The new Government of Southern Sudan
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005 has brought an interim system of Government for Sudan. There is a national Government, based in Khartoum in the north, and a separate Interim Constitution for Southern Sudan. The national Government includes Southern representation: for example the President of Southern Sudan is the First Vice President of the Khartoum Government.
Southern Sudan has considerable autonomy under its interim constitution. Foreign affairs are the main area reserved to the national Government, along with issues such as immigration and customs duties. But internal matters are effectively left to the government of the South.
The Southern Sudan Government is based in Juba. The constitution provides a Bill of Rights and guiding principles (along with a Council of Ministers, legislature, judiciary and civil service etc). The constitution provides for a democratic, representative system, with equality of all people, and a multicultural ethos. All religions are to be treated equally. English and Arabic are the official working languages, but all indigenous languages are to be respected, developed and promoted. Decentralisation to the 10 states within Southern Sudan is a principle underlying the constitution.
The challenges
The Christian denominations feel grievances at the past actions of the Muslim Government in Khartoum. The Muslim community, a majority in the Khartoum Government, will be a small minority in the South and will no doubt feel the risk of being marginalised. Many of the 100 or more tribes in the south have long standing enmity with others.
Resolution of these deeply held feelings will be a challenge for a new Government starting to manage a new country from scratch.