"Ask the President Programme" coming to you on Miraya FM. In this programme; our listeners have the chance to ask the President of the government of  Southern Sudan Lt Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardiit questions that are important to them.

And here is the first episode with George Batista and Adau Mayath from Miraya FM.

Miraya FM: Mr. President, you are most welcome. The current post election crises in Kenya coupled with the crises in northern Bahr el Gazal, have resulted in an increasing prices of fuel and basic commodities, which are sending impression that the economy of southern Sudan is vulnerable, although Sudan's oil is produced from the south. Our listeners Ndabu Ugago and Marcello Emilio both from Wau ask: what is the policy of the Government of Southern Sudan on energy and food security?

Salva Kiir: The question on food security in the south dates back to long time ago. The economy of south is connected with the economy of north, and south is still dependent on the north and neighboring countries in providing food and oil. We are on establishing stage, and our priority is to provide security because of the war that was raging in the south and the presence of large quantities of weapons. Yes, we are behind with agriculture, and this is not due to lack of a plan, but as a result of incomplete mechanism of food security and we are working to solve this problem.

As for oil, the oil refineries are in the north, and this is affecting the south. Also there are difficulties in transporting petroleum products from the north to the south, whether by road, by rail or via the river. To solve this problem we will establish oil refineries in the south in coordination with the Ministry of Energy in the government of National Unity to provide the petroleum products. Also the political crisis in Kenya following the elections affected southern Sudan because Kenya is the entrance to the south, resulting in higher prices.

Mr. President, Can you tell us more about the features of food security plan of the Ministry of Agriculture in the south?

I think that the concerned minister is the more able to explain the ministry's plan in details.

Mr. President, I know that, but I think that you as President of the Government of South Sudan can give us the general headlines of the plan?

South Sudan's economy depends on agriculture, which will not succeed unless we invest more of oil revenues in it. I believe that we must focus on supporting small farms.

Abyei is one of the thorny issues that resulted in SPLM's Ministers and Advisors walk-out from the government of National Unity last year, still remains unresolved. Our listeners Majak Nyok and Nyal Bol both from Abyei living in Diaspora ask: what is the situation concerning Abyei Protocol so far? and what is the way forward should your partners the NCP refuses to honor this Protocol?

Abyei Protocol is part of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. It was agreed with the National Congress to form a team of experts to demarcate the borders of Abyei area, which was annexed to Kordofan in 1905. There was conflict on the subordination of the region between North and South, but was annexed to Kordofan for administrative reasons. We agreed with the National Congress that the report of the Commission of Experts is final and binding for both parties. Since the report was issued National Congress rejected the report's findings.

We could not implement the Abyei Protocol due to this rejection. We insist on the implementation of the Protocol by the map prepared by the Committee of Experts. Despite we are back to the Government of National Unity last December, we did not reach a solution for this issue so far.

Mr. President, what about mediations from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) organization?

IGAD has not attempted to mediate because the NCP rejects any mediation by any party. We have proposed in 2006 to call experts who draw Abyei map if the NCP rejected the report of the Committee of Experts to explain the reasons that led them to draw the map on this form, and suggested to resort to the IGAD and the friends of IGAD. We also suggested reaching a political solution between us and the NCP or to go fro arbitration between the two sides. Our main request was the deviation from IGAd, and there was an attempt by Kenyan President Kibaki to call for a one-day summit for IGAD, but the president of NCP refused this suggestion.

Mr. President, we heard that you have appointed Edward Lino as an administrator in Abyei, what are his powers? Will he receives the 2% of the oil revenues of Abyei? Did you agreed about his appointment with the NCP?

Edward Lino was appointed as a delegate for SPLM. He oversees the party affairs and help citizens there. He also oversees the resettlement of people returning from areas of displacement besides overseeing education and health services. We did not agree with the NCP in this regard because this is an internal-party issue, and all parties are free to choose the way in which they operate their staff.

Northern Bahr el Gazal is experiencing serious security threats these days, as Rezeigat Arab militias keep on staging attacks on SPLA troops right from southern Kordofan's town of Mairam, a territory under the control of the SPLM's partners in the CPA the NCP, blocking roads for commercial convoys with food commodities and fuel to south Sudan, to Bahr el-Gazal thus shooting up prices of basic food commodities and fuel, and possibly this may have serious impact on voluntary repatriation of the IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) from the North as they normally travel back home on this road.

Our listener James Majouk from Australia and Nyomachok Deng from Khartoum ask: what is being done to stop this security threat?

The problem that occurred in the northern Bahr el-Gazal and South Kordofan is not the Misseriya, I think that there is no problem between Misseriya and SPLA or between Misseriya and the SPLM or between Misseriya and the Dinka tribe. The problem lies in the fact that there are elements that do not want peace are hiding behind Misseriya events. There are three things people get confused about which resulted in those events, which are:

* In every summer nomads tribes move into southern Sudan with their livestock This is a right guaranteed by the peace agreement.

