Last July the Burgenstock cease-fire agreement was renewed for another six-months immediately after the first period had expired. During this time Nuba expected to see a total military stand down by both sides and the hostilities between the two warring parties reduced to zero in the area. It was also expected to see some impact of the agreement taking place on the ground. Beside cease-fire monitoring one would have expected to see development programmes being implemented even, on a small scale, to alleviate the suffering of the Nuba Mountains.
Nubanet calls INGOs to help in rehabilitation, reconstruction and development of the Nuba Mountains
The network of Nuba-based non-governmental organisation (Nubanet), a national NGO registered at the humanitarian aid commission (HAC) shortly after the signing of the Nuba Mountains Cease-fire Agreement (NMCFA) of January 2002. Nubanet is hereby initiating a call to the humanitarian community in an attempt at fund-raising in order to rehabilitate basic social services for all in the Nuba Mountains region.
International hopes of an imminent end to fighting in Sudan were dashed following the government delegation’s sudden walkout from the Machakos peace talks at the start of September.
The surprise pullout followed the SPLA’s capture of the strategically and symbolically important town of Torit. Whilst mediators are confident that there is sufficient pressure for both sides to resume negotiations after a period of posturing, both SPLA and government appear to be backing away from the limited concessions agreed in July’s Machakos declaration.
The Nuba people have a rich culture no doubt about that and there is similarity among almost all the tribes in the Nuba Mountains as far as customs and traditions are concerned, to the extend that makes us think firmly that there is a unity of culture among all the Nuba tribes.
General Sumbeiywo
IGAD Secretariat on Peace in the Sudan, Nairobi
9‘th August 2002
Dear General Sumbeiywo,
Nuba Survival, the London-based human rights groups campaigning on behalf of the Nuba and other marginalised people in Northern Sudan would like to express its full support for the Machakos Agreement, which was a good step forward for achieving a just and lasting peace in the Sudan. We support this agreement because by resolving the two contentious issues, the state and the religion and the right of self-determination for the people of Southern Sudan had paved the way for a peace settlement in the Sudan.