4 July 2001 Sudanese
Foreign Minister Dr Mustafa Osman Ismail states that: "The
government accepts, without reservation, all nine principles
indicated in the memorandum for achieving peace and reconciliation."
The nine points of the Egyptian-Libyan
peace initiative call for the unity of Sudan, democratisation,
recognition of religious, cultural and ethnic diversity,
respect for human rights, freedom of speech and formation
of an interim government composed of all political forces.
In Nairobi SPLA spokesman
Samson Kwaje states that the SPLA also welcomed and accepted
the initiative but had submitted suggestions as to how it
could be improved by inclusion of the right of self-determination
for the south and other areas, and a firmer entrenchment
of the separation of religion and state. The SPLA also calls
for the Egyptian-Libyan peace initiative to be merged with
the IGAD initiative.
Ismail further states that
the government would "as of today" launch a drive
for "rallying the greatest possible support" for
the initiative and calls upon Egypt and Libya to speed up
"practical steps" for achieving the objectives
of the memorandum.
"Sudan Says Accepts
Libyan-Egyptian Peace Agenda", News Article by Reuters,
4 July 2001; "Sudanese Government Accepts Egyptian-Libyan
Peace Initiative", News Article by Agence France Presse,
4 July 2001; "Outline of Egypt-Libya Peace Initiative
for Sudan", News Article by Reuters, 5 July 2001; "Hopes
Brighten for Sudanese Peace Conference", News Article
by Agence France Presse, 5 July 2001
4 July 2001 The
leader of the Umma Party, Sadiq al-Mahdi, returns from the
talks arranged by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo in
Abuja at which he was to meet with SPLA leader John Garang,
after Garang and the SPLA delegation fail to turn up.
"Umma Party Leader
Fails to Meet Rebel Delegation in Nigeria", News Article
by The Khartoum Monitor, 4 July 2001
5 July 2001 The
Egyptian government states that it will start organising
a broad-based conference to bring Sudan's civil war to an
end.
"Egypt Moves Ahead
With Plans for Broad-Based Sudanese Peace Conference",
News Article by Agence France Presse, 5 July 2001
6 July 2001 A
Sudanese government spokesman urges the southern rebels
to declare a ceasefire, following their acceptance of the
Egyptian-Libyan peace initiative. Presidential advisor Abdel
Basit Sabdarat states: "The most important step after
both the opposition and government approved the Egyptian-Libyan
peace initiative is to declare a ceasefire jointly."
"Sudanese Official
Urges Rebels to Declare Ceasefire", News Article by
XINHUA, 6 July 2001
6 July 2001 It
is reported that a meeting is being arranged between Sudanese
President Omer al-Bashir and Mohammed Osman al-Mirghani,
head of the opposition NDA.
"President Bashir Expected
to Meet Opposition Leader", News Article at Al-Ra'y
al-Amm (Khartoum), 6 July 2001
6 July 2001 In
a visit to Juba, the main town in war-torn southern Sudan,
President al-Bashir, reaffirms the government's commitment
to the peace process.
"Bashir Weighs Peace
Plan on South Sudan Visit", News Article by Reuters,
6 July 2001
6 July 2001 UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan states that he is "deeply
concerned" over the SPLA offensive in the southern
Sudanese province of Bahr al-Ghazal. He comments that the
attacks have caused "massive disruption" at a
time when farming communities would normally have been fully
engaged in planting for the next harvest season. He further
states that "many thousands of civilians have fled
into government-controlled areas", and that there "real
fears" of severe food shortages in areas that had once
enjoyed surpluses. The area invaded by the SPLA, he points
out, has traditionally been the "bread basket"
of Sudan, and the consequences of the invasion will be further
food crises.
