Wisdom on Sudan

"If [Southern Sudan] chooses secession, an independent state will be born as soon as the vote is announced. But independence is more than secession. Independence cannot happen without a whole range of agreements on fraught questions. Assets need to be divided – oil revenues, water, national infrastructure and other assets. Nationality needs to be defined. Any new currency will need to come into circulation at a price that is sensitive to the interests of many different economic groups. Somaliland and Eritrea are two nearby political entities that have recently fought wars after secession, in part because these issues were not addressed."

Edward Thomas, Chatham House

...

it is vital that the international community encourage and support negotiations on postreferendum arrangements

Jon Temin, US Institute of Peace (HT: Maggie Fick)