The SPLM is still negotiating with the NCP on major controversial issues.
Deputy Secretary General of SPLM Southern Sector, Dr. Anne Itto, told SCR News that the border demarcation between North and South is the main controversy. The border of 1956, has not been officially defined.
The other issue is about the allocation of 46 additional seats for Southern Sudan and Southern Kordofan in the National Assembly, to rectify the inaccurate data of the census 2008. Dr. Anne Itto said that the number of additional seats have been agreed upon by NCP and SPLM, and the seats will be allocated by nomination, but the Elections Law 2008 has still to be amemded, to bring from 450 to 496 the number of seats in the Sudan National Assembly .
Last week the Political Bureau of SPLM appointed its Vice-Chairman, Dr. Riek Machar, and a team to discuss the pending issues with NCP.