Zhang Sudan, easy separation of the family's wealth is difficult

 Zhang Shanghai Institute of International Research Associate, Centre West Africa


how to split the family property north and south Sudan, after the referendum is really a difficult problem, but also very likely to lead to South Sudan war again the focus.

though to wait until next month to finally know the results of the referendum in southern Sudan, but the 21 Southern Sudan Referendum Commission said preliminary results show that up to 98.6% of people support the independence of Sudan from the southern region. Since then, the largest land area in Africa, the world's ninth largest in the Sudan will cease to exist, will be split into northern and southern Sudan, two countries, Sudan - of course, the specific name of the country may also change.

This result is almost north and south Sudan in 2005 signed the Although some later repeated, but the South insisted little change in the attitude of independence, even when this may not be independent at the beginning of a comprehensive and thorough as it is today. But in 2007, after 2008, this attitude gradually become more resolute. April 2009, the Sudanese presidential election held in the country, when he was President of Southern Sudan, Sudanese First Vice President Kiir choose to give candidates the Sudanese First Vice President, President of Southern Sudan only candidate. Meanwhile, the southern Sudanese in this election most of them choose to support Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. These two gestures for one purpose only, namely, In the second half of 2009, the Southern Sudan generally filled with an atmosphere that can not be achieved on time if the referendum or referendum result is not again broke out.

Now the question is, since the north-south Note that the first In other words, how to split the family property north and south Sudan, after the referendum is really a difficult problem, but also most likely lead to the outbreak of war in South Sudan, once again the focus.

this context, the First and most importantly, the oil division of property issues. Sudan since 1997, with the help of the Chinese oil industry quickly realized the industrialization of an oil net importer from developing into an export country, including the establishment of a sound on the middle and lower reaches of the energy industry. But the crux of the matter is that oil resources in Sudan, 85% are in southern Sudan. North and South after the separation, the oil is certainly not going to move to the north. But related problem is that the North controls the oil pipeline. Therefore, the North and South must cooperate, or are unable to ship the oil south to the world markets. The second problem, is still mainly oil-related, that is, the attribution of the Abyei region. According to the 2005 Very rich resources of the region, southern Sudan's oil is also a significant part in this region. Currently, the region's referendum has been postponed to a later date has been set. Sudan, in fact, already tried the jurisdiction of the area re-classification - and of course get the consent of southern Sudan, but has yet to win the final OK. The third problem, perhaps more associated with the water, the Nile flows north and south Sudan, the dam was originally established as the Sudan has led to a number of international events discontent, and now the right to add a claim by the Nile (southern Sudan), in the future river resource issues surrounding the dispute may be further developed.

, of course, the separation is not only related to Despite the long civil war between north and south, but the exchanges between the peoples of north and south Sudan are many. 80% of the southern Sudanese in northern Sudan have a business or a relative, 20% of people in southern Sudan, northern Sudan have business or family, part of the nomadic tribes living in the dry during the rainy season in the north and south Sudan, alternate. Therefore, after the separation of North and South Sudan, how to divide the national borders, how to ensure that issues such as civil rights is quite complex. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has stated that if an independent southern Sudan, then under current law the Sudan, is not allowed dual nationality. This means that the vast majority of southern Sudanese in northern Sudan and minority business and life in the future will be severely affected. North and South Sudan, which in turn will have a significant national impact of the boundary delimitation: it should be a full range of border, or just political - sense of border security.

The good news is, even if the referendum in southern Sudan to split, then the result from the referendum to formally split the period into early July 2011 there are nearly 6 months transition period for the north and south Sudan negotiate a proper arrangement to provide a buffer. Although the task is still arduous, but better than nothing, I hope there is no war, peaceful separation can be achieved. At the same time, I hope this peace for Africa and the world split within the nation-building will not cause too much impact.