afrol News, 11 July - Sudan this weekend inaugurated its new unity government, with former southern rebel leader John Garang being sworn in as the country's new Vice-President. While the important move puts an end to decades of war between Sudan's south and north, local and world leaders warn that the armed conflicts in Darfur and in the east may threaten this peace. The US is now to lift its sanctions against Sudan.
On Saturday, Sudan's new government of national unity was inaugurated in a ceremony of international attendance in Khartoum. Mr Garang was sworn in as Sudan's new first Vice-President, taking over Ali Osman Taha's post. Mr Taha becomes (second) Vice-President in President Omar Hassan al-Bashir's new unity government.
Mr Garang's southern Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) is to fill 28 percent of all positions in Sudan's new transitional administrations. President Bashir's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) will remain in control with 52 percent of transitional positions while the rest goes to several opposition groups. Government posts and other administrative positions are yet to be assigned.
The inauguration ceremony in Khartoum also included the signing of a new interim constitution that legitimises the power split between the northerners and the southerners. The interim constitution also foresees that the SPLA sets up an autonomous government in South Sudan, which is to administer 50 percent of all revenues produced on southern soils, including from the oil resources.
The new interim constitution and inauguration of Mr Garang as first Vice-President means that the north-south peace process has reached a point of no return. This is at least the view of the Washington government, which yesterday congratulated and recognised the new national unity government of Sudan. The US government in particular congratulated Mr Garang and Mr Taha, who had been vital to the peace negotiations.
US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick was among the prominent guest at the Khartoum inauguration ceremony, describing it as "an important step toward peace and reconciliation in a unified, democratic Sudan." Mr Zoellick was joined by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, among other prominent guests.
After meeting with Sudan's Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismail, Mr Zoellick today also revealed that the Washington government now is starting a process to lift its unilateral sanctions against Sudan. The sanctions would only be lifted gradually, however. According to Minister Ismail, the US is already preparing to build its biggest embassy in Africa in Khartoum.
While the progress in the north-south peace was celebrated this weekend in Khartoum, local and international leaders emphasised that this peace was not secured before the crises in Darfur and in the east had been properly addressed. Mr Annan cautioned that "the peace process between North and South must be made irreversible – which it will not be, unless it takes root in the East and in the West as well."
- The first and most essential task of this new government must be to ensure that peace extends to the whole nation, the UN Secretary-General said in his Khartoum speech. "National unity," he added, must be "made attractive to all of Sudan's peoples." In particular the rebel groups in Darfur - who have fought for autonomy during two years - and newer rebel movements at the Eritrean border are demanding peace agreements on similar conditions as those granted to the SPLA.
The US Deputy Secretary of State agreed to Mr Annan's observations, urging the parties to "seize the opportunity of the creation of the government of national unity to maintain momentum toward peace throughout the country." Mr Zoellick emphasised the importance of an inclusive process, including addressing the situation in the east.
Also the European Union's (EU) foreign policy representative Javier Solana welcomed the "historic moment and a start of a new era in Sudan," according to a statement issued by the EU. The new government now needed to address the conflict in Darfur, Mr Solana held. The EU last week announced it was to appoint a special envoy for Darfur to coordinate peacekeeping efforts there.
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