Statement of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel on Sudan (AUHIP) / Report on negotiations on the Sudan framework agreement

 

 

 

 

Statement of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel on Sudan (AUHIP) / Report on negotiations on the Sudan framework agreement

 

 

KARTHOUM, Sudan, November 15, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On the 7th of November, the African Union High Level Implementation Panel on Sudan (AUHIP)

convened a meeting of the Sudanese parties, the National Congress

Party (NCP) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in

Khartoum.

The Parties met to negotiate a Framework Document within which

they would address and resolve various outstanding matters

relating to the implementation of the CPA and conduct further

detailed discussion of the Post Referendum Arrangements.

The outstanding CPA issues include the resolution of the Abyei

question, the North-South border, Popular Consultations in the Blue

Nile and South Kordofan States, and security arrangements

between the North and the South.

The Post Referendum issues include citizenship, oil, water

resources, assets and liabilities, currency and economic

cooperation.

The negotiations concluded successfully on November 13 with an

agreement on a “Framework for Resolving Outstanding Issues

Relating to the Implementation of the Comprehensive Peace

Agreement and the Future Relations of North and South Sudan”.

General Principles

The Parties recognised that the people of southern and northern

Sudan have close ties of history, culture, geography and economy,

as well as personal relations, which cannot be severed whatever the

outcome of the South Sudan referendum.

For this reason, they have committed themselves to find peaceful

solutions to all outstanding matters, determined never to resort to

war again. In the case of separation as a consequence of the South

Sudan referendum, they undertook to construct two viable states

which would cooperate for the mutual benefit and live in peace and

harmony with each other.

CPA obligations

The Parties committed themselves to work for the successful

conduct of the Southern Sudan referendum and pledged to respect

its outcome.

They agreed that negotiations on the future of Abyei will continue at

the level of the political principals, President Omar Hassan al-

Bashir, and First Vice President Salva Kiir Mayardit, with the

participation of the AUHIP. The principals are determined to

conclude their negotiations expeditiously.

The Parties will help to ensure that the Popular Consultations in the

Blue Nile and South Kordofan states enable the views and

aspirations of the people of the two states to be expressed and

taken into account, and pledge to respect the outcome of the

consultation.

The Parties committed themselves to the immediate demarcation of

the North-South border.

In the event of secession, this will be the longest inter-state border

in Africa, hosting in its immediate vicinity on both sides a significant

proportion of Sudan’s population. This border also sees the

movement of trans-boundary peoples each year in both directions.

The Parties have committed themselves to maintaining a ‘softborder’,

which will permit unhindered economic and social activity

and interaction, which will be essential for economic prosperity and

harmony between the north and the south.

They will cooperate to facilitate mutually beneficial cross-border

activities.

Peoples’ Linkages and Citizenship Issues

The Parties agreed that decisions taken on nationality and

citizenship will not adversely affect the wellbeing and rights of

ordinary people.

In conformity with the provisions of the CPA, the Parties reaffirmed

that no person’s Sudanese nationality or citizenship will change

during the CPA Interim Period, and that during this period all

Sudanese nationals or citizens shall continue to have a right to live

anywhere in the country and that no obstacles shall be placed in the

way of their freedom of movement, employment or their access to

public services in any part of Sudan.

In the event of any change in nationality and citizenship laws, the

Parties agreed that the two states would ensure that the rights of

the people are not adversely affected and that they can continue to

reside in either country, in accordance with the law, should they

wish to continue to do so and that sufficient time would be given to

enable individuals to adjust their status.

Economic and Other Linkages and Arrangements for

Cooperation

Guided by the understanding of the facts on the ground, the Parties

adopted several principles which would inform the process of

mutually beneficial economic cooperation in the event of the

separation of South Sudan.

In this context they agreed on the approach they would adopt to

address such matters as the free movement of people, goods and

services, monetary and fiscal policy, the management of oil and

water resources, and the handling of assets and liabilities.

The Parties recognise that each post-secession state would conduct

its foreign policy mindful of the need to achieve the objective of the

building of two viable states which would cooperate for mutual

benefit.

Ensuring Mutual Security

Regardless of the outcome of the referendum, the Parties undertook

that neither would take any action, or support any group, that

would undermine the security of the other. Instead, the North and

the South would continue to cooperate and share information that

would enhance their capacity to deal with internal and external

threats as well as trans-border crime.

Conclusion

The Panel is greatly encouraged by the determination of the

Sudanese Parties to apply themselves diligently to address all the

challenges ahead, at all times working to resolve all outstanding

matters through peaceful negotiations.

The Panel is confident that the Parties will sustain the spirit of cooperation

demonstrated during the negotiation of the Framework

Agreement. Navigating the path ahead will require the dedicated

leadership which Sudan’s leaders are more than capable of

exercising in the best interest of the people of Sudan.

The Panel calls on Sudan’s neighbours, the rest of our Continent

and the world as a whole to extend the necessary encouragement

and support to the people and leadership of Sudan as they continue

their efforts to find a lasting solution to the challenges they face.

 

SOURCE 

African Union Commission (AUC)