South Sudan Democratic Forum

Statement No. 2 on the IGAD Peace Process,

second session of the conference, 21st August 2003.
We the South Sudanese Political and Military groups participating in the South S
udan
Political Consultative Conference, under the auspices of the South Sudan Democra
tic
Forum in this Historic English City of Oxford, recognise that for a decade, duri
ng which
the IGAD Peace Process on Sudan has been going on, negotiations between the
Government of Sudan (GOS) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement / Sudan
People's Liberation Army (SPLM/SPLA) have continuously broken down. The latest
episode in respect to the Nakuru document is just another example of the continu
ous
ups and downs in these peace talks.
Though the issues to be resolved are not easy, it all boils down to the mutual
intransigence of the negotiating parties on the main issues of the conflict. Thi
s goes
back to the very beginning of the conflict, almost half a century ago, during wh
ich time,
far too many people lost their lives and an even greater number have endured
indescribable hardship and suffering.
Successive GOS, including the present one, have insisted on maintaining Sudan's
"Unity", although it has never spelt out how such a unity can be maintained. For
their
part, the people of South Sudan, particularly those claiming to represent them,
have
contended that they have never been a party to the decisions taken in Khartoum,
affecting the whole country in general and their Region in particular. Having be
en
ignored and severely repressed, South Sudanese resorted to armed resistance, rat
her
than submit to the continued

Thus the Sudan and its people have
suffered enormous consequences.
The Machakos Protocol, signed on 20th July 2002, has for the first time successf
ully
addressed two principal concerns; one for the GOS and the North in general and t
he
other for South Sudan. Now the GOS and the SPLM/SPLA have agreed an interim
period of six long years, during which they say, they and the North will make ef
forts to
demonstrate that unity can be made attractive to the people of South Sudan. The
present
South Sudan Political Consultative Conference Page 1 of 10
government and the entire North contends that a "United Sudan" would be the desi
red and
the preferred choice of the people of South Sudan. Unity will not come to the No
rth easily.
Fundamental changes must take place:
Firstly, in the attitude and behaviour of the North towards the South and its pe
ople.
Secondly, in the equitable sharing of the country's decision-making process and
the
sharing of its resources. Not to mention the need for the people of South Sudan
to feel free
and secured in their own country and in the hand of their own government. If the
changes
are ever to become a reality, they must not be imposed by force of arms by any N
orthern,
Southern or even foreign party.
The current GOS has yet to clearly demonstrate to the majority of the people of
South
Sudan, both their seriousness for unity and resolve to end the conflict by peace
ful means
in order to make "Unity" attractive and convincing. On the other hand, the SPLM/
SPLA
must similarly negotiate in good faith, by clearly articulating Self-determinati
on as the
principal political aspiration of South Sudan and sticking to it and engaging in
a more
inclusive peace process with the rest of the South; recognising and embracing pa
rties that
represent all the people of South Sudan, the majority of whom are determined to
work for
a just and lasting peace.
There is now a universal recognition of the right of the people of South Sudan t
o Self-
determination. Whilst this has come so late in the day, we express our appreciat
ion for this
recognition and our determination to ensure that it goes beyond the stage of an
aspiration
and of a political dream. We must now co-operate and work with the current GOS a
nd all
the other Northern Sudanese political forces to ensure that our people exercise
their God-
given right of Self-determination at the end of that six year interim period.
We appeal to the IGAD mediators and their International facilitators, to see thi
s process
through to its just and rightful conclusion and not to allow, at this very late
stage, new
conditions to be introduced by the parties, as these serve only to hinder and de
lay a peace
agreement for the suffering people of Sudan. We further appeal to them and to th
e entire
international community to remain engaged with the people of Sudan during the en
tire
interim period to monitor the implementation of the peace agreement and to witne
ss the
South Sudan Political Consultative Conference Page 2 of 10
people of South Sudan when they vote in their referendum on Self-determination a
t the
end of that interim period.
The Machakos Protocol of 20th July 2002 embellishes "giving Unity a chance" and
"Selfdetermination";
we call upon all concerned and involved, to make these two principal steps
the corner-stone for the peace agreement.
We have delegated at the conference here in at the Oxford Hotel University Suite
, Oxford,
the South Sudan Democratic Forum, to follow-up the resolutions of the conference
. The
South Sudan Democratic Forum will form a representative committee under its lead
ership
to follow up the resolutions of the conference and discuss with the two Sudanese
parties to
the 1GAD peace negotiations; with the IGAD mediators themselves and the internat
ional
peace facilitators, all or some of the issues impeding the reaching of a Peace A
greement.
We call upon the GOS and the SPLM/SPLA to pay heed to our call, for we represent
a
significant portion of our own people. Whilst we may not be party to the IGAD pe
ace
negotiations, we certainly represent stakeholders who embody a strong determinat
ion for
peace for all our people in Sudan.
The following are some of the fundamental issues on which we would wish to engag
e in an
open dialogue:

Attaining just, workable and sustainable peace;

ensuring an all-inclusive peace which involves all those who carry arms in South

Sudan; taking into consideration the needs and concerns of the South Sudanese as

a whole; and

co-operating on the realisation of the right of the people of South Sudan to Sel
f-
determination as contained in and agreed to in the Machakos Peace Protocol of
20th July 2002 and, the Khartoum and Fashoda Peace Agreement in 1997.

