26 January 1999 The
Sudanese government again extends its cease-fire in the
southern Bahr al-Ghazal region. Foreign Minister Dr Mustafa
Osman Ismail states that the two previous partial cease-fires
"led to nowhere in the peace process. Yet we now agreeing
to a third partial ceasefire, but it will be the last one".
Dr Ismail also adds: "We have always been demanding
a comprehensive ceasefire which will not only help in handling
the humanitarian situation bit in confidence-building to
allow the two parties to lay down arms and sit down for
negotiating a lasting peace in south Sudan."
"Sudanese Government
Agrees to Ceasefire Extension", News Article by Agence
France Presse, 27 January 1999
11 February 1999 Sudanese
opposition groups attend a four-day conference in Kampala.
They vow to intensify the struggle to topple the Khartoum
government.
"Sudanese Vow to Topple
Khartoum", News Article by Africa News Service, 11
February 1999
22 February 1999 Sudanese
President Omer Hassan al-Bashir declares that he is willing
to let the south secede if that would end Sudan's civil
war. He states: "the option of separation with peace
is better than that of unity with the continuation of the
war."
He also states that the
Sudanese government is ready to "open up all avenues"
and is seeking to "bridge the gap" with the rebel
SPLA.
"Sudan Offers South
Secession", News Article by BBC, 22 February 1999
9 March 1999 Sudanese
Minister of State in the National Development Institution
Makwakj Tang Youk, who is also spokesman for the United
Democratic Salvation Front, states that the UDSF has signed
a cease-fire with rebels in all parts of the south, to come
into force in April to coincide with the Nairobi negotiations
in that month. He states that the agreement allows for the
return of refugees to their homes and the free movement
of people between government and rebel held areas in the
south.
"Sudan Agrees With
Rebels on Cease Fire", News Article by ArabicNews.com,
9 March 1999
9 March 1999 The
SPLA issues a press release denying that "there are
peace talks going on between the SPLM/SPLA and members of
the Government of Sudan especially those Southern Sudanese
elements affiliated to the break away group known as the
United Democratic Salvation Front and who have signed peace
agreement with Khartoum and are part and parcel of the regime".
It claims that "grassroots" talks are going on
between local leaders from the Nuer and Dinka communities
under the "protection and security" of the SPLM/SPLA.
It claims that "Khartoum and its Southern Sudan agents
would like to hijack such occasions to legitimise and give
an impetus to its dying policy of peace from within".
"Press Release: There
Are No Peace Talks Between the SPLM/SPLA and UDSF",
Dr Samson L. Kwaje, SPLA Spokesman, Nairobi, 5 March 1999
10 March 1999 Leaders
of southern Sudan's main two rival tribes signed a peace
agreement this week to end their conflict. Members of the
United Democratic Salvation Front said that Dinka and Nuer
tribesmen came to an agreement on March 7 during a nine-day
conference - the Wunlit Dinka-Nuer Peace Conference. Farang
Garkout, a Nuer member of parliament in Khartoum, who attended
the conference, told Reuters that the 700 attendants resolved
to end all acts of hostility between the two tribes and
declare an immediate cease-fire. He also stated that they
had agreed to call for the extension of the current cease-fire
in Southern Sudan's Bahr al-Ghazal region between the government
and the SPLA.
UDSF leader Riek Machar
said: "It has been difficult to convince the SPLA to
sign a comprehensive ceasefire, this time there will be
an effect because the call for ceasefire is coming from
the grassroots." Machar also stated that President
Omer al-Bashir promised to form a committee to study the
new agreement and make use of it in the coming round of
peace talks in Nairobi in April.
"Rival Tribes Sign
Peace Deal in Sudan", News Article by Reuters, 10 March
1999; "People-to-People Peace January-June 1999",
New Sudan Council of Churches Executive Committee Report,
NSCC Executive Committee, Nairobi, Kenya, 30 June 1999;
"Dinka-Nuer Peace Conference", News Article by
ANS, 5 March 1999
10 March 1999 Libyan
leader Colonel Kadhafi states that he plans to speed up
his mediation between the Sudanese opposition and the government
by inviting the National Democratic Alliance to Libya to
explain their stand on how to settle the conflict peacefully
and to ask the Sudanese government for its reaction. Kadhafi
also stated that in January he had met John Garang of the
SPLA and Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail
in Libya.