"Annan Urges Warring
Parties to Seek Peaceful Settlement in Sudan", News
Article by XINHUA, 6 July 2001; "Annan Decries 'Massive
Disruption'", News Article by IRIN, Nairobi, 10 July
2001
6 July 2001 The
southern Sudanese rebel faction the South Sudanese Liberation
Movement/Army (SSLM/A) issues a statement condemning the
Egyptian-Libyan peace initiative as a "derailment to
the IGAD peace process". It claims that the initiative
"does not recognise the inalienable rights of the people
of South Sudan of self-determination". It further accuses
the Khartoum government as "oppressing, enslaving,
discrimination, eliminating and enforcing a war of genocide
and ethnic cleansing against the South Sudanese people"
and of having "[violated] every agreement they have
ever reached and signed with the South".
"Press Release: Egyptian
Libyan Peace Initiative is a Derailment to IGAD Peace Process",
SPLA Press Release, 6 July 2001
7 July 2001 A
Sudanese government spokesman claims to have repulsed an
SPLA attack on the West Nuer area in southern Sudan. General
Mohammed Bashir Suleiman states: "The attack was aimed
at obstructing the development process, disturbing the atmosphere
of peace and reconciliation and disconnecting the roads
linking parts of the West Nuer region.[The SPLA] seeks to
confuse the reconciliation and peace atmosphere and displays
disrespect for the peace initiatives being sponsored by
brothers and friends."
"Government Troops
Repulse SPLA Attack", News Article by Agence France
Presse, 7 July 2001
8 July 2001 Thousands
of refugees continue to flee from rebel SPLA advances in
southern Sudan.
"Fleeing Rebel Advance,
Sudanese Refugees Lose Husbands, Wives and Children on Trek",
News Article by Associated Press, 8 July 2001
9 July 2001 The
Arab League welcomes the acceptance by both parties of the
Egyptian-Libyan peace initiative.
"AL Welcomes Sudan's
Acceptance of Egyptian-Libyan Peace Plan", News Article
by XINHUA, 9 July 2001
10 July 2001 Umma
Party President Sadiq al-Mahdi calls for neighbouring countries
to back peace efforts in Sudan and to close their borders
to anti-government operations to prevent "acts of violence
and fighting".
"Sudan's Opposition
Umma Calls on Neighbours to Back Peace Efforts", News
Article by Agence France Presse, 10 July 2001
10 July 2001 Dr
Hassan al-Turabi's Popular National Congress party welcomes
the Egyptian-Libyan peace initiative. It states that the
initiative "has offered an historic and rare opportunity
that should be seized in sincerity and honesty for salvaging
the country from collapse and disintegration".
"Opposition Party Welcomes
Sudan Peace Try", News Article by UPI, 10 July 2001
10 July 2001 In
an interview with The Washington Times, Sudanese
President Omer al-Bashir outlines the peace proposals offered
by the government to the rebels. He states:
"The first demand of
the rebels was that we create a federal system in the country.
We have done that. They also seek equitable participation
in the central government. Through their participation in
the various levels of the federal system we feel we responded
to their demands. They also demand an equitable share of
the wealth and we have taken measures to respond to that
demand through the constitution and in reality. They also
ask for fair development around the country. We have initiated
programmes but because of the war we have not been able
to deliver what they wanted. In the constitution it says
that citizenship is the basis for rights and duties. We
guaranteed all kinds of freedom: freedom of worship, speech
and education. This is why we are very concerned with our
relationship with the United States, because we feel it
is the key to stopping the war."
Commenting on the prospects
for peace President Bashir says:
"The base for peace
is already there with the conviction of the southern people
of the positive role peace can play. The confidence building
that has been achieved between the southerners and the northerners
through the displacement of southerners to the north has
contributed to making an atmosphere conducive to peace.
The aim should be towards
eliminating the foreign component and after that we can
speak together as Sudanese and make ours the shared goal
of achieving peace. The final stage could be implemented
in a transitional period under the guarantee of regional
and international observers. After the transitional period
we can evaluate the situation and reach a final reconciliation
and remove all the sources of conflict by removing the weapons
and normalising the situation in the war zones."
