Sudanese civil society open letter to the UN Security Council regarding the Sudan Peace Process
NESI Network Member Organizations, 18 November 2004

We, the members of the Civil Society Organizations operating under the umbrella of the New Sudanese Indigenous NGOs (NESI Network), would like to seek the attention of the United Nations Security Council and the international community at large regarding the Sudan Peace Process. 

We note with considerable interest that the Security Council is holding a historic meeting in Nairobi between the 18th and 19th November 2004. We note with even greater interest that the major subject of discussion during the meeting will be the Sudan Peace Process. With the knowledge that the UN Security Council has been entrusted by most of the world‚s governments with the primary responsibility for maintenance of international peace, this move by the Council, without doubt, shows the commitment of the United Nations in the sustainable resolution of the conflict.

NESI Network, the Sudanese and indeed the human race will observe the outcome of the meeting closely, hoping that the Council will adopt a final resolution that will oblige the GoS and SPLM/A to sign a Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

For no less than 35 years, the people in the Sudan, especially those in the Southern part including Nuba Mountains, Equatorial, Upper Nile, Bahr el Ghazal and South Blue Nile regions (Funj); and most recently, those in the Darfur region, have undergone two prolonged civil wars leading to the death of more than 3 million and about 5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs). 

Multitudes of people have been scattered all over the region and many have become refugees all over the world, while many more continue to suffer the misfortune and discomfort of leaving their rightful homes. The Southern Sudanese people continue to experience sustained genocide, gross human rights violations, destruction of property and the environment. Millions have lost hope in life which is characterized by pain, anguish, fear, awe, suffering, hunger, famine, poverty and disease among other inhuman tragedies that accompany civil wars. The civil strife in the Sudan is and will remain one of the longest and most complex in Africa and indeed in the whole world.

Many Sudanese must have therefore seen a flicker light when the two major parties to the conflict; the Government of Sudan (GoS) and the Sudan People‚s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) agreed to negotiate under the auspices of IGAD. This resulted in the signing of the Machakos Protocol which unlocked the Peace Process and yielded to signing a total of 6 peace protocols.

Henceforth, the Peace Process has been long and taxing on the negotiators and the Sudanese. The IGAD peace process, nevertheless, provides a good basis for resolving other conflicts in the Sudan. All peace-loving people all over the world and the Sudanese, especially those in the South and other marginalized areas must be crossing their fingers in anxiety as the prospect of Peace Process gets to the home stretch. It is worth pointing out that the GoS and the SPLM/A deserve accolades for sustaining the Peace Process to where it is at the moment.

It is paramount, however, that the final peace accord be signed now.  The population has suffered enough. Women and girls have been systematically raped; generations have been born to wars and are not able to access education nor peace and security among other basic rights.

We at NESI Network very strongly urge the negotiating parties to revisit the reasons that brought them to the negotiation table and resolve to accelerate the Process to its ultimate destination: the prompt signing of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement. This is where the role of the United Nations comes in.

We strongly recommend the following for the upcoming UN Security Council meeting on Sudan as integral issues to be embodied in its (UN Security Council's) Resolution:

1. That the Sudanese conflict is a very complex one and hence the need for a North-North Dialogue, including the conflicts in Darfur and Eastern Sudan among other marginalized of the Sudan.  These dialogues should be inclusive and pluralistic in nature, including other political parties, armed groups, women and civil society in the North.

2. In the case of the two parties not agreeing to sign the Peace Agreement through IGAD, the UN Security Council‚s resolution on Sudan should prefer selective embargos such as arm embargos and the freezing of the assets of individuals within the Government of Sudan, who are documented to have acquired massive wealth through corrupt means.

3. That a further South-South Dialogue be set in motion to include peaceful negotiations between the SPLM and other Southern political and armed groups, these dialogues should include different stakeholders including the parties themselves, civil society and women.

4. Furthermore, all UN peacekeeping forces, African Union (AU) among others should be gender-sensitive and mindful of the plight of women and girls, who make up more than 60% of the Sudanese population, and whose rights have been most violated during these wars.

5. UN Security Council Resolution 1325 to be fully adopted within the final peace accord for the Sudan.

6. All humanitarian and post-conflict recovery programmes to critically incorporate peace-building and conflict transformation including trauma counseling within its approach and its support for the enhancement of indigenous institutions.

7. That regional and international bodies such as the IGAD, AU and the UN to play a pivotal role in maintaining the peace agreement and its implementation through out the interim period to ensure maximum compliance and respect for the peace Agreement.  

On behalf of the entire Sudanese population, we are very grateful for this very historic meeting and wish you the very best and wisdom in your deliberations and efforts in resolving this extremely deplorable war. 

Signed by and on behalf of NESI Network Member Organizations,
Suzanne Jambo, Coordinator, NESI Network
Nairobi, 18th November 2004