Issue No. 601
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29 August - 4 Sept. 2002 Issue No. 601 Region |
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Recommend this page | ||
Staying together
Arab states are eager to prevent the division of Sudan into two states
The Arab foreign ministers meeting that is scheduled for nest week is likely to adopt a resolution affirming that maintaining the territorial unity of Sudan is of critical importance not only to the country, but to the entire Arab world.
The resolution, informed Arab League sources tell Al-Ahram Weekly, will also stipulate financial and political measures directed at maintaining the unity of Sudan which is viewed by some to have been jeopardised by a recent deal between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M).
With respect to the recent agreement on Sudan, Samir Hosni, head of the African affairs department at the Arab League, says, "The Machakos protocol that was signed by the Sudanese government and the SPLA/M talks of the right of southern Sudanese [represented mainly by the SPLA/M] to seek 'self- determination' within six years. Self- determination is something that can be strived for in the context of foreign occupation, it is not applicable within the contexts of civil differences among ethnic groups that belong to the same country. This would be called separation."
"The division of any member state is something that runs counter to the charter of the Arab League. Avoiding a separation scenario in the case of Sudan is what Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa is trying to do," Hosni added.
During the past few weeks, Moussa has been conducting intensive talks on the Sudan issue. Moussa's contacts included a meeting with the US Envoy to Sudan John Danforth, during which the Arab League secretary-general emphasised that the Arab world is concerned about the country's unity. The same issue was addressed in contacts with the Sudanese government and opposition leaders.
Although not openly critical himself of the protocol, Moussa said, "This is the time for all interested parties to work to secure the unity of Sudan." However, the league secretary-general emphasised that he would not be drawn into "a futile exercise of debating the pros and cons" of the Machakos protocol. "This is not the time to get into a debate. The protocol was signed. The second phase is being negotiated. According to the protocol there are six and a half years to go before the vote on the unity of Sudan. We have to start working now."
The Arab League has already drawn up a plan of action concerning Sudan that it intends to begin implementing in the near future.
Hosni said the plan includes political and economic measures that aim to make the option of unity "attractive" to all Sudanese as stipulated in the Machakos protocol. "This means that we will be pursuing development and better political rapport," he explained.
Arab foreign ministers are expected to adopt a resolution that provides for putting this plan into action in order to respond to the "secessionist scenario" that was created by Machakos a few weeks ago. The resolution is likely to set up a committee comprising representatives of Arab states eager to follow up the situation in Sudan. Arab League sources tell the Weekly that the states to be represented on this committee have yet to be chosen. However, Egypt and Libya, whose initiative for a unity-based peace in Sudan was superseded by the Machakos protocol, are likely to be members. The committee is also expected to include Arab states like Tunisia and Algeria which have close ties to the various southern Sudanese factions and their leaders like John Garang the head of the SPLA/M. The committee might also include Arab countries that are known to provide financial support for the less well off states. Such potential donor states include the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, the latter of which might add its geographical proximity to its reasons for being concerned about Sudan's future.
Such a committee, according to Hosni, would not limit itself to the crucial task of fundraising for the Arab League's Southern Sudan Development Fund. It would also work to improve political rapport among all Sudanese factions to make sure that the option of unity is appealing to all. Coordinating with key interested international capitals and organisations with ideas for the development of the country's south would also be part of such a body's mandate. Through contacts with the various Sudanese factions and countries and organisations concerned about the future of the country, such a committee should be able to provide the Sudanese government with advice on development projects that would support Sudanese unity, such as building a highway system to better connect the country's north and south.
"Everybody is really keen on Sudanese unity. Nobody wants to allow a precedent to be set for the fragmentation of an Arab state on ethnic, or, for that matter, any basis," Hosni said.
In addition to setting up a Sudan follow-up committee, the Arab League resolution that is expected to be adopted today is also likely to create a job for an Arab League envoy to the Sudan, a position that would be filled by an individual selected by Secretary-General Moussa.
And, according to Hisham Youssef, Moussa's spokesman, "Sudan is a key issue on the agenda of the Arab League. Secretary-General Moussa has been insisting that Sudan should be given attention equal to that granted the Middle East peace process."
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