The following report on the parties’ participation in and commitment to the Sudan peace process is submitted in furtherance of our efforts to keep Congress informed.
The United States Government finds it unfortunate that the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) have not yet completed a final and comprehensive agreement and begun the subsequent revitalization of Sudan. We are aware of the difficulties in finalizing the details of remaining issues, but we continue to stress the urgency for the sides to find solutions to complete an agreement. Endless negotiations expose the peace process to unnecessary risk and postpone the anticipated international reengagement with Sudan.
Over the last 3 months, the parties have made measured progress. After nearly 2 months of continuous high-level negotiations between Sudanese Vice President Taha and SPLM Chairman Garang, both sides signed a wealth-sharing agreement on January 27, 2004, that detailed the division of revenues (including oil revenues) during the interim period. Nevertheless, during that same period and after extensive discussions, the parties failed to reach agreement on the three conflict areas of Nuba Mountains, Southern Blue Nile, and Abyei. We believe that both sides desire a successful conclusion of the Kenyan-led Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) peace process, but the level of commitment demonstrated by the leaders has been insufficient to complete a final agreement. The sides have recessed in observance of the Muslim Hajj, and pledged to resume negotiations on the three conflict areas and power-sharing in mid-February.
The United States Government expects both sides to uphold their commitment to return to the talks prepared to find areas of agreement to successfully complete negotiations. Vice President Taha and Chairman Garang assured Special Envoy Danforth, during his mid-January discussions with them in Naivasha, that they share a sense of urgency to complete a framework agreement on the outstanding issues as soon as possible. Both underscored the importance they attached to a continuing strong U.S. role in support of the IGAD-led peace process.
The United States Government intends to hold the leadership of each side accountable for the successful completion of a final agreement. Both leaders must elevate their level of commitment and demonstrate the flexibility necessary to conclude negotiations when talks resume in mid-February. If the North and the South are to be partners in governing a unified Sudan, they must first be honest partners in crafting the peace.
The October 2002 cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access Memorandum of Understanding was most recently extended until the end of February 2004. Both sides largely adhere to its terms, and the United States supports the monitoring efforts of IGAD’s Verification and Monitoring Team (VMT). The U.S.-led Civilian Protection Monitoring Team (CPMT) remains an important confidence-building presence in southern Sudan. The U.S.-supported and internationally monitored cease-fire in the Nuba Mountains continues to improve the humanitarian situation in that region.
Humanitarian access remains relatively unhindered in the south. However, we are gravely concerned about the dire humanitarian situation in Darfur and attacks on civilians and villages there. We have urged the Government and the Darfur opposition to end the violence and put in place a humanitarian cease-fire. In particular, we have urged that humanitarian relief be allowed into all areas of Darfur, including opposition-controlled areas, which have suffered the worst humanitarian impact of the conflict and have not yet been accessible. In addition, the United States Government is pursuing all means of providing assistance to the opposition- and government-controlled areas.
