A leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), Mini Arku Minawi expects a coup d'etat in Khartoum once southern Sudan separates from the North. South Sudan is voting in a week-long referendum that ends Saturday on whether it should seceed from the north. After separation, there will be many scenarios, so I expect a coup d'etat and many divisions in President Omar Al-Bashir's party, Minawi told Middle East newspaper in London, Friday. After the vote, the political minorities will have to form an alliance. New armed groups will appear on the island, in the far north and in Khartoum. Peaceful organizations will turn to violent action, Minawi predicted in a statement to the paper. Minawi is the only Darfurian faction leader who signed a peace agreement with Khartoum. He also said he believes the international community will change its attitude toward Sudan's issues after the south breaks from the north. Minawi said that in case southerners choose unity, the SPLM strategy will be to work on achieving democracy and writing a new constitution after holding a comprehensive discussion about all issues. However, this is unlikely as the south is expected to vote overwhelmingly for secession. Minawi believes that if they choose unity, all regions have the right to an independence referendum. If they choose separation, the government will be devoid of constitutional legitimacy and identity as there will be no state. All political powers and armed groups will have to cooperate to solve the country's problems with democracy, including the crisis in Darfur, he said. He urged the Sudanese ruling party to resolve their internal disputes about the Darfur issue, adding that he would return to Khartoum only if this happens. He denied Southern President Salva Kir's declaration on 4 January that Juba, the capital of South Sudan, asked Minawi to leave the area.
