2007 Southern withdrawal at an awareness building rally for the peace agreement, 2006 On 11 October 2007, the SPLM withdrew from the government of national unity (GoNU), accusing the central government of violating the terms of the CPA. In particular, the SPLM states that the Khartoum-based government, which is dominated by the
National Congress Party, has failed to withdraw over 15,000 troops from southern oilfields and failed to implement the Protocol on Abyei. The SPLM stated that it was not returning to war, while analysts noted that the agreement had been disintegrating for some time, notably because of international focus on
the conflict in nearby
Darfur. The SPLM announced that it was rejoining the government on 13 December 2007, following an agreement. The agreement states that the seat of government will rotate between
Juba and
Khartoum every three months, though it appears that this will be largely symbolic, as well as funding for a census (vital for the referendum) and a timetable for the withdrawal of troops across the border. Northern Sudanese troops finally left Southern Sudan on 8 January 2008.
South Sudan Independence A
referendum was held from 9 to 15 January 2011 to determine if South Sudan should declare its independence from Sudan, with 98.83% of the population voting for independence. It became independent as the
Republic of South Sudan on 9 July 2011.
Popular Consultations Popular consultations for
Blue Nile and
South Kordofan were suspended as part of the
ongoing conflict in those regions between the
northern wing of the SPLA and the
Justice and Equality Movement against the central government. ==See also==