Great challenges ahead

Al-Saouri said that "there are great challenges awaiting the two parties. They should find a peaceful settlement for the conflict in Darfur and set up necessary arrangements for the coming referendum on self-determination for southern Sudan."

The NCP and the SPLM signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005, putting an end to a two-decade civil war between northern and southern Sudan.

According to the CPA, a popular consultation process is to be conducted at the Blue Nile and the South Kordofan States besides a referendum for Abyei area to decide whether these areas will stay inside northern Sudan or join southern Sudan after a referendum is held in the semi-autonomous south in January 2011.

The biggest challenge before the partners in the upcoming government is how to actually continue the implementation of the CPA, said al-Saouri.

They should complete the implementation of the remaining items of CPA, including the arrangements for the referendum in southern Sudan scheduled for January 2011, in which the southern Sudanese will decide the fate of the semi-autonomous region, he further illustrated.

Dr. Dirar believed that the coming government will inherit heavy burden from the current one.

"The most difficult issues will be those related to the post- separation arrangements for such matters as oil, border demarcation, the issue of nationality, the assets of the newly formed state, its debts and the relation between the two states ( in case the southerners opt for separation), as well as international agreements and others," he said.