InterAction’s Sudan Working Group hosted three members of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel for Sudan (AUHIP) to discuss the future of Sudan in light of the January 2011 referendum on independence for southern Sudan. The panelists were former president of South Africa, H.E. Mr. Thabo Mbeki, former president of Burundi, H.E. Mr. Pierre Buyoya, and former president of Nigeria, H.E. General Abdusalami Abubakar. Participants included over 25 distinguished guests from the NGO and academic communities. The panelists described the political situation in Sudan, while also providing recommendations for moving Sudan forward as envisioned in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the Government of Sudan (GOS) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) in January 2005.
President Mbeki opened the discussion by describing the major challenges facing Sudan. He highlighted the need to complete a peace agreement in Darfur, as well as addressing outstanding issues from the CPA. He stressed a need for durable solutions to the issues of demarcation, governance, resources sharing and debt management.
The panelists then provided recommendations on ways forward in light of the upcoming referendum. Post-referendum negotiations should focus on a shared vision of Sudan before negotiating the details of issues such as oil and citizenship. In addition, the panelists urged NGOs to support development in southern Sudan and Darfur, which are both in dire need of aid. It was emphasized that all parties need to honor the outcomes of the referendum in order to move on peacefully.
President Buyoya added that the United States and other actors could support the process by setting a more positive tone. The panelists urged the participants to be faithful to the issues, not the political parties, and position themselves to “do no harm.” Sudan has considerable challenges to achieving a sustainable peace, but a shift in attitudes and policies is a step in the right direction.