International Special Reports - Sudan: Government",
10 July 2001, The Washington Times, at http://www.internationalspecialreports.com/africa/01/sudan/government/
10 July 2001 Sudanese
Foreign Minister Dr Mustafa Osman Ismail reaffirms the government's
commitment to a peaceful settlement of the civil war "through
dialogue to find a solution acceptable to both parties,
so that we can live in a united Sudan acceptable to all
of us".
Dr. Ismail describes what
he sees as the three main existing obstacles to peace:
1 The SPLA
leadership and in particular John Garang.who never attends
negotiations and never authorises decisions to be made
by his deputies. Garang has refused to meet Bashir despite
mediation efforts by the likes of South Africa's former
president Nelson Mandela and Kenya's President Arap
Moi...Garang has had key players in forging a peace
killed".
2 The negative intervention
of some IGAD members, especially Uganda. "Uganda's
[President Yoweri] Museveni loves this war". Pointing
to Uganda's military involvement in both the Congo and
Rwanda, he says "Uganda is too small for [Museveni]"
3 The "negative
role of the United States" which has provided both
direct support to the SPLA and indirect support through
NGOs active with the rebels. "The main supporter
of the rebels has been the outgoing US administration,
which has worked against a ceasefire.[this] does not
encourage a shift to a culture of peace".
International Special Reports
- Sudan: Government", 10 July 2001, at
http://www.internationalspecialreports.com/africa/01/sudan/government/
11 July 2001 The
officially registered south Sudanese party, the United Democratic
Salvation Front, dismisses the Egyptian-Libyan peace initiative
as "nothing new" and as failing to provide for
self-determination in the south.
"Southern Sudanese
Party Dismisses Egyptian-Libyan Peace Bid", News Article
by Agence France Presse, 11 July 2001
12 July 2001 Sudanese
President Omer al-Bashir states that he is determined to
comply with the Egyptian-Sudanese peace initiative "in
a manner that maintains the country's unity and safeguards
the rights of its people".
"Sudan's Bashir Determined
for Peace", News Article by Agence France Presse, 12
July 2001
14 July 2001 Professor
Ibrahim Ahmed Omer, Secretary-General of the ruling National
Congress party in Sudan, states if the Egyptian-Libyan peace
initiative is accepted by all parties the National Congress
party would be prepared to accept defeat in democratic elections:
"If our party is not elected, then we are ready to
be in the opposition." Omer also calls on John Garang
to endorse the peace plan
"Ruling Sudanese Party
Willing to Give Power to Opposition if It Loses at Future
Elections", News Article by Associated Press, 14 July
2001; "Ruling Sudanese Party Willing to Give Power
to Opposition if It Loses at Future Elections", News
Article by Agence France Presse, 15 July 2001; "Sudanese
Official Urges Rebel Leader Garang to Endorse Peace Plan",
News Article by MENA, 14 July 2001
16 July 2001 Sudanese
Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Mustafa Osman Ismail welcomes
the visit of Andrew Natsios, the head of USAID and the United
States' Special Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs in
Sudan, to Sudan as a positive step toward discussing bilateral
issues.
"Foreign Minister Describes
US Official's Visit as Positive Step", News Article
by SUNA, 16 July 2001
16 July 2001 The
Sudanese government states that it is ready for immediate
talks with the opposition and urges Egyptian-Libyan mediators
to make arrangements for holding negotiations as soon as
possible. Presidential peace advisor Dr Ghazi Saleheddin
Atabani states that Khartoum "is prepared to sit down
for negotiations with the opposition in 24 hours time".
"Sudan's Government
Urges Egypt, Libya to Speed Up Peace Conference", News
Article by Agence France Presse, 16 July 2001
17 July 2001 National
Democratic Alliance leader Mohammed Osman al-Mirghani praises
the Egyptian-Libyan peace initiative as "the last-ditch
bid to solve the Sudanese problem" and created a "new
reality" in Sudan. He also expresses his readiness
to meet with the Sudanese government for negotiations at
any time.
"Egyptian-Libyan Initiative
Last-Ditch Bid to Solve Sudanese Problem", News Article
by ArabicNews.com, 17 July 2001
17 July 2001 Libyan
leader Moamer Kadhafi arrives in Khartoum to meet Sudanese
leaders in an effort to promote the Libyan-Egyptian peace
initiative, having earlier met SPLA leader John Garang.
