Sudan peace deal one year later – A review by NESI Network

June 2, 2006 (NAIROBI) — The New Sudanese Indigenous Network, (NESI Network), an in, digenous civil society organization comprised of 66 local member organizations operating in various sectors within Southern Sudan, has been monitoring the peace process and has often worked as a catalyst to the sustenance of the Sudanese Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Achieving peace in Sudan was and still continues to be one of the highest priorities in Africa and indeed the world over. The signing of the CPA, on January 9th 2005 between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, presented a great opportunity for the people of Sudan, especially those in the Southern part, to take charge of their own future and embark on a journey of peace and prosperity. With the implementation of the CPA underway, NESI Network held a one-day forum in March 2006. The key objective of the forum was to obtain a civil society perspective of the developments towards reaching the benchmarks of the CPA one year after its signature, and gain insight into what the indigenous organizations observed as working and / or hindering the peace process. Participants were derived from various civil society groups from various parts of Southern Sudan.

In brief, the following progress has been made as far as implementation of the CPA is concerned:

– The Interim National Constitution (INC) was adopted on 18th June 2005 and the Sudan Government of National Unity (GNU) President, Omar El Bashir signed it into law on 9th July 2005.
– The institution of the Presidency was established on 9th July 2005 when Dr. John Garang de Mabior was sworn in as the first Vice President of the Sudan GNU as well as President of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS). His tenure did not last long as he perished in a plane crash hardly three weeks after the swearing in. Following Dr. Garang’s death, Gen. Salva Kiir was sworn in as the First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan and President of the Government of Southern Sudan.
– The National Assembly was formed on 31st August 2005 comprising of 234 seats for National Congress Party (NCP), 126 seats for Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM); 55 seats for Northern political forces; 27 seats for southern political forces and 8 seats for national personalities.
– In September 2005 President Bashir issued four decrees establishing the Government of National Unity (GNU) based on the CPA. Precisely, the GNU was appointed on 20th September 2005.
– The stage was then set for the formation of the Transitional Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly, which was appointed. It is this Assembly that approved the interim Constitution of Southern Sudan, which was signed into law by the President of Southern Sudan on 5th December 2005.
– State Governors were appointed, State Legislative Assemblies formed and all state governments established except for Khartoum and Southern Kordofan. Perhaps most importantly, the Constitutional Court was established on 24th December 2005.
– Different commissions have been set up as stipulated in the CPA. These include; the Assessment and Evaluation Commission (AEC), the National Petroleum Commission (NPC), the Cease-fire Political Commission (CPC), the Fiscal and Financial Allocation and Monitoring Commission (FFAMC), the Technical Ad hoc Border Committee and the National Judicial Service Commission.
– In January 2006 South Sudan Defence Forces (SSDF) leader, Gen. Paulino Matip, signed an agreement with Gen. Salva Kiir, merging the SSDF with Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) as provided for in the CPA1. That was a good step, and other groups should be urged to follow suit as that will make South-South dialogue process a productive reality.
– The two Multi-Donor Trust Funds (MDTFs) for North and Southern Sudan have been established. On the same breadth, the Board of Directors and two Deputy Governors have been appointed for the Central Bank of Sudan (CBOS). The Bank of Southern Sudan has been established too.

In light of the aforementioned, we the civil society have the following recommendations:

– Women seem to be at the periphery in pertinent issues of post-conflict Sudan. Gender sensitivity should be observed across all sectors in Sudan.
– That the civil society organizations should be at the forefront in as far as CPA implementation is concerned and should be included in the institutional commissions. The participants at the forum noted that most of the fundamental decisions of interest to the Sudanese people have continued to be made without involvement of the civil society.
– The CSOs should be involved in the dissemination of the CPA contents to the grassroots communities by translating it into various vernacular languages to enable them to make informed decisions during the referendum and elections.
– International donor organizations and other developmental bodies need to be involved in the CPA dissemination by providing funds for CSOs to be able to effectively translate and disseminate the CPA.
– The International peace observers together with IGAD should continue playing their roles in ensuring that the CPA is implemented as had been agreed upon.
– Several commissions have not been established so far or are in the process of being set up, and these include the Human Rights Commission, National Civil Service Commission and the National Lands Commission. It is important to note that these are very important commissions and there is need to speed-up the process of establishing them.
– The infrastructure should be given priority for effective development to take place. We call upon the donors to honor their pledges as made at the Oslo Donors Conference in April 2005 and the first ever Sudan Consortium, held in Paris, France in March 2006, and organized jointly by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations.
– African Mission in Sudan should be equipped with more funds and have their mandate strengthened.

A lot has happened since the signing of the CPA. However, more needs to be done in order for the people at the grassroots to feel that peace dividends will be forthcoming. It should be noted that despite the signing of the CPA there are many areas that are yet to have peace. The Lord’s Resistance Army, a notorious rebel group operating from Northern Uganda, frequently attacks areas like Eastern and Western Equatoria. People in such areas are living in constant fear. There are also many other areas that are faced with militia attacks. Effective reconstruction is yet to start in the Southern Sudan and overall progress in the three areas, ie Abyei, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, has been limited.

Noting that it is prudent to give credit where it is due, we wish to congratulate the GNU/GoSS for making efforts in the implementation process of the CPA, a document whose effective implementation holds the future for peace and prosperity in Sudan. May peace continue to prevail in Southern Sudan. We also pray our brothers and sisters in Darfur will also be able to have peace.

Signed by and on behalf of NESI Network.

Suzanne Jambo,
Coordinator, NESI Network

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