Concern Over North-South Border Demarcation Process

9 November 2010 – (Yambio) – Much concern has been raised about the ongoing negotiations between the CPA partners on the north-south border demarcation process.

Questions on whether the border demarcation exercise should take place before or after the southern referendum has been a bone of contention between NCP and SPLM.

Speaking to SRS from Yambio, the Governor of Western Equatoria state Joseph Bakosoro said that the referendum can be conducted without the border demarcation.

[Joseph Bakosoro]: “I don't see any connection between the demarcation of south-north border and referendum, the referendum has to take its course, you know during the census, it was said that the census can’t be conducted without demarcating the border we did it. The elections also, the border was to be demarcated before the elections and yet the elections took place, referendum can also be conducted without demarcating the border because it has no connection. Khartoum government is not going anywhere in demarcating the border, so let us go the way we have been coming. Secession of Sudan, south from North will not affect any income generating activities or any revenue collections.”

That was the governor of Western Equatoria state Joseph Bakosoro speaking to SRS from Yambio on Tuesday.