* Border demarcation problem between northern and southern Sudan.

* Disengagement of forces at the borders.

I've asked the governors of the border-states to make arrangements for the entry of tribes to southern Sudan without any obstacles. And while we are still working on the disarmament of citizens in the south, which we have succeeded in this in some states, we can not allow the Misseriya and other tribes to inter southern Sudan with their arms as they insisted. The government in Khartoum and Kordofan did not even bother to explain it to the tribes, and there are weapons I do not think that Misseriya have the ability to obtain. So I believe that some parties prepared for this to happen. The SPLA dealt with attacks from Misseriya. On December 29^th, we had an agreement with the President that the SPLA will be deployed south of Bahr el Arab, while the Sudanese Army will be deployed in the north till we reach a final agreement on the demarcation of the borders. What happened after that we were not a party to it. We did not prevent any person from reaching Bahr el Arab, we only refused the entry of tribes with their weapons. And we have found IDs of officers and soldiers of the Sudanese armed forces with bodies of the dead after the clashes.

People feel threatened of the spread of tribalism, which works against the development in the south. Our listeners Nanila Christina and Daniel Anthony from Wau are asking about the efforts undertaken by your government to curb this phenomenon?

Despite the political awareness in southern Sudan, some people still using tribalism to divide the tribes and using the tribes against each other. And this is still exists till now. We worked since the beginning to warn people in the south against the harm caused by tribalism and its impact on the development. The current problems are just between individuals and those responsible for these problems will be punished.

But people are talking about some find jobs on tribal affiliations?

When we formed the Anti-Corruption Committee, we did this to investigate all the ministries and all States, and indeed the Commission revealed that employees of some ministries or departments are from one tribe. We do not tolerate such conduct and we are working on the eradication of this attitude. One reason for the delay in dealing with this matter is that we are waiting for the Parliament to issue anti-corruption laws.

In one of his speeches, late Dr John Garang said he would like to take town to the villages. However what we see now is that most states in southern Sudan concentrate the developmental activities in capital towns at the expense of counties or rural areas.

Our listener Gaw Peter Ngundeng in Malakal would like to know your views on this and how you plan to re-address it?

We are planning to transfer the capitals to countryside, but the dominated culture of the people is to move to towns for the services instead of waiting for the services in their areas. In addition to this the development of the south Sudan will take a long time, we are building form the scratch and the funding of development is not quite enough.

Ask the President

"Ask the President Programm" coming to you on Miraya FM. In this programme; our listeners have the chance to ask the President of the government of Southern Sudan Lt Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardiit questions that are important to them.

And here is the first episode with George Batista and Adau Mayath from Miraya FM.

Miraya FM: Mr. President, you are most welcome. The current post election crises in Kenya coupled with the crises in northern Bahr el Gazal, have resulted in an increasing prices of fuel and basic commodities, which are sending impression that the economy of southern Sudan is vulnerable, although Sudan's oil is produced from the south. Our listeners Ndabu Ugago and Marcello Emilio both from Wau ask: what is the policy of the Government of Southern Sudan on energy and food security?

Salva Kiir: The question on food security in the south dates back to long time ago. The economy of south is connected with the economy of north, and south is still dependent on the north and neighboring countries in providing food and oil. We are on establishing stage, and our priority is to provide security because of the war that was raging in the south and the presence of large quantities of weapons. Yes, we are behind with agriculture, and this is not due to lack of a plan, but as a result of incomplete mechanism of food security and we are working to solve this problem. As for oil, the oil refineries are in the north, and this is affecting the south. Also there are difficulties in transporting petroleum products from the north to the south, whether by road, by rail or via the river. To solve this problem we will establish oil refineries in the south in coordination with the Ministry of Energy in the government of National Unity to provide the petroleum products. Also the political crisis in Kenya following the elections affected southern Sudan because Kenya is the entrance to the south, resulting in higher prices.

Mr. President, Can you tell us more about the features of food security plan of the Ministry of Agriculture in the south?

I think that the concerned minister is the more able to explain the ministry's plan in details.

Mr. President, I know that, but I think that you as President of the Government of South Sudan can give us the general headlines of the plan?

South Sudan's economy depends on agriculture, which will not succeed unless we invest more of oil revenues in it. I believe that we must focus on supporting small farms.

Abyei is one of the thorny issues that resulted in SPLM's Ministers and Advisors walk-out from the government of National Unity last year, still remains unresolved. Our listeners Majak Nyok and Nyal Bol both from Abyei living in Diaspora ask: what is the situation concerning Abyei Protocol so far? and what is the way forward should your partners the NCP refuses to honor this Protocol?