The position of the South Sudan Political Consultative Conference on some issues

stalling the Peace Process is attached (see the attached Annex 1).
We, the conferees (Annex 2) confirm our resolve and determination to remain enga
ged
until a sustainable peace with justice is achieved for all our people in Sudan.
South Sudan Political Consultative Conference
Page 3 of 10
Annex 1 on the IGAD Peace Process
The Position of South Sudan Political Consultative Conference on some of the maj
or
issues stalling the IGAD Mediated talks is as follows:
1.
The discussion on the issue of the National capital should be deferred to the el
ected
government during the first half of the interim period.
2.
The elections agreed by the two parties in the memorandum of understanding of 18
th
November 2002 must be held within three years from the signature of the peace
agreement.
3.
The existence of separate armies has been settled in the Khartoum and Fashoda
Peace agreements and enacted in the Sudan Constitution and hence there can be no

reason to reopen the issue now,
4.
The present ten states in the South be maintained during the interim period.
5.
The offices of the vice president and that of the president of the South Sudan e
ntity
must be separate.
6.
For proper accountability the president of the South Sudan Entity should have th
e
power to appoint his/her cabinet. This was the case in the former High Executive

Council (1972-1983) and is also the case with the Governors of the states as
stipulated in Article 61 (a) of the current constitution of Sudan.
7.
As the Machakos Protocol exempts the South Sudan from the application of Shari'a

Laws, this fact could justify the need for two banking systems, one for the Sout
h that
will have policies and regulations that are not based on Shari'a. Having two ban
king
systems in one Country is not new. This is the case in England and Scotland, and

elsewhere.
South Sudan Political Consultative Conference
Page 4 of 10
Annex 2 List of participants
Joseph Malwal Dong, Federal Minister for Civil Aviation
Chairman of United Democratic Salvation Front
Dr Michael Mliyi Governor of BW El Ghazal State
Clement Wan! Kowga GwollO, Vice-Chairman, The Council for the South
AngelO Bed a, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly
Mrs Helen LalyeC LuisX)ller, Member of the National Assembly \
Tut Gatluak the National Assembly
Gabriel Minister of Finance and Economic Planning of the Southern Council
Joseph Bol Chan, Deputy Deputy Chairman of the National Congress of Upper
State
Brigadier Gatluak Deng Federal Minister of Animal Resources and Fisheries
South Sudan Political Consultative Conference Page 5 of 10
Annex 2 List of participants
Joseph Malwal Dong, Federal Minister for Civil Aviation
Chairman of United Democratic Salvation Front
Dr Michael Mliyi Governor of BW El Ghazal State
Clement Wan! Kowga GwollO, Vice-Chairman, The Council for the South
AngelO Bed a, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly
Mrs Helen LalyeC LuisX)ller, Member of the National Assembly \
Tut Gatluak the National Assembly
Gabriel Minister of Finance and Economic Planning of the Southern Council
Joseph Bol Chan, Deputy Deputy Chairman of the National Congress of Upper
State
Brigadier Gatluak Deng Federal Minister of Animal Resources and Fisheries
South Sudan Political Consultative Conference Page 5 of 10
Dr Gama HaSSan, Advisor to the Council of the South for Science and Technology
Dr Stephen Abraham Secretary General, Coordinating Council, Juba Y
Ramadan HaSSan Lako, Coordinator, Peace Advisory Khartoum
Dr Thomas AbWal Chidi, Minister of Health-Eastern Equatoria State
Secretary UDSF/SSDF
Secretary General and Official Spokesman for EOF
Deng Aguer, Governor of Northen Bahr ei Ghazal
Dr Lam Akol, Chairman and Commander-in-Chiefofthe SPLM-United
Kawac Makuei Mayar, Leader of the SPLM/SPLA Bahr El Ghazal Group
Peter Abdel Rahman Sule, Chairman, United Democratic Front (UDF)
Dr Thomas Abwal Chidi, Politicai Wing of Equatoria.Defence Force (EDF)
Cdr. Timothy Taban Juch, Commissioner of AkoboLocaility, and Chief of staff Sout
h Sudan
Liberation Army Chief of Staff
South Sudan Political Consultative Conference Page 6 of 10
Dr Ochang Lotti, Commander-in-Chief of Equatoria Defence Forces
Cdr. Emmanuel Ambrose Ocholimoi, Chief of operations and the SSDF Deputy Chief o
f
Administration and Finance
Mr Bol Gatkwoth, Foreign Secretary of the Sudan Peoples' Democratic Front
ProfeSSOr Bam A. Wanjl, Acting Chairman of the Consultative and Coordinating
Committee (CCC) of the Bahr El Ghazal Region
Andrew KuaC Mayol, Deputy Secretary General of the Consultative and Coordinating
Committee
(CCC) of the Bahr El Ghaza! Region
Kok, Former Chairman of South Sudan Law Society and Member of SPLM/SPLA
National Liberation Council (NLC)
ProfeSSOr Isaac Cuir Riak, Secretary General of Consultative and Coordinating Co
mmittee
(CCC) of the Bahr El Ghazal Region
Cdr. El Tahir BlOr A-Ajak, Chairman of South Sudan Islamic Council
Dr Wal Duany, Chairman and Comma/JGer-in-Chief of South Sudan Liberation Movemen
t and Army
(SSLM/SSLA)
Dr. Mairi John B ackings, South Sudan Community Oxford
Jock Dei Derm,. South Sudan Democratic Forum United States of America (USA)
<I
iTf\ u)(Yl'1'k'ri c iiic
South Sudan Political Consultative Conference Page/ of 10
Dr Ochang Lotti, Commander-in-Chief of Equatoria Defence Forces
Cdr. Emmanuel Ambrose Ocholimoi, Chief of operations and the SSDF Deputy Chief o
f
Administration and Finance
Mr Bol Gatkwoth, Foreign Secretary of the Sudan Peoples' Democratic Front
ProfeSSOr Bam A. Wanjl, Acting Chairman of the Consultative and Coordinating
Committee (CCC) of the Bahr El Ghazal Region
Andrew KuaC Mayol, Deputy Secretary General of the Consultative and Coordinating
Committee
(CCC) of the Bahr El Ghaza! Region
Kok, Former Chairman of South Sudan Law Society and Member of SPLM/SPLA
National Liberation Council (NLC)
ProfeSSOr Isaac Cuir Riak, Secretary General of Consultative and Coordinating Co
mmittee
(CCC) of the Bahr El Ghazal Region
Cdr. El Tahir BlOr A-Ajak, Chairman of South Sudan Islamic Council
Dr Wal Duany, Chairman and Comma/JGer-in-Chief of South Sudan Liberation Movemen
t and Army
(SSLM/SSLA)
Dr. Mairi John B ackings, South Sudan Community Oxford
Jock Dei Derm,. South Sudan Democratic Forum United States of America (USA)
<I
iTf\ u)(Yl'1'k'ri c iiic
South Sudan Political Consultative Conference Page/ of 10
/
Thomas Tilt Doap, South Sudan Democratic Forum United States of America (USA)
J
Professor David D Chand, South Sudan Independence Movement/A and South Sudan
Community USA
delegate South, Canada
:in Elia Lomuro, Chairman of South Sudan Democratic Forum and Chairman South Sud
an
Civic Forum
Dr Samuel KG

