Khartoum government has refuted allegations that it oppresses southern Sudan.
This follows demonstrations by people from southern Sudan living in Uganda on the streets of Kampala last Monday over what they referred to as oppression of Khartoum government to people in southern Sudan.
One of the leaders of the demonstrators, Keneth Deng said, “We want to become independent of the government in Khartoum. They have mistreated us for long.”
Early next year a referendum is to be held in southern Sudan to decide whether southern Sudan should become independent or continue to be part of of northern Sudan.
A statement issued Wednesday from the office of the Presidency in Khartoum says that the suffering in Southern Sudan had been caused by civil wars and not Sharia law as the people of Southern Sudan alleged in Kampala on Monday.
“It is not true that Khartoum discriminates people in Southern Sudan on the basis of race, economy and religion,” read the statement.
Hundreds of Southern Sudanese living in Uganda marched on the streets of Kampala on Monday to show their support for a separate state ahead of a referendum on January 9th, 2011.
The Procession of over 500 people later addressed news personalities in Kampala while blaming the Khartoum government for the widespread suffering in Southern Sudan.
The demonstrators carried placards bearing the picture of former SPLM leader, late John Garanga and the current President of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir.
Southern Sudan produces over 80 per cent of all Sudanese oil, which contributes to a little over 70 per cent of the totality of Sudanese exports. Oil royalties account for 60% of the total revenue in Khartoum and 98% in the semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan.
After the two sides (North and South) agreed under a Comprehensive Peace Agreement to equally share oil resources from Southern Sudan, the lack of probity and accountability has led the Southern Sudan government to doubt the Arab-led Khartoum government, implying a strong possibility of the North keeping a lion’s share of revenue from resources from the South.
