 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 By Waakhe Simon Wudu Juba (AFP) Oct 3, 2020
Sudan's government and rebel groups on Saturday inked a landmark peace deal aimed at ending decades of war in which hundreds of thousands died. Ululations and cheers rang out as one by one, representatives from the transitional government and rebel groups signed the deal, a year after the peace talks began, at a ceremony in the South Sudanese capital Juba. "Today we have reached a peace agreement. We are happy. We have finished the mission," Tut Gatluak, head of the South Sudanese mediating team said shortly before the signing took place. Ending Sudan's internal conflicts has been a top priority of the transitional government, in power since last year's ouster of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir in a popular pro-democracy uprising. Sudanese paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo -- best known by his nickname "Hemeti" -- signed the deal on behalf of Khartoum. A representative of the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) and others from the groups making up the coalition, also signed. The SRF comprises rebel groups from the war-ravaged western Darfur region, as well as the southern states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan. Guarantors of the deal from Chad, Qatar, Egypt, the African Union, European Union and United Nations also put their names to the agreement. The deal covers a number of tricky issues, from land ownership, reparations and compensation to wealth and power sharing and the return of refugees and internally displaced people. However two other powerful rebel groups did not sign, reflecting the challenges still facing the peace process. - 'An historic day' - Sudan has been torn by multiple conflicts between the Arab-dominated government that was led by Bashir for three decades and rebels drawn from non-Arab ethnic groups in its far-flung regions. In Sudan's vast rural areas, settled ethnic minority farmers have frequently competed for scarce resources with Arab herders, who have often been backed by Khartoum. Multiple civil wars have raged since independence in 1956, including the 1983-2005 war that led to the secession of the south. The devastating war in Darfur from 2003 left at least 300,000 people dead and 2.5 million displaced in its early years, according to the UN. "This signing means we left the war now behind us. This agreement means democracy, justice, it means freedom in Sudan so we are very happy... by this peace agreement the economy in Sudan will boom again," Ismail Jalab, a senior member of the SRF told AFP. The peace talks were mediated by South Sudan whose leaders themselves battled Khartoum as rebels for decades before achieving independence in 2011 and who are still struggling to bring peace to their own country. The final signing ceremony was held at the John Garang Mausoleum in Juba, the final resting place of the late leader of the independence war. Entertainers from South Sudan and Sudan performed for thousands of guests, many of them Sudanese refugees. "This is a very historic day to us Sudanese because this peace is going to end the protracted conflict ... it is well known since independence of Sudan there is no stability, there is no social economic development because of marginalisation," said 32-year-old Abdal Aziz who fled Darfur six years ago and has been living as a refugee in South Sudan. - 'Challenges and pitfalls' - Sudan's leaders, including Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, head of the transitional sovereign council General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Hamdan Dagalo, deputy chief of Sudan's joint military-civilian sovereign council, attended the ceremony. Heads of state from Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti and Chad were also there. Upon his arrival, Hamdok said that "peace will open broad horizons for development, progress and prosperity. "The peace building process faces various challenges and pitfalls that we can overcome through concerted efforts and joint action," he said. Mini Arko Minawi, leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement which is a member of the SRF, said Sudan's troubled economy and "fragile political situation" were tests facing the agreement. The economy has suffered from the country's inclusion on Washington's terror blacklist, decades-long US sanctions and the 2011 secession of the country' oil-rich south which deprived the north of three-quarters of its oil reserves. Economic hardship triggered the anti-Bashir protests and remain a pressing concern -- food prices have tripled in the past year and the Sudanese pound has depreciated dramatically. One of the holdout groups, the Darfur-based Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) faction led by Abdelwahid Nour, launched an attack on Monday, the army said. Another, the South Kordofan-based wing of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, has signed a separate ceasefire.
Sudan: key dates in Darfur war According to the United Nations, the conflict has killed at least 300,000 people and displaced 2.5 million. The deal also covers the states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile. - 2003: rebels take up arms - Rebels in the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) take up arms, accusing the government in Khartoum of marginalising the vast western region of Darfur. On February 26, 2003, rebels seize the town of Gulu in northern Darfur. The state-backed Janjaweed militia -- a group of mostly Arab raiders travelling by horseback and armoured pickup trucks -- respond. Reports mount of atrocities including murder, rape, looting and burning villages. - 2007: international force - A hybrid African Union-United Nations force, called UNAMID, takes over from an African force that has been in the region since 2004. In May 2008, more than 220 people are killed when JEM rebels stage an audacious attack on Omdurman, travelling hundreds of kilometres (miles) from Darfur to the edge of the capital Khartoum. - 2009: arrest warrants - The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) issues an arrest warrant for then-president Omar al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. It issues another warrant the next year for genocide. Late in 2010, an accord with one faction of the rebel SLM breaks down. Heavy fighting resumes. More than 2,300 people were killed in 2010, according to the UN. - 2011: Revolutionary Front - In November 2011, Darfur's rebels form an alliance -- the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) -- committed to regime change. Sudan accuses newly independent South Sudan of working with the JEM, as well as backing rebels in its South Kordofan and Blue Nile regions. Juba denies the accusations. - 2014: abuses - In March, the UN criticises restrictions imposed on humanitarian workers in Darfur and an increase in the number of displaced people. In November, Bashir calls for a planned withdrawal of the force, after peacekeepers probe accusations of gang rape by Sudanese soldiers. - 2016: ceasefire - In a controversial April referendum, the division of Darfur into five states is maintained. In June, the government declares a unilateral ceasefire. In August, negotiations break down between Khartoum and rebels, but in early September, Bashir says that peace has returned to Darfur. That month, Amnesty International accuses Khartoum of carrying out several chemical attacks in Darfur. Khartoum denies the charges. - 2019: Bashir ousted, talks - On April 11, Bashir is ousted by the military and detained, after four months of popular protests demanding he quit. In August, new Sudanese authorities entrusted with preparing the way for a civilian regime vow to restore peace to conflict-ridden regions, including Darfur. In December, Bashir is convicted of corruption and sentenced to two years in a correctional centre. Sudanese prosecutors also open a probe into crimes allegedly committed in Darfur from 2003, targeting officials from Bashir's regime. On January 24, 2020, a coalition of rebel groups sign a preliminary agreement with the government after weeks of talks. On February 11, a top Sudanese official says Bashir will be handed to the ICC. - 2020: Kushayb hands himself in - In June, Janjaweed militiaman Ali Kushayb, wanted since 2007, turns himself in to the ICC, where he is wanted for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. On June 15, a Sudanese prosecutor says that Bashir's extradition to the ICC is not necessary. In July, the trial of Bashir opens in Khartoum for the 1989 military coup that brought him to power. Violence in Darfur continues. - Peace accord - On July 28, UNAMID calls on Khartoum to deploy security forces in Darfur as soon as possible, after a series of killings. On August 31 government and most rebels groups ink in Juba an accord aimed at ending 17 years of civil war. On October 3, the final deal is signed. However, two key rebel groups do not sign, including one Darfur SLM faction.
Niger frees campaigners detained in protests over military contracts Niamey (AFP) Sept 30, 2020 Niger's judicial system has ordered the release of three campaigners held for more than six months after staging protests over a military procurement scam, one of their lawyers said Wednesday. Their cause was taken up by human rights groups, including Amnesty International. Attorney Boudal Effred Mouloul said the judiciary ordered a "statutory release" of the three under habeas corpus laws. "The judge forgot to renew the order for them to be held in custody beyond six months, which is requir ... read more
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Google
