Early this month, Sudan's civilian-led Transitional Government and the Sudan Revolutionary Movements signed a Peace Agreement aimed at ending decades of war in which hundreds of thousands died. This historic achievement will pave the way for inclusive and comprehensive peace in Sudan.
At the request of the Sudanese National Peace Commission, the European Union has facilitated the participation of community representatives from the conflict-affected areas of South and West Kordofan and Blue Nile at the signature ceremony of the Sudanese Peace Agreement on Saturday 3rd of October 2020 in Juba, South Sudan. This was facilitated through the EU’s Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP).
Since the civilian-led Government took office in early September 2019, the EU, mostly through the EUTF, has provided more than €88 million in development assistance to support political and economic reforms and contribute to stability and peace in Sudan. In addition, the EU recently signed a €92.2 million agreement with the World Bank to support the country in establishing a modern social protection system. This programme will support Sudanese families in meeting the challenges of the upcoming economic reforms, such as the removal of fuel subsidies, and strains of the global pandemic.
Sudan’s civilian-led Transitional Government and a coalition of armed groups called the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) signed the landmark deal on Saturday in Juba after almost one year of negotiations. Ambassador Robert van den Dool, Head of the EU Delegation to Sudan, signed the agreement on behalf of the European Union, witnessing what has been described as an important stepping-stone in the ongoing transition process in Sudan.
The signing of the Sudanese peace agreement concluded a negotiation process of almost one year, facilitated and hosted by the South Sudanese government. When the Covid-19 pandemic made in-person meetings and travel impossible, the European Union Delegations in Sudan and South Sudan hosted the different parties in their premises and provided them with their videoconference facilities, in order to enable the continuation of negotiations.
In a video message, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Vice President of the Commission, Josep Borrell, encouraged the two-holdout groups, who have not joined the peace agreement yet, in particular the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North-Abdalaziz Al-Hilu and the Sudan Liberation Movement-Abdul Wahid Al-Nur, to “follow and engage in serious negotiations with the Transitional Government”. Borrell also emphasised the importance of the implementation of the agreement to benefit all Sudanese.
The peace agreement covers a number of issues, from land ownership, reparations and compensation, to wealth and power sharing and the return of refugees and internally displaced people. The former rebel groups are to be dismantled and incorporated into joint units with the national armed forces.
“We emphasise on the correct implementation of the Agreement. As Sudan and the whole world is witnessing today, this is our moment to celebrate, but we hope other armed groups will join to make a comprehensive peace”, Al Fateh Yousif Al Mac Hassan Adlan, a community representative from Blue Nile, said before boarding the plane to Juba.
The European Union chartered a flight with BADR airline for the round trip. This was made possible thanks to the ongoing project "Supporting a Peaceful and Inclusive Transition in Sudan”, funded under the EU’s Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) and implemented by The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), which provided the logistical support.
Details
- Publication date
- 13 October 2020
- Region and Country
- Sudan