"Libya's Kaddafi in
Sudan on Peace Mission", News Article by Reuters, 17
July 2001
17 July 2001 Sudanese
President Omer al-Bashir states that his government could
hold early elections if an agreement is reached with the
opposition via the Egyptian-Libyan peace initiative. He
states: "What counts more now is an immediate ceasefire."
"Sudan Does Not Object
to Early Elections if Peace Deal is Reached", News
Article by Agence France Presse, 17 July 2001
18 July 2001 Libyan
leader Moamer Kadhafi states that African leaders were opposed
to the idea of partitioning Sudan advocated by SPLA leader
John Garang.
"African Leaders Against
Partition of Sudan: Ghaddafi", News Article by XINHUA,
18 July 2001
22 July 2001 Sudanese
Foreign Minister Dr Mustafa Osman Ismail pledges the Khartoum
government's commitment to, and flexibility in, peace negotiations.
He states: "The government will be very flexible and
will present its vision on the transitional government at
the negotiations with the opposition. We will be very flexible
as the priority will be for halting the war and reaching
a political settlement that leads to the national unity.The
government's clear position s acceptance of the (Egyptian-Libyan)
initiative without conditions and remarks and what counts
now is to speed up the next step." He further adds
that the recent ruling National Congress party Leadership
Council has endorsed the nine points of the Egyptian-Libyan
initiative and that the government has formed a number of
committees to discuss the proposals related to the initiative,
namely recognition of ethnic, religious and cultural diversity,
introduction of pluralistic democracy, guaranteed basic
freedoms and human rights, and a decentralised system of
government.
"Sudan Foreign Minister
Reiterates Government's Acceptance of Peace Bid", News
Article by Agence France Presse, 22 July 2001
7 August 2001 Sudanese
President Omer al-Bashir reaffirms his government's commitment
to a negotiated settlement of the civil war.
"Sudan's Bashir Reiterates
Commitment to Peaceful Settlement", News Article by
DPA, 7 August 2001
9 August 2001 The
SPLA states that it will neither attend any dialogue conference
nor pay any attention to comments on the Egyptian-Libyan
peace initiative. It declares that it insists on the principles
of self-determination, the strict separation of religion
and the state, and upon IGAD negotiations as a foundation
for a peaceful solution to the Sudanese civil war.
"SPLA Insists on self-determination,
Separation of Religion from State", News Article by
XINHUA, 9 August 2001
12 August 2001 Egyptian
Foreign Minister Ahmad Mahir states that the Egyptian-Libyan
peace initiative is accepted by all Sudanese parties. He
refuses to comment on SPLA leader John Garang's remarks.
"All Sudanese Parties
Accept Egypt-Libya Peace Initiative, Egypt Says", News
Article by MENA, 12 August 2001
13 August 2001 The
Libyan government informs all Sudanese parties that it has
been making arrangements with Cairo for the holding of a
preliminary assembly at which negotiations can be held on
the sidelines of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriyyah anniversary
of the 1 September Revolution.
The Umma Party also convenes
a leadership meeting to discuss developments in the Egyptian-Libyan
peace initiative and the Libyan invitation.
"Libya Reportedly Invites
Sudanese Parties for Preliminary Peace Talks", News
Article by Al-Ra'y al-Amm (Khartoum), 13 August 2001
13 August 2001 Sudanese
Presidential Adviser on Peace Affairs Dr Ghazi Saleheddin
Atabani, states that the Sudanese government is trying to
ascertain whether or not the SPLA really wanted peace. The
statements issued recently by the SPLA, he declares, "clearly
indicates that the movement, contrary to its previous declarations,
does not want peace to be achieved under the joint initiative.[The
Sudanese, Egyptian and Libyan governments are trying to
probe] the real stance of the movement, the extent of its
interest in peace, and its final position with regards to
the joint initiative".
