Ethiopia: AU chief praises framework agreement reached by Sudan’s ruling parties
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
November 17, 2010 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Jean Ping, has welcomed a framework agreement reached between north and south Sudan, an AU press release said on Tuesday.
According to AU, the meeting was concluded successfully on November 13 with an agreement on a “Framework for Resolving Outstanding Issues Relating to the Implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the Future Relations of North and South Sudan”.
Accordingly, the Sudanese parties have committed themselves to ‘find peaceful solutions to all outstanding matters, determined never to resort to war again. In the case of separation as a consequence of the South Sudan referendum, they undertook to construct two viable states which would cooperate for the mutual benefit and live in peace and harmony with each other’ the press release said.
The AU boss, who expressed satisfaction on the successful conclusion of the negotiations, congratulated the leaderships of the NCP and the SPLM for the progress they have made toward resolving CPA implementation process and the post-referendum arrangements.
Ping called on both sides to further continue to display the same resolve and commitment in addressing the issue of Abeyi.
He welcomed the agreement to resume negotiations on the future of Abyei on 22 November, under the auspices of the AUHIP at the level of the tripartite Sudanese Presidency, which includes President Omar Hassan Al Bashir (NCP), First Vice President Salva Kiir Mayardit (SPLM) and Second Vice President Ali Osman Taha (NCP).
The Chairperson of the Commission reiterated the AU’s confidence in the capacity of the Sudanese parties to reach agreements on the outstanding issues and overcome the challenges facing their country.
In this respect, he stressed the need to ensure that all citizens of Sudan, wherever they reside, are afforded the protection of the state and respect for human rights, in accordance with African and international standards.
According to the latest agreement, both sides have agreed to demarcate the north-south border while allowing northern nomads to graze in the south.
The framework also includes commitments to allow Sudanese citizens the right to live in either North or South Sudan.
However, the issue of the border region of Abyei remained unresolved and was referred to the presidency for consideration.
Following the agreement, The African Union High Level Implementation Panel on Sudan (AUHIP) has also commended the agreement as “highly encouraging”.
“The Panel is greatly encouraged by the determination of the Sudanese Parties to apply themselves diligently to address all the challenges ahead, at all times working to resolve all outstanding matters through peaceful negotiations” it said.
Ping lauded Former Presidents Thabo Mbeki, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Pierre Buyoya, as well as the team of experts supporting the panel, for their tremendous role and relentless efforts they have collectively exerted to attain the latest historic juncture.
The much delayed voter registration is underway, for January’s referendum for the people of southern Sudan to decide whether to remain within a united Sudan, or to secede to establish an independent state.
The referendum is a key part of a peace deal which ended a north-south civil war in 2005.
(ST)
Young Nation
Ethiopia: AU chief praises framework agreement reached by Sudan’s ruling parties
Nonsense
I don’t see any agreement agreed upon by SPLM and NCP in the above article. My eyes can only see re-affirment, willingness or assumed committemt to resolved issues on post-referendum arrangement. Is this an agreement? the media needs to be very careful in releasing information to its consumers.
The question is; even if they agreed to tackle the remaining aspects of the CPA, What would let NCP officials abid by their words considering the fact that they have violated certain aspects of CPA including the AByei protocol. As a student of International relations, I would say that Diplomacy with NCP is a definite waste of time. The Sudan CPA survive six years not because of their willingness by because of the presence of our SPLA gallant forces. SPLA oyee! For further information one needs to ask Joseph Lagu, Riek Machar and Lam Akol or our survaving politicians of dark years (1940s, 1950s, 1960….).
Young Nation is a student of International Relations at The University of Queensland, Australia