"Kadhafi Plans to Speed
Up Mediation Between Khartoum and Opposition", News
Article by Agence France Presse, 10 March 1999
11 March 1999 A
faction of the opposition Umma Party decides to register
as a party under the new law aimed at restoring a multi-party
system in Sudan. A provisional 11-member leadership is formed
until it holds a national Congress in September. The Al-Ra'i
Al-Akher daily names Al Nur Jaden as party President,
Ali Osman Yahia as Deputy President and Al-Tayeb Rahim as
Secretary-General.
"Splinter Faction of
Sudanese Party Names Leaders", News Article by Reuters,
11 March 1999
11 March 1999 At
a lecture in Cairo University's Faculty of Law Colonel Kadhafi
claims that the problem of southern Sudan is a "virus"
planted by neo-colonialist forces to destabilise both Sudan
and Egypt. He urges national reconciliation, and states
that in his earlier meeting with SPLA leader John Garang
the latter stated that he was prepared to meet unconditionally
with the Sudanese government.
"Kadhafi Speaks on
How to End Sudan Conflict", News Article by PANA, 11
March 1999
17 March 1999 It
is announced that a new round of peace talks between the
Sudanese government and the SPLA will be held in Nairobi
on 25 April. SPLA spokesman Osama Yasser also states that
SPLA members met Sudanese Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs Bishop Gabriel Roric Jur in a recent visit to Nairobi.
"Khartoum, Garang to
Hold New Discussions", News Article by ArabicNews.com,
17 March 1999
23 March 1999 Sudanese
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ali Nimeiri states
that Sudan will seek to gain the admittance of Egypt into
the Intergovernmental Authority on Development IGAD, in
view of the "common interests" of Sudan and Egypt.
"Sudan Wants Egypt
in Forum Searching for Solution to Sudanese Civil War",
News Article by Agence France Presse, 23 March 1999
23 March 1999 SPLA
leader John Garang states that the best hope for peace in
Sudan is the creation of two separate confederal states.
"World: Africa: Separatist
Leader Wants Sudan to Split in Two", News Article by
BBC News, 22 March 1999
27 March 1999 The
London-based Saudi newspaper Ashram Al-Awash reports
that Egypt is mediating between the Sudanese government
and opposition. Egyptian officials are keeping their initiative
secret, the paper claims, in order to "make it successful
and prevent the intervention of regional or international
parties". It is stated that Egyptian Foreign Minister
Amr Moussa met Mohammed Osman al-Mirghani, head of the National
Democratic Alliance, former Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi,
and an SPLA representative. The previous week Moussa had
met Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail during
an Organisation of African Unity meeting in Ethiopia.
"Egypt Trying to Mediate
an End to Sudan's Civil War", News Article by Associated
Press, 27 March 1999
27 March 1999 The
"Wunlit Dinka-Nuer Covenant" is signed after a
peace and reconciliation conference that started on 27 February
at Wunlit, Tonj county in Bahr el Ghazal, under the auspices
of the New Sudan Council of Churches (NSCC). The covenant
and its resolutions are signed by more than 300 Dinka and
Nuer chiefs, community leaders, local administrators, church
leaders and women's and youth representatives. It proclaims
an end to Dinka-Nuer conflict on the West Bank of the Nile,
and includes clauses dealing with inter-tribal abductions,
forced marriages, border issues, policing, grazing and fishing
disputes, forced marriages. A peace council of 137 members,
including one from the NSCC, is formed to implement the
resolutions. An appeal is made to the SPLM/A and the Southern
Sudan Democratic Front led by Dr. Riek Machar, to endorse,
embrace and assist in the implementation of the covenant
and its resolutions.
"Dinka, Nuer Endorse
Proposals to End Conflict", News Article by ANS, 27
March 1999
31 March 1999 Sudan's
national assembly speaker Dr Hassan al-Turabi states that
Sudanese opponents abroad, including former Prime Minister
Sadiq al-Mahdi, will be welcome back home to practise politics.
