Naivasha at its second anniversary

By Roba Gibia

Jan 16, 2007 — As we celebrate the second anniversary of Naivasha peace accord, we have to ask ourselves several key questions, is Naivasha treaty being implemented as stipulated in the CPA, are the two signatories keeping their promise and commitment to the Sudanese people, what have been achieved so far in the past two years in the terms of implementation process, what are the obstacles confronting implementation process, what SPLM has accomplished in terms of its political transformation as well as modernizing SPLA into professional soldiers, what has been so far achieved by the government of south Sudan in terms of fundamental projects, constructions and security wise, what has government of national unity attained toward making the unity of the country attractive in terms of executing proposed projects in the war torn areas, is President Bashir and his NCP party actually credible and honor their words? Lots of endless questions will continue to float around in the minds of peace loving people whenever they recall speeches delivered on and after this historic occasion and the current unfolding events.

There were some most touching events which we have to declaim at this juncture in order to remind our leaders for the non-fulfillment of their promises. As during the funeral rites of our late leader Garang on August 6, 2005 in Juba, President Bashir took hand of Salva Kiir as a sign of solidarity and said “We will be strong and together. We say to our brother Salva Kiir that we will remain hand-in-hand to apply the peace agreement to the letter”, which was an emotional moment and almost everyone believed that Bashir was speaking from his heart, sincere and faithful in his words, and not raising a mere political slogan, but are they still hand-in-hand? I think many will wonder, where is your pledge Mr. President on the actuality, and what made you to desist and be selective in implementing the clauses of peace agreement, hadn’t you know that CPA is an indivisible entity and any breach of its clause will derail and infect the whole process! It is really outrageous when you were credit but not worth of it. Mr. President, why you decided to pin down two vital clauses, Abyei Protocol and north-south demarcation boundary despite your commitment to implement the peace pact to the letter! As we celebrate second anniversary of Naivasha agreement, sadly enough Abyei remains without administration as stipulated in treaty, and this is deplorable situation and you owe Sudanese people in general and Abyei in particular an explanation or otherwise you are going to lose your credibility and trust before the Sudanese people.

During AU summit in Khartoum, President Bashir said “We are fully devoted to restoring security and peacefulness and assist those who fled the war zone to return back to their villages and to lead a normal life”. But as this date there are more than 2.5 million Darfurians living in internal displaced camps and depending entirely on foreign aids, and millions of Southerners still living in slums and camps in outskirts of Khartoum in poor conditions. Then, where were the restoration of security and endorsement of peace to assist return of those fled the war zone back to their villages to lead a normal life! I wished that our leaders should refrain from raising false slogans and ponder their words before uttering, as the leader’s respect comes from honoring and keeping his words.

During the second anniversary of CPA at Juba stadium, President Bashir confessed and said “yes there are problems, yes there are delays but it’s not all on the NCP”, and continued blaming and hammering SPLM leadership for their six months delay to reach Khartoum, which according to his view was the main obstacle hindered implementation of some vital CPA clause, which I believe is a diplomatic essence of kicking back and leaving the core issues blurred. Here, Bashir should have seized this opportunity to explain in absolute sincerity as why the Presidency failed to act on Abyei Protocol, leave alone independent commission report, instead of saying that the ABC committee adopted the borders of 1965 contradicting the provisions of Abyei Protocol that stipulated demarcation of the borders of 1905! I believe this is ridiculous and it makes no sense, as the ABC committee provided various testimonies, Misseriya position, Ngok position, GOS and SPLM positions and examined historical maps and records together with expert views before giving their final and binding decisions.

In my view, the most crucial issue here is the prompt implementation of the Principles of Agreement on Abyei which the two parties declared to adopt as the basis for the resolution of Abyei conflict. As it is made clear that “The territory is defined as the area of the nine Ngok Dinka chiefdoms transferred to Kordofan in 1905”. And it is also clearly stated in the protocol that “Upon signing peace agreement, Abyei shall be accorded special administrative status under the institution of the Presidency, and residents of Abyei will be citizens of both Western Kordofan and Bahr el Ghazal, with representation in the legislatures of both states”. And there are various steps and mechanisms which has to be adopted by the Presidency in order to set up administration and grant opportunity for peoples of Abyei to conduct elections at the end of interim period, which would be simultaneously with the referendum in south Sudan. Whereby Abyei will cast separate ballot to determine as whether Abyei retain its special administrative status in the north or be part of Bahr el Ghazal. This is the core of the issue, and Presidency supposed to act promptly upon signing the agreement instead of depriving Abyei peoples from exercising their rights, as the final word has to be spoken by Abyei peoples and not the Presidency. But it seems the will to control the oil rich Abyei is surpassing the determination of country’s national interest.

