Peace is in the pipeline
The Arab League is planning a host of activities for post-peace Sudan. Dina Ezzat reports
This week the Sudan peace talks were marred by divisions between both the sponsors, the USA and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and between the Sudanese government and its future partner in wealth and power the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). However, despite the waves made by the partners and sponsors in the Naivasha, a final peace deal is in the pipeline. Most observers, including Sudanese diplomats, predict a signing ceremony later this month or early in February in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
This peace deal will put to an end the brutal 20-year civil war between the north of Sudan, with its Islamist government, and the south with its primarily Christian and animist population.
With these prospects in mind, the League of Arab States is making plans for a more intense involvement in Sudan, plans which hold political and developmental aspects.
"The peace deal that is expected to be signed shortly will not necessarily, or immediately, remove the bitterness that has marred the north-south relationship," commented Samir Hosni, head of the Africa/Sudan Department at the League of Arab States. Dispersing north-south misgivings, Hosni suggested, requires a serious communication effort, especially on the part of the north. "This is the only way to secure an enduring unity for Sudan," Hosni said. The population of the south of the country has fundamental grievances over what they qualify as a long time neglect on the part of the north government.
The Machakos peace protocols, which set the ongoing Sudan peace process in motion, acknowledged these grievances. They granted the Sudanese people the right to vote on maintaining Sudan as a single country or splitting it into a northern and a southern state. This referendum will take place six years after a peace deal is reached.
The Arab League declared that securing a steady flow of investments for the over-due development of the south of Sudan was "the best contribution Arabs could make to make the option of unity attractive to all Sudanese people". Several meetings have been held and $180 million has been guaranteed for developmental projects in the south and for the construction of modern roads to link the north and south of Sudan.
"So, effectively the countdown for the referendum will start soon. Arabs have to keep the momentum up on the efforts they have initiated in the weeks following the signing of Machakos. The Arab efforts have to be given a serious push," Hosni said.
Early in February, the Arab League will send a delegation, including two prominent Sudan experts Hassan Abu Talib and Abdel Rahman Sabri, that will spend several weeks in the south and north of Sudan along with delegations from the UN and the World Bank to assess the developmental requirements of the Sudanese people. "This Joint Assessment Mission will produce a report that will be considered by the Sudan Donors Conference scheduled to take place in the spring in Oslo. It is therefore a very important effort and it is important for the Arab League to be on board," Hosni argued.
Later in February, the Arab League will host a large meeting for Arab businessmen and chambers of trade, industry and agriculture to draw a plan of action to develop Arab investments into Sudan. The Sudanese government, which will be present in the meeting, will offer a set of projects that it recommends as special investment agendas.
"These coming meetings are part and parcel of an ongoing scheme on the part of the Arab League, and the Arab countries, to encourage development in unity in Sudan," Hosni said. During the past few weeks, the league has been engaged in similar efforts, including a workshop that took place last week to coordinate the plans of the specialised Arab organisations on Sudanese development. The meeting issued a set of recommendations including the establishment of a development fund for the south of Sudan and the elevation of investment guarantees. The meeting also recommended Arab countries offer scholarships for students from the south of Sudan and to establish an Arab training institute, under the umbrella of the League of Arab States, that should be stationed in the south
Meanwhile, Arab capitals and the Arab League are pursuing political efforts to secure peace, development and unity for Sudan. Egypt and Saudi Arabia have been active in arranging for conclusive peace talks between the Khartoum government and its southern opposition. The Arab League is closely coordinating with Washington and the IGAD on the developments of the Naivasha. The Arab League attended a recent Sudan Committee meeting of the IGAD Partners Forum and it will be a member of an observer mechanism that will be in charge of monitoring the peace commitments once a deal is signed.
Moreover, the Arab League is working closely with a host of Sudanese non-governmental organisations to initiate human development programmes for the south of Sudan. Informed sources say that a special envoy from the Arab League's secretary-general will be present when the peace deal is signed in Nairobi and that Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa is expected to take part in a Washington ceremony that will follow a few weeks later to celebrate peace in Sudan.
Observers argue that these are signs that the Arab countries are now giving due attention to developments in Sudan that have long been missed off the itinerary of Arab priorities. "This is no longer the case, Sudan is a priority to the Arab League as much as the Middle East peace process and the developments in Iraq," said Moussa.
According to Moussa the next Arab summit that is scheduled to take place in Tunis next March will consider developments in Sudan and agree on collective Arab efforts in a, probably, post peace context.
