Juba Declaration on Dialogue and National Consensus

The SPLM, under the leadership of Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, invited all Sudanese political parties, civil society organizations, national personalities and media to national dialogue in Juba on September 26 – 30. The SPLM also invited representatives from the diplomatic corps in Juba and Khartoum as well as international organizations that are concerned about the situation as observers. Most political parties positively responded to the SPLM call and converged in Juba, except few.

The All Political Party Conference (APPC) set up Leadership Committee comprising the leaders of political parties and general assembly encompassing all delegates. The APPC constituted Sudanese people’s parliament where delegated conducted free, open dialogue in a transparent democratic environment. The Leadership Committee met on September 26 to adopt the APPC’s agenda and draw up the rules governing its proceedings. The general assembly met the following day and discussed the views of 28 political parties and 5 civil society organizations, in addition to an address delivered by the delegation of the Peoples’ Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) of Eritrea. On the third day, the APPC set up 5 working committees to discuss key national issues, namely implementation of all peace agreements, democratic transformation, economic situation, national reconciliation and healing in addition to foreign policy. Inspired by spirit of nationalism, the meeting exhaustively deliberated on the agenda and resolved as follows:

1- DIALOGUE AND NATIONAL CONSENSUS

The process of forging of national consensus requires open dialogue without conditions or exclusion of any party. The APPC in Juba is the first such process since the signing of all peace agreements, particularly the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). There is a need to continue this free democratic dialogue among all national forces, civil society and women organizations. Hence, the conference renews invitation to the National Congress Party (NCP) and all those who did not participate in this national endeavor, especially at a time when our country is in dire need of such dialogue under the current national crisis.

2- NATIONAL RECONCILIATION

The APPC recognizes the historic grievances of individuals and groups across the Sudan, particularly in southern Sudan and Darfur since independence. Hence, it is important to document these injustices, recognize them and apologize for them as a prelude to true national reconciliation. The conference recommends that the presidency of the republic forms a Truth and Reconciliation Committee to investigate all violations and atrocities against the rights of groups and individuals since independence; and take appropriate measures in response to these grievances and rights either by legal proceedings or material and moral compensation to bring about forgiveness and reconciliation and healing of wounds. Achieving this objective demands implementation of all the provisions of the CPA, which have not yet been implemented, especially those related to democratic transformation.
The national reconciliation also requires giving marginalized areas throughout Sudan priority in allocation of development projects. The institution of the presidency shall in this area benefit from other experiences, especially in Africa.

3 – PEACE AGREEMENTS

1) Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)

1. Stress the full implementation of CPA as central to sustainable peace and confidence building between the North and South Sudan. In this regard, the APPC resolves to:

i. Exercise of referendum on self-determination as stipulated in the CPA and Interim National Constitution (INC);

ii. Enactment of Referendum Bill during the prorogation of the current National Assembly, with simple majority vote (%50) as the basis for maintaining unity or opting for separation and providing for all Southern Sudanese to take part in the process; and

iii. Demarcation of the North-South borders before the holding of the general elections.

2. Bringing all laws in consonance with the INC, 2005

3. Holding Popular Consultation in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States after the conduct of credible population census to ensure the elected Legislatures truly expresses the will of their people in the two States.

4. Adherence to the award of Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on Abyei boundary demarcation and call for its implementation in such as manner as to guarantee

2) Darfur conflict

1. Ensure that negotiation is the best and just mechanism for the resolution of the Darfur conflict and appeal to all protagonists to desist from military escalation of the conflict.

2. Affirmation of the legitimate rights of the people of Darfur, particularly:

a) Share of the region in power and civil service at the national level according to its demographic size.

b) Share of the region in the national wealth in accordance to objective criteria, particularly population ration, principle of compensatory positive discrimination.

c) Individual and group compensation for material and moral damages.

d) One region.

e) Affirm the traditional tribal land ownership (hawaqir) and restitution of land grabbed during war to the rightful owners and ensure proper utilization of land for the benefit of all the people in the region.

3. Affirm zero tolerance to impunity from prosecution and ensure that those who have committed war crimes are brought to book before independent judiciary.

4. Immediate cease-fire to create to create conducive atmosphere for delivery of humanitarian assistance and return of internally displaced persons and refugees to their villages.

