Africa’s peace body to appoint special envoy for CPA implementation
November 30, 2007 (ADDIS ABABA) — The African Union peace and security body decided to appoint a special envoy to follow up the implementation of a peace deal that put an end of two decades of civil war in southern Sudan.
In a meeting held on 29 November, the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, requested the AU Commission to accelerate ongoing efforts aimed at providing more effective support to the implementation of the CPA, including through the appointment of a new Special Envoy and the opening of an appropriately staffed African Union Liaison Office in Khartoum, with an office in Juba.
The AU security and peace Council said deeply concerned by the current difficulties and the withdrawal of the SPLM ministers from the national unity government.
Further, it said that the ongoing political crisis between the two peace partners “could jeopardize the significant progress achieved thus far, with serious consequences for peace and stability in the Sudan and in the entire region.”
However the AU peace body said satisfied that both parties have reiterated their commitment to the CPA and determination to seek a solution through peaceful means and dialogue.
It also brought its support to the IGAD efforts to ensure the implementation of the CPA. It also said that the AU needs to be more involved in the regional efforts to overcome the CPA crisis.
The former Kenyan president and IGAD chairman special envoy, Daniel Arap Moi, was in Addis Ababa where he met the Ethiopian Prime Minister and the AU commission chief seeking their support for the holding of a meeting in Nairobi to discuss the CPA implementation.
The SPLM suspended its participation in the federal government accusing the National Congress Party of dragging feet in the implementation of the peace deal particularly with regard to Abyei Protocol, the redeployment of troops from the oil rich areas and the demarcation of the north-south border.
It was also agreed that the AU Security and Peace Council has to review on a regular basis the status of the CPA implementation.
Two delegations from the NCP and the SPLM participated in the meeting. The SPLM delegation was headed by Pagan Amum, the secretary general of the movement, while Siddiq Mutaraf, the secretary general of the foreign ministry conducted the NCP delegation.
(ST)