Turabi was quoted in Wednesday's Akhbar al-Youm daily
as saying: " I do not see any reason that makes the
opponent remain abroad after the constitution has been passed
. It is their right to return to Khartoum and participate
in politics . I have no problem with Sadek el-Mahdi . The
Sudanese do not need guarantees for returning home . If
I was in their position I would immediately climb a plane
to take me to Khartoum . Believe me, if they return, they
will be warmly welcome and I will greet them at the airport
and visit them at home."
Commenting on a mechanism
for dialogue formed by the National Congress and chaired
by first Vice-President Ali Osman Taha, Turabi also states
that it was in fact a group set up by the leadership bureau
of the National Congress to draw up a plan for contacting
the opposition. "The group is entrusted to prepare
a contact plan rather than make contacts", he added.
"Sudanese Opponents
Free to Return Home: Turabi", News Article by Agence
France Presse, 31 March 1999
31 March 1999 Deputy
Secretary-General of the National Congress, Osman Abdul
Qader Abdullatif, denies reports of reaching a national
reconciliation and political dialogue with the opposition.
He states that "the preparatory committee which was
assigned in the leading office of the conference has not
yet drawn its conception of the national reconciliation,
its programme or the political forces with whom the dialogue
will be initiated, in line with the volume of its massive
bases".
"Sudanese Government
Denies Near Reconciliation With the Opposition", News
Article by Arabic News, 31 March 1999
April 1999 The
1610 kilometre oil pipeline linking the Heglig oil-fields
with Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast is completed.
5 April 1999 Sudanese
President Omer al-Bashir declares a cease-fire in southern
Sudan, to take effect on April 15: "In order to emphasize
our unchanged position in favour of peace, we hereby declare
a comprehensive ceasefire all over the south Sudanese states
for safeguarding the lives and property of the citizens
as well as those of the humanitarian workers of the UN agencies
and international organisations.We hereby declare our willingness
to go into arrangements for the comprehensive ceasefire
in all fighting zones in south Sudan and we appeal to the
rebel movement to display its sincerity for achieving peace
by accepting this call and immediately responding to it."
"Sudanese Government
Declares Cease-Fire in Southern Sudan", News Article
by Associated Press, 5 April 1991; "Bashir Declares
Comprehensive Ceasefire in South Sudan", News Article
by Agence France Presse, 5 April 1999
8 April 1999 The
SPLA agrees to a limited cease-fire in the Bahr al-Ghazal
region, but fails to agree to a comprehensive cease-fire
called for by Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir. The SPLA
claims that "Al-Bashir's declaration of a meaningless
'comprehensive ceasefire' is actually a ploy intended to
kill the humanitarian ceasefire. There is therefore no situation
of a comprehensive ceasefire for the SPLA to respond to".
"Sudan Rebels May Renew
Truce", News Article by Associated Press, 8 April 1999;
"Sudanese Rebels to Extend Ceasefire in South",
News Article by Agence France Presse, 12 April 1999
10 April 1999 The
Sudanese government suspends all IGAD talks with the SPLA
in protest at the SPLA killing of relief workers in southern
Sudan.
"Sudanese Government
Freezes Peace Talks With Rebels", News Article by DPA,
10 April 1999
10 April 1999 The
Sudanese government states that it is willing to accept
Egypt as a "neutral mediator" in its attempts
to resolve its conflict with opposition forces.
"Sudanese Government
Seeks Egyptian Mediation With Opposition", News Article
by Agence France Presse, 11 April 1999
13 April 1999 SPLA
representative Peter Adwok rejects the idea of Egyptian
involvement in the peace process. He states: "We cannot
allow this. Egypt is party to the conflict. It is part of
the Arab expansion ploy to Arabise and colonise Africa .
the way forward . will depend on the military situation
in the country."
"Sudan: Peace Talks
Under Threat", News Article by ANS, 13 April 1999
13 April 1999 SPLA
and other opposition forces claim a major victory over government
forces by capturing the garrison of Dar el Umda on the Khartoum-Port
Sudan road.
