Breakthrough in the Peace Negotiations for Sudan

Minister of International Development Hilde F. Johnson attended today in Kenya the signing of the last three protocols to the final peace agreement for Sudan. This means that the parties have agreed on the most important political, economic and security issues for the peace agreement.

“I am extremely pleased that the Sudanese government, as represented by First Vice President Ali Osman Taha, and the SPLM leader, Dr. John Garang de Mabior, have now reached agreement on the framework for a final, comprehensive peace agreement for Sudan. The two chief negotiators must be commended for their efforts, particularly for the last phase of negotiations which lasted for 101 days.”

“Through these protocols, the outstanding political issues of power sharing and the future status of the three disputed areas the Nuba Mountains, the Southern Blue Nile and the Abyei have now been clarified. This marks a new and very important breakthrough in the peace negotiations between the government and the rebel forces in the south. I hope that this will also lay the foundation for a solution to the humanitarian crisis and the fighting that is now going on in Darfur in north-western Sudan,” said the Minister.

After a short break, the parties will conclude the negotiations on certain technical arrangements for implementation of the agreement, among other things on the UN-monitored ceasefire and international guarantees. The Minister has been actively following the negotiations since 1998, and has been in contact with Mr. Taha and Dr. Garang all through this last negotiating round, which has been going on since September 2003.

“We are looking forward to the signing of a final, comprehensive peace agreement for Sudan in the near future, and we will continue our strong support to Sudan after the peace agreement has been concluded,” said Ms Johnson. She noted that Norway will host an international donor conference for Sudan as soon as the final peace agreement has been signed. “We will also work to ensure that the country receives broad international support for the implementation of the peace agreement and for reconstruction,” she added.

Notes for editors:

The protocols that have now been concluded are:

• on power sharing
• the future status of the Abyei region
• the future status of Nuba Mountains and Southern Blue Nile

They follow the three previously concluded protocols listed below:

• The Machakos Protocol (July 2002), which guarantees the people of South Sudan the right to a considerable degree of self-determination, their right to hold a referendum to determine their future status in relation to North Sudan after a six-year Interim Period. It also establishes that North Sudan will be governed in accordance with Sharia law, while South Sudan will have a secular judicial system.
• The Security Protocol (September 2003), which clarifies military issues and, among other things, guarantees that South Sudan may have its own army during the Interim Period
• The Wealth-Sharing Protocol (January 2004), which establishes among other things that the oil revenues are to be shared equally between north and south

The peace negotiations for Sudan have been going on since May 2002. Since September 2003, the negotiations have been conducted directly between First Vice President Ali Osman Taha, and the SPLM leader, Dr. John Garang de Mabior. From the beginning, the negotiations have been organized and facilitated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The Kenyan general Lazarus Sumbeiywo has been chief mediator with support of special envoys from certain IGAD countries. Representatives of USA, Norway, the UK, Italy, UN and the African Union have participated as observers.

Minister of International Development Hilde F. Johnson is currently co-chairing the donor group for Sudan, the IGAD Partners’ Forum (IPF), which is made up of 20 countries, together with the UN and the World Bank. Norway has been working very actively to establish and maintain concerted international support for the peace negotiations. The Minister has had close contact with both parties, particularly with the two chief negotiators, Ali Osman Taha and Dr. John Garang, all through the negotiations.

Norway has been providing humanitarian assistance to Sudan for a long time, both through Norwegian NGOs and through international organisations. Norway’s total allocations to Sudan will amount to some NOK 300 million for 2004. Norway is also helping to finance the peace negotiations, and is contributing personnel and financial resources to the Joint Monitoring Mission, which is monitoring the ceasefire agreement in the Nuba Mountains in Sudan. This operation is headed by the Norwegian brigadier Jan Erik Wilhelmsen. Norway is also supporting the Verification and Monitoring Team established to monitor the implementation of the MoU on the temporary cessation of hostilities in South Sudan, which is headed by IGAD.

A peace agreement in Sudan will make great demands on the international community in terms of assistance with reconstruction, demobilisation, mine clearance and the establishment of civil institutions. Norway has taken the initiative for co-operation between the UN and the World Bank on the one hand, and the parties and a number of countries on the other, on preparations for providing large-scale assistance. These efforts will now be intensified in connection with the first international donor conference for Sudan, which will be hosted by Norway soon after the final, comprehensive peace agreement has been signed.

The fighting and the humanitarian crisis in Darfur have not been dealt with in the peace negotiations between the government and the SPLM. Norway gives priority to supporting the international efforts to maintain the ceasefire between government forces and rebel forces in Darfur that was signed in Chad in April and that is now being extended in Addis Ababa. Norway is also heavily involved in the humanitarian relief efforts directed at the people of the region.

Press contact: Deputy Director General Per Egil Selvaag, phone: 90 04 56 51