"Government Seeks Details
on SPLM/A Stance", News Article by IRIN, Nairobi, 13
August 2001
18 August 2001 Sudanese
Presidential Adviser on Peace Affairs Dr Ghazi Saleheddin
Atabani reiterates that the Sudanese government unconditionally
accepts the Egyptian-Libyan peace initiative.
"Sudan Reiterates Unconditional
Acceptance of Egyptian-Libyan Peace Initiative", News
Article by XINHUA, 18 August 2001
19 August 2001 The
SPLA claims to have ambushed and captured government vessels
on a tributary of the Nile. SPLA spokesman Yassir Arman
states that: "This operation falls within the SPLA's
plan to stop oil production.to tighten the grip on the oil
companies and the Sudanese regular forces who protect them".
A firm running fishing operations
in south Sudan states that the boat actually belonged to
them, was nothing to with the oil industry, and demands
the return of nine of its staff. Government forces also
denied that any of their vessels were captured, since they
do not patrol in the area in question.
"Sudanese Rebels Say
They Have Captured Riverboat and Escorts", News Article
by Associated Press, 19 August 2001; "Sudan Firm Says
'Oil Boat' Captured by Rebels Was Fishing Vessel",
News Article by Agence France Presse, 20 august 2001
20 August 2001 The
opposition Umma Party announces that it will be holding
a series of workshops about the political programme to reach
a comprehensive peace settlement.
"Sudan: Umma Party
to Hold Workshops on Political Programme - Says Leader",
News Article by The Khartoum Monitor, 20 August 2001
20 August 2001 Following
a joint meeting in Nairobi, 12-17 August, the Catholic and
Episcopal Churches of Sudan issue a statement calling upon
the Sudanese government and rebels to arrive at a negotiated
settlement, rather than military victory. They also put
forward three proposals as the basis of a settlement: "affirmation
of diversity in the national identity; power-sharing through
a participatory system of government; and wealth-sharing
through an equitable distribution of national resources".
They also call for equal protection of all religious groups
and the separation of religion and state. If this could
not be achieved, then self-determination for the south and
other marginalised areas should be permitted.
"The Catholic and Episcopal
Bishops of Sudan Advocate 'Negotiated Settlement, Not War'",
News Article by IRIN, Nairobi, 20 August 2001
24 August 2001 The
SPLA issues a statement declaring that it will only participate
in the Egyptian-Sudanese initiative if it takes into account
four other issues: separation of state and religion, the
right of self-determination, the creation of an interim
constitution, and the creation of an interim government.
It also states that it wants the Egyptian-Libyan initiative
merged with the IGAD peace process. It states:
"The SPLM will not
be party to any type of negotiations with the [Government
of Sudan] called by the Joint Egyptian-Libyan Initiative,
or any other peace initiative, that does not incorporate
the above four points."
"Sudanese Rebels Repeat
Conditions for Joining Peace Bid", News Article by
Agence France Presse, 24 August 2001
25 August 2001 The
opposition National Democratic Alliance states that it is
committed to the Egyptian-Libyan peace initiative.
"NDA Leader Emphasises
Commitment to Egyptian-Libyan Initiative", News Article
by MENA, 25 August 2001
27 August 2001 The
Sudanese government appeals to the international community
to exert pressure on the rebel SPLA to agree to a resumption
of peace negotiations. Reiterating the readiness of the
Sudanese government to negotiate "under any forum that
will achieve peace and halt the bloodshed", the Sudanese
Foreign Ministry adds that: "We had earlier said that
the rebel acceptance of the initiative was only a tactical
move. The Agenda of the rebel movement is that of war."
"Government Urges International
Community to Pressure Rebels to Accept Cease-Fire",
News Article by Associated Press, 27 August 2001
27 August 2001 The
Egyptian and Libyan governments hold a meeting to discuss
ways of activating the Egyptian-Libyan peace initiative
and to draw up a timetable for holding a national reconciliation
conference.
"Meeting Opens in Tripoli
to Discuss Peace in Sudan", News Article by PANA, 27
August 2001
30 August 2001 The
Sudanese government accuses the SPLA of not being serious
about attempts to peacefully resolve the Sudanese conflict.
