Khartoum Peace Agreement of 1997
Encyclopedia
The Khartoum Peace Agreement of 1997 was an agreement made on 21 April 1997 between the Khartoum
-based government of Sudan
and various militia leaders from South Sudan
during the Second Sudanese Civil War
(1983-2005).
The agreement formalized principles that had been agreed in a political charter signed in Khartoum on 10 April 1996.
), the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) ( Kerubino Kuanyin Bol), the Equatoria Defense Force (Thiopholus Ochang Loti) and the South Sudan Independents Group (Kawac Makwei
).
Although Kerubino Kuanyin Bol signed on behalf of the SPLM, he had in fact been expelled from that group in 1987 on suspicion of planning a coup against John Garang
, and been jailed for five years.
After escaping, Kerubino had joined up with Riek Machar, but early in 1995 Riek dismissed Kerubino from his South Sudan Independence Movement (SSIM) on the basis that he had signed military and political agreements with the government of Sudan late in the previous year, and that they had attempted to form a government-supported faction in the SSIM.
The agreement defined a four-year interim period to recover from the civil war in the southern states, with a Coordinating Council of the Southern States to oversee the transition.
Riek Machar was made President of the Southern States Coordinating Council. He was also made commander in chief of the South Sudan Defense Force (SSDF), which included most of the ex-rebels who had signed the Khartoum agreement.
The SSDF would maintain autonomy from the army, subject to a joint Technical Military Committee to coordinate between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the SSDF. A referendum on secession by Southern Sudan would be held before the end of the interim period, with international observers.
Since it was not signed by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, the main secessionist force, the Khartoum Peace Agreement did not gain international legitimacy. However, it did provide the basis for many of the elements of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement
, including the clauses for an interim federal government, revenue sharing and the referendum.
A polite analysis is that the agreement "called for the stipulation of institutions, the result of which worked imperfectly within a newly announced federal structure in the Sudan".
Following signature of the agreement, the level of conflict escalated to the highest levels that had been seen since war broke out in 1955.
The intensified conflict was funded in large part by foreign trade and investment associated with development of oil resources, many of which lay within the conflict area.
Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
-based government of Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
and various militia leaders from South Sudan
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
during the Second Sudanese Civil War
Second Sudanese Civil War
The Second Sudanese Civil War started in 1983, although it was largely a continuation of the First Sudanese Civil War of 1955 to 1972. Although it originated in southern Sudan, the civil war spread to the Nuba mountains and Blue Nile by the end of the 1980s....
(1983-2005).
The agreement formalized principles that had been agreed in a political charter signed in Khartoum on 10 April 1996.
Signatories
The militia groups and their leaders were the South Sudan Independence Movement (SSIM) (Riek Machar Teny), the Union of Sudan African Parties (Samuel Aru BolSamuel Aru Bol
Samuel Aru Bol was a prominent politician in Southern Sudan. During the Second Sudanese Civil War he signed the Khartoum Peace Agreement of 1997 as representative for the Union of Sudan African Parties .-Early years:...
), the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) ( Kerubino Kuanyin Bol), the Equatoria Defense Force (Thiopholus Ochang Loti) and the South Sudan Independents Group (Kawac Makwei
Kawac Makwei
Kawac Makuei Mayar Kawac is a politician from South Sudan who was a leader in the Anyanya I independence movement during the First Sudanese Civil War and in the Sudan People's Liberation Movement during the Second Sudanese Civil War .-Civil war:Kawac Makuei joined Anyanya I in 1963.By the time...
).
Although Kerubino Kuanyin Bol signed on behalf of the SPLM, he had in fact been expelled from that group in 1987 on suspicion of planning a coup against John Garang
John Garang
John Garang de Mabior was a Sudanese politician and rebel leader. From 1983 to 2005, he led the Sudan People's Liberation Army during the Second Sudanese Civil War, and following a peace agreement he briefly served as First Vice President of Sudan from January 2005 until he died in a July 2005...
, and been jailed for five years.
After escaping, Kerubino had joined up with Riek Machar, but early in 1995 Riek dismissed Kerubino from his South Sudan Independence Movement (SSIM) on the basis that he had signed military and political agreements with the government of Sudan late in the previous year, and that they had attempted to form a government-supported faction in the SSIM.
Agreement
The agreement covered freedom of religion, movement and so on, and defined a federal structure with a formula for revenue sharing and with various powers devolved to the individual states.The agreement defined a four-year interim period to recover from the civil war in the southern states, with a Coordinating Council of the Southern States to oversee the transition.
Riek Machar was made President of the Southern States Coordinating Council. He was also made commander in chief of the South Sudan Defense Force (SSDF), which included most of the ex-rebels who had signed the Khartoum agreement.
The SSDF would maintain autonomy from the army, subject to a joint Technical Military Committee to coordinate between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the SSDF. A referendum on secession by Southern Sudan would be held before the end of the interim period, with international observers.
Results
The agreement has been described as "a hollow document signed by splinter groups but not by the main force in the south".Since it was not signed by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, the main secessionist force, the Khartoum Peace Agreement did not gain international legitimacy. However, it did provide the basis for many of the elements of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement
Comprehensive Peace Agreement
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement , also known as the Naivasha Agreement, was a set of agreements culminating in January 2005 that were signed between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement and the Government of Sudan...
, including the clauses for an interim federal government, revenue sharing and the referendum.
A polite analysis is that the agreement "called for the stipulation of institutions, the result of which worked imperfectly within a newly announced federal structure in the Sudan".
Following signature of the agreement, the level of conflict escalated to the highest levels that had been seen since war broke out in 1955.
The intensified conflict was funded in large part by foreign trade and investment associated with development of oil resources, many of which lay within the conflict area.