Thus, one wonders, as whether the non-fulfillment of Abyei Protocol by Presidency, was it also due to the delay of SPLM arrival to Khartoum? And why the Presidency failed to form Abyei administration promptly after formation of governments of national unity and south Sudan? I believe this is outrageous, as the guiding principles are put forward for Presidency to sequel and act. And as we hold and fault both partners for legging behind the CPA implementation schedule, particularly Abyei Protocol and north-south demarcation boundary, yet the senior partner and Presidency has to bear absolute responsibility for the non-implementation of the most crucial clauses of the Naivasha treaty instead of diverting peoples’ minds from the real issue. Hence, it is imperative for the two partners to resolve the Abyei issue at the earliest possible or otherwise declare their failure and seek IGAD and international arbitration to resolve the issue instead of leaving the entire country sitting on time bomb.

The jousting and accusations between the President and First Vice President during the celebration of second Naivasha anniversary, reflects a profound disagreement between the two partners on vital issues. In other words and as always been said, there is no smoke without fire. And this is not the first time where Salva Kiir goes directly to the people, because their discussions at Palace or offices proved almost impossible and has no way but to make it public. And that was evidential in his famous press conference in Khartoum last year over the issue of exact oil share, production, oil prices and the locations of oil fields and moving of north borders southwards to annex oil rich fields, and whenever there is new oil discovery as well as chronic issue of Abyei Protocol. And as we witnessed during the joint meeting of NCP and SPLM in Khartoum in May 2006, it was dominated with sharp disagreement and exchange of bitter words between Bashir and Kiir as well as both member-parties, and the meeting as well as the sub-committees which was set up to find solutions, failed to make any breakthrough as this date on the most contentious issues. Thus, Salva Kiir deemed it wise to go directly to the people as far as the peace belongs to them as proclaimed by late Dr. Garang. And we expect such jousting to continue unless controversial issues are resolved, owing to the fact that the two partners have got different vision on the Sudan’s problems and manner of its approach due to their political conviction.

Salva Kiir’s accusations to NCP in terms of supporting LRA and southern militias were constructive and obvious which no one will deny it. And that was evident, as President Bashir finds it very hard to defend or disprove the accusations, but rather decided diplomatically to stress on SPLM delay to arrive Khartoum, SPLM inability to continue in dialogue with NCP to resolve the pending issues and his usual statements on LRA whenever he visits Juba, that we are ready to expel LRA from south Sudan and defeat them militarily, and leaving the entire issue blurred. But everyone knows that NCP never seized its support to LRA and particularly southern militias even after signing peace agreement, which is no less than its support to Janjaweed in Darffur despite its absolute denial in both cases.

As we celebrate the second anniversary of peace agreement, yet NCP continues pursuing its discriminative policy, harassment and suppressing the Sudanese people in general and particularly marginalized ones including SPLM/SPLA its partner. And that was obvious in its attempt to oust SPLA from Hamesh Koreb in June 2006 with pretext that the deadline for them to relinquish the town according to the agreement was over. Pestering and humiliating Southerners and SPLA forces in Jebel Awulia, driving internal displaced Darfurians and Southerners from outskirts of Khartoum into the desert without basic services, Malakal clashes in last November 2006 which claimed number of lives and the immoral act of storming All Saints’ Cathedral on January 1, 2007 during new year celebration service, exhibits undoubtedly the evil intentions of NCP and its willingness to torture and humiliate Christians in Khartoum, which NCP has to be awful of itself.

As a south Sudanese citizen, who was aware that the construction of south Sudan is starting from scratch, as well as that the growth of south requires endurance and time, hoped and expected President Salva Kiir at least to announce some symbolic achievements in some fundamental projects even within the seat of government only, whether being new or rehabilitated projects such as inauguration of hospital or school or water or electricity or laying stone foundations for some basic service projects just to mark this historic day. But sadly enough it never happened As during the first anniversary of CPA last year, President Kiir announced two year program plan for public heath, basic infrastructure and commencement of work in rehabilitating some miscellaneous economic projects, such as Nzara Agro-Agricultural complex and Sugar Cane Plantation in Melut ….etc. But in September 2006, these projects have been incorporated under the new program which is known as “a 200 day Action Plan” which contains long list of ambitious and priority projects. And if one looks at these project lists, it seem to be on equal foot and opposing each other in terms of its importance and priorities. Thus, the role of appropriate planning and management will be seen here in prioritizing and executing the most urgent and immediate priority projects, institutions and the availability of the allocated funds to each project. And this is what coming months and years will reveal to the South Sudanese population about the performance of their government.

* Roba Gibia is a Sudan Tribune columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]