Sudan peace deal 'unfulfilled'
2006-09-13 10:24
New York - Many of the most important promises made under a peace deal that ended a 21-year civil war in Sudan's south have not been met, threatening to plunge the long-suffering region back into violence, says United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
The dire assessment of the situation in Sudan's south was that the Khartoum-based government and the southern Sudan People's Liberation Army, which signed the deal with great fanfare in January 2005, had fallen well behind on plans for elections and were not sharing power and wealth as called for.
Annan said: "While they are observing their security commitments reasonably well, the implementation of several other major provisions of this agreement has fallen behind schedule.
"Disappointingly, implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement provisions appears to be selective."
Comprehensive Peace Agreement
There had also been little progress in establishing human rights commissions and disarming fighters. Sudan's parliament had shown little inclination to pass a raft of legislation necessary for the peace deal to be carried out fully.
Nonetheless, Annan recommended that the UN security council extend the mandate of its mission in Sudan, or UNMIS, which was set up to monitor and support the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
The force also facilitated the return of refugees, conducted de-mining efforts, and monitored human rights.
Throughout the 14-page report, Annan criticised Sudan's government for its behaviour toward civilians and the peacekeeping force.
For example, Annan said that the government had refused to release items destined for UNMIS, including food rations and communications equipment from its Port Sudan customs point.
Situation 'slightly improved'
He said: "UNMIS has protested many times, and at many levels, to the government about this issue.
"The situation has now slightly improved, however UNMIS communication equipment has yet to be released."
The report said that police in Sudan's north had also repeatedly raided camps for displaced people. In mid-August, they evicted at least 12 000 displaced in one camp, near Khartoum, and destroyed 3 500 homes.
There was some good news: Some 10 000 displaced had returned to south Sudan because of road repairs, which also allowed for the delivery of food aid and a polio immunisation campaign. Annan said South Sudan's economy also continued to improve.
However, international donors had only provided about 56% - or $896.5m - of the money called for to rebuild south Sudan. Annan said that pledges for more were also well below the amount needed.
In the report, Annan said lasting stability would be impossible unless the government also agreed to implement deals to end the fighting in western Darfur, which had been plunged into humanitarian crisis because of unrelenting violence between rebel groups and government-backed militias.
- AP