UMMA PARTY MEMORANDUM ON POLITICAL SITUATION IN SUDAN

JUNE 2000

Addressed to U.S. Delegation Led by Mr. Harry Johnston

1. Since the Khartoum Regime signed the National Calling on 26th November 1999, the Regime had in reality indicated its acceptance of the terms for a Just Peace Agreement and Democratic Transformation. That calling is an update of the D.O.P of 1994, plus the NDA Conference Resolutions of June 1995.
2. Over the last six months, the Sudan witnessed further turmoil, namely, a schism in the Ruling Party, a schism in the NDA, frequent violent encounters, further deterioration in the Humanitarian situation, and the prospect of a gaping political vacuum.
3. A Political Vacuum is the last thing the Sudan needs. It would encourage shortsighted solutions. The prospects for a Comprehensive Political Agreement are good and to waste them is inexcusable.
4. To satisfy these prospects, it is necessary to chart a road map to a comprehensive Political Agreement, endorsed by all the parties to the conflict, observed by Sudan's Horn of Africa neighbors, and attended by Sudan's friends as represented by the I.P.F. plus some important Arab and African States.
5. Sudan is not unique in being infested with so much trouble. In fact troubles in many other parts of Africa surpass Sudanese troubles. Sudan maybe unique in that many of its conflicting parties have learnt two important lessons, namely that there is no possibility of an all out victory for any party, and that to insist upon such mission could lead to the Somalization of the country. This augurs well for the possibility of a Great Compromise.
6. Some opposition Parties have not yet appreciated the difference between June 2000 and June 1995 as far as the Khartoum Regime is concerned. Therefore, they preserve in an attitude of business as usual.

Nothing could be more absurd:

• In June 1995, the Khartoum Regime was almost at a state of war with its IGAD neighbors and Egypt. At that time the Khartoum Regime was an outcast in Security Council terms. At that time, the Khartoum Regime espoused a policy of Jihad towards the forces of armed resistance, and total oppression towards opposition parties.
•  In June 2000, the situation is different:

• Opposition Political Parties are at large in the Sudan, and the Sudanese Press is relatively free.
• The Regime openly maintains that it is prepared to make peace on terms, which endorse the NDA Asmara Conference Resolutions of June 1995 including Self- determination.
• Diplomatic Relations between Khartoum and all its neighbors have been restored.
• The Horn of Africa war have eroded the prospects for military action, and forced different priorities upon the IGAD States.
• The Security Council is currently considering lifting sanctions imposed upon Sudan. It has been requested to do so by, among others, the OAU Countries, the Arab League Countries, and the Non-aligned Block.

Those are important stations, but the terminal has not yet been reached. The Regime's oppressive laws are still in place, abuse of Human Rights is still recurrent, but it is time to put every thing to the test and see whether the Regime will deliver?

While the peoples suffer, and the emerging vacuum encourages adventurers to fish for take-away solutions, so much time is being wasted on side issues like coordination or lack of it between mediation mechanisms!!

There are parties within the opposition and the Government, which are not ready for Peace and Democracy. Some Parties in the opposition have become full size WarLords, who in the tradition of Savimbi, developed Civil War into an industry.

Within the Regime, there are parties, which see no real alternative to totalitarianism. The war mongering elements, and the totalitarian elements are not interested in the two commodities most cherished by the Peoples of the Sudan: Just Peace and Sustainable Democracy.

The U.S.A. could play a decisive role in the prospects of a Comprehensive Political Agreement in the Sudan. Unfortunately, the USA position concerning the Sudan has been sending contradictory signals, which are encouraging some Sudanese and regional parties to read into them their own negative agendas. The issues concerning a comprehensive Political Agreement in Sudan are now crystal clear. The following road map would clinch the matter:

1. To convene an all-Party National Conference for a Comprehensive Political Agreement for the Sudan.
2. The first item on the Conference Agenda will be to issue a Declaration of Principles for a Comprehensive Political Agreement.
3. The items of the Declaration will constitute the Conference Agenda.
4. Sudan's North Africa neighbors, Sudan's Horn of Africa neighbors, and the IPF plus other States and regional and international organizations will be invited to attend as observers with a follow up role as well.
5. Egypt and Libya will be expected to invite the IGAD States to form a Secretariat with them to administer the logistics of the Conference.
6. A Comprehensive cease-fire will be observed for the duration of the Conference.

7.  It is incumbent upon the USA to abandon whatever other Agendas it espoused in the different conditions of the past, and help Sudan make progress in terms of a Comprehensive Political Agreement.

The rehabilitation of a Peaceful and Democratic Sudan purged from past grievances and geared to citizen equality and justice will be able to play a decisive role in stability in the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes District, the Nile Basin and Chad. It will be an important figure in the Containment of terrorism in the Country's Arab neighborhood.

At this Juncture, it is necessary for the U.A to spell out a position in favor of a viable road to a comprehensive Political Agreement in unequivocal terms.