Secretary General of South Sudan Democratic Forum
Mayom KudaMarek, South Sudan Democratic Forum
Ms Mary AwaC Yak, South Sudan Democratic Forum
Ms Josephine Lagu Yanga, South Sudan Democratic Forum
Dr Omer Yak, South Sudan Democratic Forum
John Ruach

Wang, South
Forum
Karlo Kwol

South Sudan Democratic Forum
South Sudan Political Consultative Conference Page 8 of 10
El-Hag Paul, south
Morris Independent delegate
Lokiden Modi Civic Forum
Stans Jada, South Sudan Civic Foru
Macham Macham, South Sudan Democratic Forum
Samuel Odat Ayul, Secretary for Information and Spokesman, South Sudan Democrati
c Forum,
and Representative SPLM United UK and Ireland -
Joshua
South Sudan Civic Forum
Yor Akol, Human Rights Adviser, Union of Sudan African Parties Abroad (USAP) mem
ber
James Ayok, Bahr El Ghazal Community, UK
Mrs Rita Supporter South Sudan Democratic Forum
South Sudan Politicai Consultative Conference Page 9 of 10
El-Hag Paul, south
Morris Independent delegate
Lokiden Modi Civic Forum
Stans Jada, South Sudan Civic Foru
Macham Macham, South Sudan Democratic Forum
Samuel Odat Ayul, Secretary for Information and Spokesman, South Sudan Democrati
c Forum,
and Representative SPLM United UK and Ireland -
Joshua
South Sudan Civic Forum
Yor Akol, Human Rights Adviser, Union of Sudan African Parties Abroad (USAP) mem
ber
James Ayok, Bahr El Ghazal Community, UK
Mrs Rita Supporter South Sudan Democratic Forum
South Sudan Politicai Consultative Conference Page 9 of 10
\
Thot Hoth Thoat, South Sudan Democratic Forum USA
WITS
South Sudan Democratic Forum
Mrs Lucia Awet, Sudanese Community in Birmingham
Dr

A. Awet, Supporter of SPLM/SPLA-United

V
Paul Mabior Ayom, Former Member of the National Assembly, Lecturer University of
Juba and
member of South Sudan Democratic Forum
Cdr. Daniel Koat MatheWS, Former Governor of Upper Nile Region

Andrew Koung, Secretary of Peace and Reconciliation South Sudan Democratic Forum
, and
Secretary of Foreign Relations, South Sudan Liberation Movement
Rev. Gabriel Gai Riam, Resea dinburgh, Scotland
Malwal, Senior Associate of St.Antony's College, Oxford University, Politician,
Journalist and Former Minister of Culture and Information
South Sudan Political Consultative Conference Page 10 of 10