Asour THE Civ. War In SuDAN

Civil war has plagued Sudan since 1955,
pitting the Islamic North against the
christianized South. The first of the war
lasted from 1955 to 1972, when the Addis
‘Ababa Agreement granted the South local
autonomy. The abrogation of the agree-
ment by then president Jaafar Nimeiri led
to the resumption of phase hostilities in
1983. The principal parties to the

current conflict are the government in
Khartoum, led by the National Islamic
Front, and the Sudan People’s Liberation
Army in the South, which in 1991 split
into two factions that are fighting each
other as well as the Khartoum govern-
ment. According to estimates prepared by
the U.S. Committee for Refugees, 1.3
million southerners have died since 1983
as a direct or indirect result of the war.

December 1993

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Sudan Symposium Generates
Momentum for Mediation

Progress toward reconciliation among factions in the conflict in Sudan
received a boost from a two-day public symposium in Washington in late
October. Participants included an unusually diverse group of Sudanese
intellectuals and leaders. The unprecedented dialogue helped sharpen is-
sues and enabled participants to exchange views as never before. The ses-
sions at the Rayburn House Office Building were organized by the United
States Institute of Peace and the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on
Africa.

Building on the momentum generated by the symposium, Rep. Harry
Johnston (D-FLA), chairman of the subcommittee, later mediated negotia-
tions between representatives of the Torit and Nasir/United factions of the
Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). His efforts produced an agreement
between the two southern groups to settle their differences peacefully. “The
flow of events—initial discussions among largely nonpolitical opinion lead-
ers, followed by unofficial, informal exchanges among political leaders; both
of which provided a framework for Representative Johnston’s mediation ef-
fort—demonstrates how unofficial activities can supplement formal peace-
making efforts,” said Chester A. Crocker, chairman of the Institute’s Board,
who presided over the symposium’s opening session.

The proceedings began on October 20 with sessions organized by the In-
stitute and featuring presentations by prominent Sudanese intellectuals and
opinion leaders from both the northern and southern parts of the country.
The meetings focused on the political, cultural, and religious sources of the
Sudanese conflict and possibilities for ameliorating them. Those who made
presentations were Dr. Francis Deng, Dr. Peter Nyot Kok, Bona Malwal, Dr.
Ali A. Abbas, Dr. Kamal Osman Salih, Dr. Taisier Mohamed Ahmed Ali,
Bishop Paride Talban, and Dr. Michael Duany.

The symposium reconvened on October 22 under the auspices of the sub-
committee, which had invited John Garang, head of the Torit faction of the
SPLA, and Riek Machar, leader of the Nasir/United faction, to participate.
They and other political figures, continued the public dialogue on issues that
fuel divisiveness and armed conflict among the Sudanese.

The audience for the symposium included 150 Sudanese, some of whom
had traveled from Sudan and other countries. Their questions and commen-


taries helped sharpen the issues under discussion. “This dialogue was unique
in that such a diverse group of intellectuals and political leaders engaged in
an extensive discussion and debate,” said one participant. This setting was a
crucial “ice breaker” that paved the way for Representative Johnston's me-
diation effort. (A copy of the subcommittee’s October 22 announcementabout
the negotiations is attached.)

The symposium also clarified key issues that must be resolved before a
broader framework for peace in Sudan can be achieved. The most pressing
issues are as follows:

Prospects for National Reconciliation

@ Whatis the relative importance of racial, religious, and cultural differ-
ences as sources of conflict between North and South?

@ Cana meaningful peace agreement be signed between the current gov-
ernment in Khartoum and the southern groups?

@ Is the establishment of a secular state the only way to maintain the
integrity of Sudan, or can other means be found to protect the rights of
religious minorities?

m@ When, if at all, would it be useful for an international mediator to help
with the peace process?

Southern Concerns

@ What kind of self-determination is acceptable to the South and are
southerners willing to settle for less than complete secession?

TM Must a political agreement among factions in the South precede an
overall agreement with the North?

@ Do the two southern factions hold incompatible views on Sudan’s fu-
ture, and can they agree on a common political vision?

@ How can human rights and democratic principles be promoted within
the SPLA?

Northern Issues

@ Must political forces in the North achieve greater unity before con-
cluding an agreement with the opposition in the South?

@ To what extent can the ruling National Islamic Front as well as other
northern parties be trusted not to push arabization and islamization of
the South following a peace agreement?

Several of the papers presented at the October 20 portion of the sympo-
sium will be issued in a forthcoming Institute publication. Contributors
to the report are Francis Deng, Peter Nyot Kok, Bona Malwal, Ali A. Abbas,
Kamal Osman Salih, and Taisier Mohamed Ahmed Ali.

For additional information, contact senior program officer David R. Smock
at (202) 429-3843.


Committee on Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Africa

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brian Geiger
October 22, 1993 202/225-3001

Southern Sudanese Leaders Agree
on Principles of Peace

Rep. Harry Johnston (D-FL), chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, today announced
a breakthrough peace agreement between two rival liberation movements in southern
Sudan. Dr. Riak Machar and Dr. John Garang, commanders of opposing factions within
the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, agreed to end hostilities.

The two leaders, meeting for the first time in two years at the invitation of Mr. Johnston,
conducted intensive negotiations in Washington. Dr. Garang and Dr. Machar agreed to
the following:

1, Agreed on the right of self-determination for the people of southern Sudan,
Nuba Mountains, and marginalized areas;

2. Agreed to an immediate cessation of hostilities and monitoring of this
agreement;

3. Agreed to set an agenda for peace, reconciliation, unity, and democracy;

4. Recognized that the conflict between us must be resolved through peaceful and
democratic means;

5. Appreciate and encourage the regional effort for peace, reconciliation, and unity
in southern Sudan, Nuba Mountains, and other marginalized areas, and call
upon the international community to support this effort;

6. Agreed to cooperate and facilitate relief work in areas where people are affected
by war, famine, and disease;

7. Agreed to oppose the policies of the NIF government in Khartoum, and other
subsequent regimes that deny the right to self-determination of the people of
southern Sudan, Nuba Mountains, and other marginalized areas; and

8. Agreed to inform the regional leaders of this agreement, and urge that the
follow-up meeting take place no later than November 15, 1993.

DONE this 22nd Day of October 1993, in Washington, D.C.