Sudan has an estimated population of 41.2 million, led by a Government of National Unity (GNU), whose mandate extends until scheduled elections in 2009. The government is composed of the National Congress Party (NCP), dominated by Islamists from the north and led by President Omar al-Bashir, and the SPLM, made up predominantly of Christians and practitioners of indigenous religions from the south and led by Vice President Salva Kiir. The CPA granted the NCP a majority in a northern assembly and GNU. The SPLM acts as the ruling party of the autonomous Government of Southern Sudan, established in October 2005. A referendum to determine whether the South will become an independent entity was granted under the CPA for 2011.