Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetangula, outgoing Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN Muburi Muita and Kenya’s Ambassador to United States Elkanah Odembo and other senior government officials.