Powersharing Transitional Government – 2005
2005
There was considerable delay in the establishment of the Government of National Unity (GoNU). The CPA provided that the GoNU be established within six months of the signing of the CPA or by 9 July 2005. The dispute over the allocation of energy and mining ministerial portfolio between the National Congress Party (NCP) and the SPLM caused the delay in the formation of the national unity government. Nevertheless, the three member presidency was inaugurated on 9 July 2005. Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir was sworn in as President, John Garang de Mabior as First Vice President and Ali Osman Mohamed Taha as Vice President. The First Vice President, Dr. Garang, was killed in a helicopter crash on 30 July 2005. The vacant position was filled by SPLM leader Lt. General Salva Kiir Mayardiit.1
President Bashir issued four decrees on 20 September 2005 establishing the GoNU. The CPA formula of power-sharing was followed in the formation of the unity government. The GoNU included one presidential assistant, 12 presidential advisors, 28 federal ministers and 33 state ministers. The NCP retained five sovereign ministries (Presidency, Interior, Justice, Defence and Federal Government), six economic ministries (Finance, Energy, Irrigation, Agriculture, International Cooperation and Animal Resources) and four service ministries (Labour and Public Service, Culture and Youth, Social Welfare and Guidance and Endowment). The SPLM received two sovereignty ministries (Council of Ministers and Foreign Affairs), three economic ministries (Foreign Trade, Investment and Transportation) and three service ministries (Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Higher Education). The disputed energy and mining ministry was retained by the president’s party NCP.2 The opposition umbrella group, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) received two ministerial seats on 27 November 2005.3 Other opposition parties did not show interest in joining the GoNU.
As agreed, the National Legislature (the National Assembly and the Council of States) was formed and convened on 31 August 2005. Ahmed Ibrahim El-Tahir (NCP) was elected Speaker for the National Assembly and Atim Garang Deng (SPLM) Deputy Speaker. Ali Yahia (NCP) was elected Speaker and Remo Olair (SPLM) Deputy Speaker of the Council of States. In the 450 member National Assembly, the NCP had 234 seats, SPLM 126 seats, Northern political forces 55 seats, Southern political forces 27 seats, and the remaining eight seats were designated for national personalities. Similarly, the power-sharing formula was adopted in allocating 19 standing specialized committees in the National Assembly. The NCP chaired ten committees, SPLM five, other Northern political forces three and the other Southern political forces one.4
Consistent with the CPA provision, Mr. John Aungi Kasiba from SPLM and Dr. Wahabi Mohamed Mukhtar from NCP were appointed as Deputy Chief Justices. Mr. Jalal-Eddin Mohamed Osman from NCP was appointed as Chief Justice. These appointments were made on 28 November 2005. Similarly, the president and members of the Constitutional Court were sworn in on 31 December 2005.