Sudan peace agreement in peril, UN warns
February 5th, 2009 - 4:25 am ICT by IANSNew York, Feb 5 (DPA) The comprehensive peace agreement between the Sudanese government and southern Sudan would unravel unless the two sides take steps to implement it, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday in an progress report.The 2005 agreement ended a decades-long civil war between the Muslim-led Khartoum government and Christian groups in the south, with the inclusion of southern leaders in the Khartoum government. But key benchmarks in the deal remain unfulfilled, including north-south border demarcation, disarmament and census.
Ban said in the report to the United Nations Security Council that those benchmarks should be met before a scheduled referendum in 2011.
“With little over two years of the interim period remaining, the comprehensive peace agreement has reached a critical juncture where any action or inaction on its provisions will have a profound impact on the future of Sudan,” Ban said.
He said southern Sudan’s self determination, an issue in the agreement, is complex and will have a great impact on Sudan’s security and stability.
“The parties to the agreement are yet to present a convincing case for unity to the people of southern Sudan,” he said, urging the south to explore “all options” available to make unity a possibility in the peace process.
The report said insecurity continues to plague parts of Sudan. A 10,000-strong UN peacekeeping operation has been deployed to monitor the north-south peace agreement.
Another issue that may bring instability is the indictment of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the ethnic conflict in Darfur. The ICC at The Hague may issue a warrant to arrest al-Bashir and Khartoum has already warned of retaliation against the UN.
“The ICC’s actions have a major impact on Sudanese political dynamics and have diverted much attention at a time when oustanding issues related to the (north-south) peace agreement require the parties’ cooperation and renewed commitment,” the report said.
The ICC has been investigating crimes in Darfur as well in other parts of Sudan.
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Tags: ban ki moon, border demarcation, conflict in darfur, crimes against humanity, critical juncture, ethnic conflict, international criminal court, khartoum government, nations security council, omar al bashir, peace agreement, peacekeeping operation, south peace, southern leaders, southern sudan, sudan peace, sudanese government, sudanese president, united nations security council, war crimes