On September 27, 2012, President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan and
President Salva Kiir of South Sudan signed nine landmark agreements in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The agreements mark the culmination of a two-year
long negotiation process facilitated by the African Union High-Level
Implementation Panel, or AUHIP, and address issues arising from South
Sudan's independence from Sudan.
By Jenn Christian and Akshaya Kumar Full Report (PDF)
On September 27,2012,President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan and President
Salva Kiir of South Sudan signed nine landmark agreements in Addis
Ababa,Ethiopia. The agreements mark the culmination of a two-year long
negotiation process facilitated by the African Union High-Level
Implementation Panel,or AUHIP,and address issues arising from South
Sudan's independence from Sudan. These issues are varied and include the
modalities for South Sudan's export of oil through Sudan,border
security and demarcation,and bilateral trade,among others. The
agreements are an important first step toward consolidating
peace,security,and economic growth between the Sudans. In most
cases,however,instead of setting out mutually acceptable compromises,the
agreements establish committees or commissions to undertake the
difficult work of resolving thorny political,security,and economic
issues. The most contentious of these could lead to further violent
conflict between the two countries if not resolved.
In the months since the agreements were signed,it has become
increasingly clear that the government of Sudan,in particular,is not
genuinely committed to implementing,in good faith and in a timely
fashion,the agreements,nor is it moving quickly to establish the
required committees and commissions. Without significant involvement
from the international community,the Sudanese government's delay tactics
could undermine the work of the required committees and commissions and
risk plunging the two countries back into violent conflict.
The September 2012 agreements provide for the establishment of 15
committees or commissions,in addition to two entities agreed to
previously. These 17 committees and commissions are responsible for
addressing contentious outstanding issues and implementing the September
2012 agreements.
The enclosed chart provides a snapshot of the committees and commissions. For each committee or commission,the chart:
• Identifies the issue or issues that the committee or commission is
responsible for addressing—economics,petroleum,security and borders,or
society
• Lists the full name of the committee or commission
• Provides a brief description of the committee's or the commission's mandate
The chart illustrates the challenges that confront the governments of
Sudan and South Sudan in the coming weeks and months. Arranging the
logistics necessary to ensure the regular convening of the 17 committees
and commissions will demand a high level of coordination between Sudan
and South Sudan and the expenditure of limited financial,technical,and
personnel resources.
Full Report (PDF)
