The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), the southern rebel militia turned political party, has dismissed a recent offer by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to exchange the north's oil share for a vote in favor of unity during the impending southern referendum. SPLM officials described the overture as “late.” Analysts overwhelmingly expect the 9 January plebiscite to deliver independence to the South Sudanese, should the process be conducted in a free and fair environment. SPLM officials, however, invited al-Bashir to adopt such a stance on the disputed, oil-rich Abyei region. Atim Garang, SPLM leader and deputy speaker of Sudan' parliament, said southern secession is not merely about oil shares. Garang told Al-Jazeera democratic reform has not taken effect in the country since South Sudan gained semi-autonomy more than five years ago. The independence referendum is a central component to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), an accord struck between northern and southern officials in 2005 that ended more than two decades of civil war. Al-Bashir on Friday reiterated his willingness to make the oil-for-unity swap. But his proposal--delivered during a meeting with the African Union's Peace and Security Council (PSC)--conflicts with one element of the CPA which stipulates a fifty-fifty division of oil between the north and south. National Congress Party, Sudan's ruling political bloc, member Ibrahim Ghandour, defended al-Bashir's offer, arguing the potential deal represents a part of post-referendum arrangements. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
