[South Florida DX Association] The Future Country of Southern Sudan

[Bill]

 From Bernie W3UR:

The Future Country of Southern Sudan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Sudan
  
As reported widely in the world press, the results of the recent referendum
on the future of the Southern Sudan region are now public, and with an
overwhelming majority, the people have readied the way for another
independent state.  Also, the current mother country, the Republic of Sudan,
has agreed to honor the referendum results while the President of the United
States has pledged U.S. recognition of the new country in July, 2011.

The current plan calls for that country to declare its independence on July
9 this year, likely to be followed by its well-prepared entry to world
organizations, such as the United Nations.  Several alternative names for
the new republic are still under consideration – probably the name Sudan
will not be part of the new republic's nomenclature.

With that scenario in mind, a working group has been established to enable
Amateur Radio to enter the scene with a professional, supportive role in the
context of introducing the new country to the world of Amateur Radio.  It
should be noted that this potential new country is emerging with a limited
administrative structure, and the first Amateur Radio activation should -
prior to the operation - be accompanied with a well-thought-out plan
prepared in partnership with Southern Sudan's relevant authorities, such as
telecommunications, security and education.

The group of Alex, 5Z4DZ/PA3DZN; Robert, S53R and Martti, OH2BH has
organized such an effort in discussions with Southern Sudan's institutions
and other related parties in the region.

Many of Southern Sudan’s current institutions are represented in Nairobi,
the home base of 5Z4DZ.  Nairobi makes a practical hub for the project,
facilitating the conduct of negotiations and travel to Juba, the region’s
future capital.

S53R and his team, with several well-known hams, are based in the region and
maintain the telecommunications structure for UNWFP with related
professional contacts.  Their regional offices are in Southern Sudan with
all needed facilities and equipment.

The plan is to use OH2BH’s past work and material for the establishment of
Amateur Radio in evolving societies as a foundation for assisting the
newborn nation to draft and utilize Amateur Radio to its full potential in a
professional setting when Southern Sudan joins the international family of
nations.

As public interest in Southern Sudan will run high over the next several
months, this group has invited Bernie, W3UR to be its spokesman in dealings
with the Amateur Radio community.  The group will also be holding
discussions about the provision of potential help to Southern Sudan's
prospective Amateur Radio Service with several entities, such as NCDXF, in
addition to obtaining resources from Japan.

The group wants to encourage the DX community to closely follow the rather
complicated process unfolding around the emerging new nation, and hopes for
a peaceful continuation of the process as the official referendum results
are announced, leading up to the ultimate declaration of independence by the
new country.

Updates will be released from time to time between now and July, and it is
predicted that prospects for a new DXCC counter are some months away with
preparations well underway.

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