CPA signing is turning point in Sudan history – SPLM Norway

Fellow countrymen and friends of the Sudan,

Jan 09 2008 — Today the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) is three years old. This historic agreement, signed between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the then Government of Sudan (GoS), on 09th Jan. 2005 in Kenya, was a turning point in the turbulent history of Africa’s largest country, the Sudan. It brought to an end twenty two years of war and decades of marginalisation. The SPLM Chapter in Norway congratulates all the marginalized people of the Sudan, the SPLM leadership and cadres, the National Congress Party (NCP) and the International Community who helped brought about this historic agreement. We also take this opportunity to salute and congratulate the ever vigilant SPLA soldier, who is the custodian of the CPA. We pay special tribute to our hero late Lt. Gen. Dr John Garang de Mabior former First Vice President of Sudan, President of Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) and Chairman of SPLM.

The SPLM Chapter in Norway would like to take this opportunity to congratulate H.E. Lt. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayaardit, First Vice President of the Sudan, President of Southern Sudan and Chairman of the SPLM; Cabinet Ministers of GoSS; Governors of Southern Sudan; State Ministers; County Commissioners, all the Govt Officials; civil societies; women and youth for their relentless work after the signing of CPA to render services to the people of Southern Sudan.

The SPLM Chapter Norway, on behalf of the marginalised people of the Sudan resident in Norway, is however concerned with the implementation modalities of the CPA. It is glaringly clear that the senior partner in the Government of National Unity (GoNU), the NCP, is continuously reneging and foot-dragging on the implementation of the modalities of the protocols agreed upon in Naivasha-Kenya in 2005. These continual and flagrant violations led to the SPLM Interim Political Bureau (IPB) to suspend SPLM’s participation in the Government of National Unity in October 2007. The SPLM decision was welcomed by not only all the marginalised people of the Sudan but all peace loving people in the world. The peaceful transformation of the Sudan hinges on the implementation of the CPA; hence, the full implementation of the modalities, in the protocols of the CPA, is the best treatment to the cancer of injustice, marginalisation and all the ailments that have plagued the Sudan for decades.

Today the SPLM is back in the Government of National Unity to fully implement the CPA. We hope that the NCP reciprocate with the same good will for the CPA to move forward.

Norway has been outstanding in its contribution both directly and indirectly to the realisation of peace in the Sudan. The SPLM Chapter Norway would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Government and people of Norway for this noble and historic stand. We are always confident that Norway will continue to pursue this peace through developmental aid to the Sudan. We would therefore call upon the Government of Norway, who was an observer in the signing of the CPA, to lend its diplomatic leverage towards the implementation of the following modalities so far violated by the NCP:

– The North-South border must be clearly demarcated so as to curb violence and encroachment;
– Abyei is part and parcel of southern Sudan. The Abyei Border Commission (ABC) report has clearly underscored this fact. We asked the Government of Norway to contribute to the full implementation of the ABC’s report;
– Troop withdrawal of the NCP’s Sudan Armed Force (SAF) from Southern Sudan has never been fully implemented. This could become a catalyst for insecurity in southern Sudan. We recognise the recent withdrawal of SAF troops from oil areas as a positive step, but we believe that immidiate and total withdrawal of SAF from Southern Sudan is the best recipe for stability and the health of the CPA. We would therefore like to request the Government of Norway to help contribute to expediating the withdrawal of SAF troops from Southern Sudan.

The CPA is a compromised solution to the problem of the Sudan. The SPLM chapter in Norway rejects any attempt to try to renegotiate this agreement as it will not only dilute the CPA but contribute to conflicts which will further the marginalisation and oppression of the people of the New Sudan.

Long Live the SPLM/A,
Long Live the Struggle for the New Sudan,

Executive Committee, Ad hoc
SPLM Chapter, Norway