2005 CPA did not address Darfur conflict: Sudan advisor

By Julius N. Uma

February 18, 2011 (JUBA) – Sudan’s 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed between the north and former rebels in the south was a “mere ceasefire” agreement that largely ignored issues like the Darfur conflict, John Ashworth, an advisor on Sudan told Sudan Tribune.

Signed in Naivasha, Kenya, the CPA ended over two decades of bloody civil war fought between Christians in the South and Muslim and Arab-dominated north Sudan. Nearly 2.5 million died during the war, according to UN estimates, while over 4 million were displaced.

“The 2005 CPA, as I have argued before here and elsewhere is neither a comprehensive nor a peace accord. It was simply a cease-fire agreement between only two parties in only one of the conflicts in Sudan signed under intense international pressure,” Ashworth said.

The accord, Ashworth added, never addressed certain key post-conflict issues, citing the recent instabilities that have rocked the southern region. Last week, clashes between the southern army and rebels loyal to renegade General George Athor killed over 200 people.

“As you know, the CPA was signed between mainly two political parties, largely ignoring the interest of the others. In the same way, some of the political and military factors currently destabilizing the south need to be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the this same peace accord,” said Ashworth, who has over 20 years experience working in Sudan.

However, he remains optimistic that the ongoing post-referendum negotiations between the two parties, on the fate of Abyei referendum, north-south border demarcation and issues of oil revenue sharing will be resolved amicably.

On the fate of the church, Ashworth predicted that northern churches would face persecution after the South secedes. But he believes that Christianity will flourish south, with a rapid expansion of churches after the independence declaration in July.

He said, “With the independence of the south forthcoming, I think churches in the north will suffer from the strict sharia laws that the northern government plans to adopt. Northern churches will become smaller and severely persecuted while those in the South will expand.”

Ashworth expressed sympathy for Church leaders in the north and their followers. He urged Christians in Sudan to develop strong moral values based on freedom, democracy and equal participation for all.

(ST)