5. Call upon t he international community to properly the UNAMID to carry out its mandate of protecting civilians.

6. Resolution of Darfur conflict before the upcoming general elections to allow for the participation of the people of Darfur in the elections.

7. Disarmament of the Janjaweed and tribal militias.

8. Full implementation of all the provisions of the Abuja Peace Agreement.

9. Holding of the Darfur-Darfur dialogue conference with the participation of all stakeholders and to sort out internal Darfur relations and repair the social fabric destroyed by the civil war. The conference shall be held under agreed Declaration of Principles (DOPs) , resulting in a comprehensive agreement that shall be nationally endorsed by an all-party conference.

3) Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement

i. Commitment to the full implementation of the Agreement and lifting of state of emergency.

ii. To fill in and compliment the shortcomings of the Agreement to ensure that grievances of the Eastern Sudan people are addressed.

iii. Resolution of Halayb and Fashqa with the concerned neighboring countries to protect the interest and territorial integrity of the Sudan.

4) Cairo Peace Agreement

Expedite the implementation of all provisions of Cairo peace agreement particularly those linked to the democratic transformation, economic reforms and redress of the unfairly dismissed employees on political grounds.

4- DEMOCRATIC TRANSFORMATION

i. Upholding of basic freedoms as stipulated in the Basic Human Rights Charter which has been incorporated in INC.

ii. Amendment of all laws related to freedoms and democratic transformation and bringing them in consonance with the INC, namely the National Security Law, Criminal Procedures Law, Trade Unions Law, Immunities Law, Personal Status Law, Press and Publications Law, Public Order Laws.

iii. Amendment of the above laws within a period not exceeding November 30, 2009 as conditional to the participation of all the political parties participating at the APPC in the upcoming general elections.

iv. The 5thPopulation Census results are contested and until there is agreement on the same, the power-sharing percentages in the CPA shall be adopted.

v. Conduct of free and fair elections under the right conditions, notably:

a) Bringing of laws restricting freedoms in consonance with the INC as stated above.

b) Resolution of t he Darfur conflict.

c) Demarcation of North-South border.

d) Agreement on an acceptable formula for addressing the flaws and irregularities of population census results.

e) Fair access to state media by all under the supervision of the NEC to ensure equal opportunities for all parties.

5- ECONMIC AND SOCIAL SITUATION

After decades of totalitarian rule and inconsistent economic liberalization policies and structural weaknesses in the economy since independence, the Sudanese economy is currently undergoing deep crises as reflected in the deterioration of the agricultural, pastoral and industrial production. The situation was further worsened by the full dependency on oil that has seen a sharp decline in prices on international market plunging the country in economic deficit and dire living conditions. This has taken a toll on the most disadvantaged class of the society in particular, making the shift to a new direction in the economic all the more imperative. This aims to address the root causes of the economic crisis and the cutting of public expenditure, especially in areas of security, defense, taxation, particularly that relating to agriculture and animal production. There is also need to reinstate those arbitrarily dismissed employees and civil servants as stipulated in the INC , in addition to the implementation of the constitutional provisions protecting civil servants against arbitrary dismissals. There is also a need to down size the institutions of government at all levels and to undertake development initiatives with the consent of the people and to their interest, particularly in relation to the construction of dams. The APPC calls for the immediate implementation of a project to connect the North and South through means of transportation, notably river and land transport and railways to strengthen relations and promote interests of the people throughout the country. The APPC further calls for the holding of a national economic conference to address the root causes of the economic crisis.

6- FOREIGN POLICY

Adherence to foreign policy directives as stipulated in the CPA and INC and pursuit of foreign policy predicated on serving mutual interests and respect for good neighborliness to further national interest, inter alia:
i) Respect for international conventions.

ii) Diffuse of tentions with neighboring countries to promote regional security.

iii) Moblize international support for the reconstruction of war-affected areas, especially southern Sudan, the Three Areas, Darfur and the East.

iv) Promote national economic interest through attracting investments and ensure that Sudan is eligible to benefit from international and regional Funds and writing off of its debts.

Constructive partnership with the international community to address the problems facing our country in a way that would not subject the national interest to foreign designs.