"Sudanese Rebels Claim
Capture of Khartoum-Port Sudan Road", News Article
by Agence France Presse, 13 April 1999
16 April 1999 Libyan
leader Moamer Kadhafi hosts talks between Sudanese President
Omer al-Bashir and Eritrean President Issias Afeworki in
attempt to ease tension between the two countries.
"Gadhafi Meets with
Sudanese, Eritrean Presidents", News Article by Associated
Press, 16 April 1999
16 April 1999 Dr
Riek Machar, President of the Southern Coordinating Council,
describes the rebel SPLA's proposals for a "confederacy"
as "impractical" because it would result in two
states. He further calls on the SPLA to concentrate on practical
issues and to engage effectively with the Khartoum peace
agreement. He also points to the positive political development
in Sudan, including the Khartoum peace agreement, the political
association act and the new constitution and argues that
the rebels have no excuse for not negotiating a peace. The
rebels, he says, now have the possibility of gaining power
through elections and of achieving self-determination via
a referendum.
"Sudan: Official Says
Rebel Demand for Confederacy 'Impractical'", News Article
by SUNA, 16 April 1999
19 April 1999 The
Sudanese government pulls out of scheduled peace talks in
Nairobi under the auspices of the Inter-Governmental Authority
on Development (IGAD) because of the SPLA's violation of
the cease-fire and its murder in March of four Sudanese
working with the Red Cross. Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman
Ismail states: "The Sudanese government's participation
in the upcoming negotiations with the rebel movement will
be determined on the. repatriation of the four Sudanese
victims and agreement for conducting an inquiry into the
incident."
South Coordination Council
President Riek Machar states that both sides had agreed
to postpone talks for two weeks for "more consultations
for bringing their viewpoints closer, to ensure a successful
round to reach a lasting solution to the south Sudan problem"
and that an IGAD committee chaired by Kenyan President Daniel
arap Moi would make contacts with the government and SPLA
for "narrowing the gap" between the two sides.
"Sudan Pulls Out of
Scheduled Peace Talks With Rebels", News Article by
Associated Press, 19 April 1999; "Sudan Government
Postpones Peace Talks With Rebels", News Article by
Agence France Presse, 19 April 1999
21 April 1999 The
SPLA claims that Red Cross workers held by them were killed
in crossfire when Sudanese government forces attempted to
rescue them in what it calls "a callous act of recklessness".
It argues that the exhuming and repatriation of bodies for
a reburial is "culturally offensive and against Islamic
traditions and values". It also further denies that
the IGAD meeting was postponed to allow further negotiations
between the government and the SPLA.
The SPLA claims that the
Sudanese government is "not interested in the [IGAD]
Talks and would prefer a military solution instead".
The SPLA also reiterates its "commitment to a peaceful
resolution of the Sudan conflict and to the IGAD mediation
process" and "condemns in the strongest possible
terms the Government of Sudan's intransigence and its belief
in a military solution to what is essentially a political
problem needing a political solution."
"Press Release: SPLM
Reaction to Khartoum Indefinite Postponement of Talks",
Dr Samson L. Kwaje, SPLA Spokesman, Nairobi, 20 April 1999
25 April 1999 Sudan
extends a partial cease-fire in famine-stricken Bahr el
Ghazal region. The Foreign Ministry states: "Sudan
hereby declares a ceasefire in Bahr el Ghazal until the
next round of peace talks in Nairobi to allow humanitarian
relief aid to flow to the area."
"Sudan Extends Ceasefire
in Bahr el Ghazal", News Article by Reuters, 25 April
1999
26 April 1999 Augustino
Aremo, Secretary of the southern Sudan department in the
National Congress, criticises the proposals of former Vice-President
Abel Alier that John Garang join with President al-Bashir
to form a supreme authority to run Sudan for a two-year
interim period ahead of a proposed referendum on self-determination
for the South and that Garang administer the South during
the same period. Aremo states that this would endanger SPLA
opponents: "What will happen to the people inside the
country who have had differences with the SPLA when the
South is handed to the rebels".
"Sudan Politician Criticises
Peace Proposals", News Article by Reuters, 26 April
1999
27 April 1999 Egyptian
Foreign Minister Amr Moussa denied on Monday that Egypt
was trying to undermine the Sudanese government: "Egypt
is not working against Sudan. On the contrary Egypt is working
with Sudan, in a positive way, to find solutions to Sudan's
problems. The presence of Sudanese nationals in Egypt is
a historic issue and it will continue in the future because
we are one people."