Abyei Protocol is part of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. It was agreed with the National Congress to form a team of experts to demarcate the borders of Abyei area, which was annexed to Kordofan in 1905. There was conflict on the subordination of the region between North and South, but was annexed to Kordofan for administrative reasons. We agreed with the National Congress that the report of the Commission of Experts is final and binding for both parties. Since the report was issued National Congress rejected the report's findings. We could not implement the Abyei Protocol due to this rejection. We insist on the implementation of the Protocol by the map prepared by the Committee of Experts. Despite we are back to the Government of National Unity last December, we did not reach a solution for this issue so far.

Mr. President, what about mediations from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) organization?

IGAD has not attempted to mediate because the NCP rejects any mediation by any party. We have proposed in 2006 to call experts who draw Abyei map if the NCP rejected the report of the Committee of Experts to explain the reasons that led them to draw the map on this form, and suggested to resort to the IGAD and the friends of IGAD. We also suggested reaching a political solution between us and the NCP or to go fro arbitration between the two sides. Our main request was the deviation from IGAd, and there was an attempt by Kenyan President Kibaki to call for a one-day summit for IGAD, but the president of NCP refused this suggestion.

Mr. President, we heard that you have appointed Edward Lino as an administrator in Abyei, what are his powers? Will he receives the 2% of the oil revenues of Abyei? Did you agreed about his appointment with the NCP?

Edward Lino was appointed as a delegate for SPLM. He oversees the party affairs and help citizens there. He also oversees the resettlement of people returning from areas of displacement besides overseeing education and health services. We did not agree with the NCP in this regard because this is an internal-party issue, and all parties are free to choose the way in which they operate their staff.

Northern Bahr el Gazal is experiencing serious security threats these days, as Rezeigat Arab militias keep on staging attacks on SPLA troops right from southern Kordofan's town of Mairam, a territory under the control of the SPLM's partners in the CPA the NCP, blocking roads for commercial convoys with food commodities and fuel to south Sudan, to Bahr el-Gazal thus shooting up prices of basic food commodities and fuel, and possibly this may have serious impact on voluntary repatriation of the IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) from the North as they normally travel back home on this road.

Our listener James Majouk from Australia and Nyomachok Deng from Khartoum ask: what is being done to stop this security threat?

The problem that occurred in the northern Bahr el-Gazal and South Kordofan is not the Misseriya, I think that there is no problem between Misseriya and SPLA or between Misseriya and the SPLM or between Misseriya and the Dinka tribe. The problem lies in the fact that there are elements that do not want peace are hiding behind Misseriya events. There are three things people get confused about which resulted in those events, which are:

* In every summer nomads tribes move into southern Sudan with their livestock This is a right guaranteed by the peace agreement.

* Border demarcation problem between northern and southern Sudan.

* Disengagement of forces at the borders.

I've asked the governors of the border-states to make arrangements for the entry of tribes to southern Sudan without any obstacles. And while we are still working on the disarmament of citizens in the south, which we have succeeded in this in some states, we can not allow the Misseriya and other tribes to inter southern Sudan with their arms as they insisted. The government in Khartoum and Kordofan did not even bother to explain it to the tribes, and there are weapons I do not think that Misseriya have the ability to obtain. So I believe that some parties prepared for this to happen. The SPLA dealt with attacks from Misseriya. On December 29^th, we had an agreement with the President that the SPLA will be deployed south of Bahr el Arab, while the Sudanese Army will be deployed in the north till we reach a final agreement on the demarcation of the borders. What happened after that we were not a party to it. We did not prevent any person from reaching Bahr el Arab, we only refused the entry of tribes with their weapons. And we have found IDs of officers and soldiers of the Sudanese armed forces with bodies of the dead after the clashes.

People feel threatened of the spread of tribalism, which works against the development in the south. Our listeners Nanila Christina and Daniel Anthony from Wau are asking about the efforts undertaken by your government to curb this phenomenon?

Despite the political awareness in southern Sudan, some people still using tribalism to divide the tribes and using the tribes against each other. And this is still exists till now. We worked since the beginning to warn people in the south against the harm caused by tribalism and its impact on the development. The current problems are just between individuals and those responsible for these problems will be punished.

But people are talking about some find jobs on tribal affiliations?

When we formed the Anti-Corruption Committee, we did this to investigate all the ministries and all States, and indeed the Commission revealed that employees of some ministries or departments are from one tribe. We do not tolerate such conduct and we are working on the eradication of this attitude. One reason for the delay in dealing with this matter is that we are waiting for the Parliament to issue anti-corruption laws.

In one of his speeches, late Dr John Garang said he would like to take town to the villages. However what we see now is that most states in southern Sudan concentrate the developmental activities in capital towns at the expense of counties or rural areas.

Our listener Gaw Peter Ngundeng in Malakal would like to know your views on this and how you plan to re-address it?

We are planning to transfer the capitals to countryside, but the dominated culture of the people is to move to towns for the services instead of waiting for the services in their areas. In addition to this the development of the south Sudan will take a long time, we are building form the scratch and the funding of development is not quite enough.

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