PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
AU urges Sudan, South Sudan to complete ongoing discussions on nationality
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) – The African Union (AU) on Friday appealed to authorities in Sudan and South Sudan to adopt processes for the acquisition of nationality and relevant immigration documentations that are efficient and accessible to individuals, according to an AU press statement received here by PANA.
Khartoum and Juba have held talks on nationality under the auspices of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), bringing together negotiators from the two States to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 12 to 15 February, 2012. The facilitator of the talks was former Burundi President Pierre Buyoya, who is a member of the AUHIP.
According to the press release, the discussions focused particularly on the implementation of the Transition Period agreed to by the Parties and due to expire on 8 April, 2012. The Parties sought to adopt joint actions to address the status and treatment of the nationals of each State residing within the territory of the other State.
The discussions also addressed the important concept of the Four Freedoms, which would permit the movement, residence, economic activity and ownership of property within the territories of the two States.
Dr. Jean Ping, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, has noted the progress each State has made to adopt legislation relating to nationality, the statement indicated.
It said the two sides had also talked about the question of returns when they discussed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Regarding the Returns of Southern Sudanese signed in Khartoum, on 12 February, 2012.
“Dr. Ping commends both Parties for taking important joint decisions aimed at facilitating safe and dignified voluntary returns, and urged them to ensure that the MoU is implemented in full. The Chairperson continues to take a keen interest in the humanitarian situation of South Sudanese who are in transit to South Sudan and looks forward to the successful completion of the repatriation exercise.” it stated.
The International Organization on Migration (IOM) had earlier in the month warned that there were over half a million southerners who should return to their home area by the end of April this year, hinting that this was not feasible practically given the lack of adequate routes and means of transportation and preparedness on the part of two sides.
But the AU statement said Dr. Ping had noted that the two States had made significant progress in the negotiations and “welcomes the decision, in principle, to establish a Joint High-level Committee to oversee the implementation of joint measures relating to all matters regarding the status and treatment of nationals of the other State.”
The statement said the Chairperson strongly supports the recommendation made by the AUHIP that the two States establish a Joint High-Level Committee to immediately address all outstanding issues, giving priority to humanitarian aspects, in particular, returns, documentation, the Four Freedoms and a further review of the Transition Period.
“The Chairperson looks forward to the early signing of the text on Nationalities and Related Matters prepared by the AUHIP,” the statement indicated, adding that Dr. Ping was, however, “distressed” to learn of demonstrations by Southern Sudanese citizens residing in Khartoum on 15 February, 2012.
"Such incidents underscore the importance of the two states reaching agreement on all matters pertaining to the status and treatment of their nationals in the other state. It is a matter of critical importance to the lives and well being of thousands of Sudanese and Southern Sudanese citizens," he was quoted as saying.
The Chairperson impresses upon the Parties the need to consider, as paramount, the welfare and rights of all citizens, Sudanese and South Sudanese, residing in either state.
Two days ago, a group of former soldiers who hail from the south and who up to the June 2011 referendum results were part of the Sudan army, demonstrated because they were laid out as part of the arrangements that southerners return to the south and northerners go to the north, but unlike their senior army officers they did not receive end of the service remunerations as stipulated in the agreements.
However, police and political interventions put that demonstration down after a one hour closure of the road leading to the main airport in Khartoum.
-0- PANA MO/VAO 17Feb2012
Khartoum and Juba have held talks on nationality under the auspices of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), bringing together negotiators from the two States to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 12 to 15 February, 2012. The facilitator of the talks was former Burundi President Pierre Buyoya, who is a member of the AUHIP.
According to the press release, the discussions focused particularly on the implementation of the Transition Period agreed to by the Parties and due to expire on 8 April, 2012. The Parties sought to adopt joint actions to address the status and treatment of the nationals of each State residing within the territory of the other State.
The discussions also addressed the important concept of the Four Freedoms, which would permit the movement, residence, economic activity and ownership of property within the territories of the two States.
Dr. Jean Ping, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, has noted the progress each State has made to adopt legislation relating to nationality, the statement indicated.
It said the two sides had also talked about the question of returns when they discussed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Regarding the Returns of Southern Sudanese signed in Khartoum, on 12 February, 2012.
“Dr. Ping commends both Parties for taking important joint decisions aimed at facilitating safe and dignified voluntary returns, and urged them to ensure that the MoU is implemented in full. The Chairperson continues to take a keen interest in the humanitarian situation of South Sudanese who are in transit to South Sudan and looks forward to the successful completion of the repatriation exercise.” it stated.
The International Organization on Migration (IOM) had earlier in the month warned that there were over half a million southerners who should return to their home area by the end of April this year, hinting that this was not feasible practically given the lack of adequate routes and means of transportation and preparedness on the part of two sides.
But the AU statement said Dr. Ping had noted that the two States had made significant progress in the negotiations and “welcomes the decision, in principle, to establish a Joint High-level Committee to oversee the implementation of joint measures relating to all matters regarding the status and treatment of nationals of the other State.”
The statement said the Chairperson strongly supports the recommendation made by the AUHIP that the two States establish a Joint High-Level Committee to immediately address all outstanding issues, giving priority to humanitarian aspects, in particular, returns, documentation, the Four Freedoms and a further review of the Transition Period.
“The Chairperson looks forward to the early signing of the text on Nationalities and Related Matters prepared by the AUHIP,” the statement indicated, adding that Dr. Ping was, however, “distressed” to learn of demonstrations by Southern Sudanese citizens residing in Khartoum on 15 February, 2012.
"Such incidents underscore the importance of the two states reaching agreement on all matters pertaining to the status and treatment of their nationals in the other state. It is a matter of critical importance to the lives and well being of thousands of Sudanese and Southern Sudanese citizens," he was quoted as saying.
The Chairperson impresses upon the Parties the need to consider, as paramount, the welfare and rights of all citizens, Sudanese and South Sudanese, residing in either state.
Two days ago, a group of former soldiers who hail from the south and who up to the June 2011 referendum results were part of the Sudan army, demonstrated because they were laid out as part of the arrangements that southerners return to the south and northerners go to the north, but unlike their senior army officers they did not receive end of the service remunerations as stipulated in the agreements.
However, police and political interventions put that demonstration down after a one hour closure of the road leading to the main airport in Khartoum.
-0- PANA MO/VAO 17Feb2012