Sudan's President Omer Al-Bashir
on Saturday said that: "Egypt's hosting of the Sudanese
opposition and occupation of Halaib triangle will remain
an obstacle for normalisation of relations between the two
countries." He urged Egypt to expel Sudanese opposition
leaders from its soil.
"Egypt Denies Working
Against Sudan", News Article by Akhbar.com: The News
Channel by Arabia.On.Line, 27 April 1999
29 April 1999 A
Sudanese government official states that peace talks with
the SPLA in Nairobi will probably resume on May 10. Dr Hassan
al-Turabi, Speaker of Sudan's parliament, denounces Abel
Alier's memorandum as "an early entrance into secession".
"Sudan Peace Talks
to Resume Soon, Mediator Spurned", by Alfred Taban,
News Article by Reuters, 29 April 1999
7 May 1999 An
SPLA spokesman says that they have received a letter from
the Kenyan government stating that "the talks have
been postponed indefinitely until a compromise date is reached".
The SPLA also accuses the Sudanese government of breaching
the cease-fire.
"Sudan Peace Talks
Postponed Indefinitely - Rebels", News Article by Reuters,
7 May 1999
9 May 1999 Southern
Coordination Council President Riek Machar states that the
Kenyan government in fact postponed the peace talks at the
request of the SPLA, which said that it was not ready. Abdalla
Deng Nhial, head of the peace committee in the Sudanese
National Assembly, states: "The objective of the surprise
postponement is to disrupt the dialogue process."
"Sudan Reports New
Delay in Talks With Rebels", News Article by Reuters
on 9 May 1999
10 May 1999 Sadiq
al-Mahdi, the main leader of Sudan's northern opposition,
makes a statement in Cairo following a meeting with Egyptian
Foreign Minister Amr Moussa. Referring to his meeting the
previous week in Geneva with Dr al-Turabi, he states: "There
were steps on the path to a political settlement of the
outstanding problems which Sudan faces." Mahdi also
states that opposition leaders will be meeting in Cairo
soon to "exchange views on various aspects of the Sudanese
question".
"Opposition Leader
Reports Progress in Resolving Sudan Conflict", News
Article by Agence France Presse, 10 May 1999
13 May 1999 Sadiq
al-Mahdi states that the opposition will continue its armed
struggle despite the start of a dialogue with the Sudan
government. He also states the Umma Party would not strike
a reconciliation agreement with the government without the
other factions of the NDA.
"Sudanese Opposition
Vows to Continue Armed Struggle Despite Dialogue",
News Article by Agence France Presse, 13 May 1999
15 May 1999 Mohammed
Hakern, spokesman of the Democratic Unionist Party, states
that: "The DUP is opposed to any reconciliation with
the illegitimate regime in Khartoum which seized power in
a coup."
"Sudanese Opposition
Leaders Divided Over Reconciliation With Government",
News Article by Agence France Presse, 15 May 1999
17 May 1999 Mohammed
Al-Hassan al-Amin, political department secretary for the
ruling National Congress states that: "The National
Congress will embark in the next few days on contacts...
with opposition leaders [in preparation for] a national
dialogue conference." Amin states that the proposed
conference would be in lieu of a constitutional conference
called for by the opposition but which the NC rejects because
"it contradicts the constitution".
"Government Seeks Contacts
to Establish National Dialogue", News Article by Agence
France Presse, 17 May 1999
17 May 1999 Former
Sudanese military leader Jaafar Nimeiri, in exile in Cairo,
states that he will return to Sudan in June.
"Sudanese President
to Contact Opposition", News Article by Reuters, 18
May 1999
2 June 1999 SPLA
leader John Garang, in a meeting with Dinka leader Kerubino
Bol Kuanyin in the south-eastern Bahr al-Jabal region, calls
on Riek Machar to abandon his alliance with the Sudanese
government and return to the rebel ranks. The SPLA also
announces that it had allegedly killed 300 Sudanese soldiers
the previous Thursday in the biggest battle in a year, in
the southern Blue Nile province.