Commenting on SPLA's demands that the Libyan-Egyptian initiative
be significantly altered, the Presidential Peace Adviser,
Dr Ghazi Saleheddin Atabani, said that this "clearly
indicates that the movement, contrary to its previous declarations,
does not want peace to be achieved under the joint initiative".
The peace adviser said that Khartoum appreciated Nigerian
efforts to secure peace in Sudan. He said that the government
is prepared for negotiations "at any time, on the different
tracks [IGAD, Libyan-Egyptian and Nigerian]".
"Sudan Government Accuses
SPLA Rebels of Rejecting Peace", News Article by Agence
France Presse, 13 August 2001,
31 August 2000 Sidahmed
al-Hussein, deputy Secretary-General of the opposition Democratic
Unionist Party, calls on dissidents in exile to return to
Sudan to continue their opposition activities.
"Sudanese Opposition
Figure Calls on Dissidents to Return from Exile", News
Article by Agence France Presse, 31 August 2001
4 September 2001 The
Sudanese government receives notification from the IGAD
Secretariat of the postponement of the scheduled peace negotiations.
The Sudanese government advance delegation had already arrived
in Nairobi.
The postponement of the
talks are attributed to the non-arrival of the SPLA delegation.
"Government Notified
on Postponement of IGAD Talks", News Article by SUNA,
4 September 2001; "Sudanese Peace Talks Off",
News Article by PANA, 5 September 2001
6 September 2001 The
SPLA continues its efforts to prevent a third Abuja Sudan
peace conference from taking place. It attacks south Sudanese
individuals attempting to organise the conference as "very
wicked indeed". An official SPLA Press Release criticises
"rival movements to the SPLA [which] have sprung up,
purporting to address issues/objectives they claim are not
being catered for by the SPLM". It claims that any
conference would be "redundant" since "Southern
Sudanese aspirations are adequately being catered for within
the SPLM's New Sudan vision". It renews its call for
the conference to be boycotted.
"SPLM/SPLA Press Release",
Baak Wol, SPLA Office, London, 6 September; 2001
6 September 2001 The
Sudanese cautiously welcomes US proposal to appoint a special
peace envoy to Sudan. Foreign Minister Dr Mustafa Osman
Ismail states: "The cooperation of the government with
the American envoy will depend on the degree of his impartiality
and that of the American administration ...It is premature
to judge the chances of success of the American envoy as
we are still in the process of studying and gathering information."
"Khartoum Gives Cautious
Welcome to US Peace Initiative", News Article by Agence
France Presse, 6 September 2001
8 September 2001 The
Egyptian and Libyan governments hold further talks to "[restart]
the Egyptian-Libyan initiative for a global reconciliation
in Sudan". Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Mahir states:
"There is no other serious initiative for Sudan, since
it needs a consensus in Sudan and no other initiative can
accept all the Sudanese parties."
"Egyptian Foreign Minister,
Libyan Official Discuss Sudanese Initiative", News
Article by MENA, 8 September 2001; "Egypt, Libya Push
Sudan Peace Plan, Despite US Initiative", News Article
by Agence France Presse, 8 September 2001
9 September 2001 Attalla
Hamad Beshir, executive secretary of IGAD, states that IGAD
is expecting a breakthrough in the forthcoming peace negotiations.
He also welcomes the Egyptian-Libyan peace initiative which
complements the work of IGAD.
"IGAD Expects Breakthrough
in Sudan Peace Talks", News Article by XINHUA, 9 September
2001
12 September 2001 The Sudanese
Information Minister accuses rebel SPLA leader John Garang
of making negotiations to end the civil war impossible.
He states: "He changes the agenda, he has opposed all
Sudanese governments and all initiatives.[The SPLA] imposed
four conditions of the kind that make it impossible to sit
down at the negotiating table with them."
"Government Says Negotiations With SPLM/A
'Impossible'", News Article by IRIN, Nairobi, 12 September
2001
