Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 09/2008

Implementing Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement; Prospects and Challenges

May 2008

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Abstract

On September 11th, 2006, just over a year after the passing of John Garang, and 18 months after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) on January 9, 2005, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the National Defense University convened a conference to assess the progress that had been made in implementing Sudan's landmark CPA. The conference brought together experts and policymakers to discuss the state of CPA implementation, the relationship between the CPA and political developments elsewhere in Sudan, notably in Darfur, and the ways in which the international community might assist in building a sustainable peace in Sudan.

In many ways, the end to Sudan's civil war appears to be one of the biggest diplomatic successes of recent years. The purpose of the conference was to take a serious look at the sustainability of that success and at what the international community might do to help keep the peace process on track.

Developments since the symposium-the reluctance of Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) to redeploy from contested areas, as well as the continuing disagreements over Abyei and oil revenuesharing- have amplified the concerns raised in the Fall ‘06 assessment. While substantial time has elapsed since the September 2006 conference, the issues and challenges that were at the center of the conference deliberations remain fundamentally unchanged. It is our hope, therefore, that this publication of the conference proceedings and further commentaries will contribute to the continuing international discourse concerning the fragility of the Sudan peace process and the ongoing Darfur tragedy.

In order to facilitate frank and free discussion, the conference was held on a not-for-attribution basis. The first chapter therefore summarizes (without attribution) the views, opinions, and information presented over the course of the day on the implementation of the agreement.

The second section of this report consists of two papers that focus on two of the most hotly contested areas of CPA implementation. The first paper, by David Goldwyn, examines the problem of implementing the CPA provision regarding the sharing of oil resources. The second, by Ambassador Donald Petterson, discusses the status of the highly contested Abyei State.

The report then presents the text of an address by U.N. Special Envoy Ambassador Legwaila Joseph Legwaila on the role of the international community in implementing the CPA, and the impact of the continuing Sudan conflict on other crises.

Finally, the paper concludes with a report on a subsequent November 7th, 2007 speech by Sudanese first vice-president Salva Kiir at the Woodrow Wilson Center, in which he discussed both the progress that had been made since September 2006, and the many still unresolved issues.

Ambassador Howard Wolpe

Ambassador Robert Oakley