"SPLA Leader Garang
Calls on Machar to Return to Rebel Ranks", News Article
by Agence France Presse, 2 June 1999
2 June 1999 Top
officials defect from the United Democratic Salvation Front
led by Riek Machar and its armed wing, the Southern Sudan
Defence Force (SSDF). A splinter group calling itself the
UDSF Collective Leadership is headed by Weles Wal Bang,
the deputy secretary of the Southern Coordination Council.
The group calls for the dismissal of Machar from both the
USDF and SSDF.
"Spilt in Ranks Behind
Khartoum's Chief for South Sudan, Machar", News Article
by Agence France Presse, 2 June 1999
4 June 1999 The
SPLA claims that, together with allied groups, it had killed
3,000 government troops on three fronts since the beginning
of the year.
"Sudanese Rebels Say
They Killed 3,000 Government Troops", News Article
by Agence France Presse, 4 June 1999
9 June 1999 The
Sudanese army reports that it has rebuffed attempts by opposition
groups and the SPLA to infiltrate the eastern and southern
sections of the country. The National Democratic Alliance
states that its troops had killed 40 Sudanese soldiers in
battles in Tigan, near the Eritrean border. The attacks
are an attempt to cut off oil pipelines and the highway
linking Khartoum with the Red Sea city of Port Sudan.
"Sudan Army Spokesman
Reports Fighting in Eastern Border Region", News Article
by Associated Press, 9 June 1999
10 June 1999 Informal
talks between Sudanese opposition groups start on Thursday
in Asmara. John Garang dismisses the possibility of real
negotiations with Khartoum and calls for renewed military
attacks. He states: "The Khartoum regime is not serious
in its desire for dialogue and does not want to reach real
solutions . efforts must be redoubled towards a popular
uprising in parallel with the armed struggle in order to
step up regional and international pressure on the regime
to lead it to accept an equitable peaceful solution."
Garang also emphasised "the need for formal recognition
by Khartoum of the NDA" as a "logical preparatory
measure" for dialogue.
Garang also attacks Umma
Party leader Sadiq al-Mahdi for meeting with Dr Hassan al-Turabi
stating that: "Any partial compromise with the NIF
is just adding to the disaster. The NIF cannot be reformed,
it must be removed." Mahdi defends his meeting stating:
"Any initiative from genuine parties should be welcomed
if it is to help in achieving the objectives of our people
and stopping the bloodshed of our sons and daughters."
"Sudan Opposition Talks
Open Amid Scepticism", News Article by Agence France
Presse, 10 June 1999; "Sudan Opposition Divided Over
Talks With Khartoum", News Article by Reuters, 10 June
1999
10 June 1999 Sudanese
Foreign Minister Dr Mustafa Osman Ismail states the Sudanese
government's support for holding a national reconciliation
conference with the Sudanese opposition. Following a meeting
with Arab League Secretary-General Esmat Abdel Meguid, Ismail
states: "A dialogue is in progress between the government
and opposition to minimise the differences, but we haven't
yet arrived at an agreement. We hope that all these contacts
will lead to a general conference of all the Sudanese prices
inside and outside [the country] to resolve Sudan's problems."
Ismail also expresses his
hopes that a new security agreement between Egypt and Sudan
would be signed in the future to "ease the path to
political and economic cooperation". He states that
a security agreement with Eritrea, normalising diplomatic
relations severed in 1994, was also on the cards.
"Sudanese Government
Backs Reconciliation Talks With Opposition", News Article
by Agence France Presse, 10 June 1999; "Sudan Seeks
National Reconciliation Conference", News Article by
Reuters, 12 June 1999
13 June 1999 Communist Party
official Tigani al-Tayeb demands a restoration of democracy
in Sudan before dialogue can start. "For a dialogue to
be fruitful, it's necessary to return
to democracy and freedom of expression . to stop the arrests,
cancel the state of emergency and hold free elections. A change
in the political climate is imperative."
"Sudanese Opposition Says Democracy Must
Come Before Dialogue With Khartoum", News Article by
Agence France Presse, 13 June 1999
