A statement issued by the All Nuba Congress
2 - 5 December 2002
The full text of the conference proceedings is currently available in English
Historical political developments in the Nuba Mountains region
The first All Nuba Conference was held last week in Kauda, an area in the Nuba Mountains controlled by the SPLM/A. The conference brought together more than 380 delegates of civil society organizations from across the Nuba political spectrum to discuss the resignation of the Nuba people. More than 160 delegates traveled from Khartoum and other cities under the control of the Government of Sudan to participate in the conference, in addition to 15 others from the Nuba diaspora - from Europe, the United States of America, and Canada.
Along with Nuba leaders from areas controlled by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), including Abdelaziz Adam Al-Helu (Regional Secretary), and Musa Abdel-Baqi (General Secretary of the Regional Council), several influential Nuba figures who now live in areas controlled by the Government of Sudan were able to attend the conference: Bishop Philip Abbas Ghoboush - leader of the Free Sudan Party, Professor Al-Amin Hamouda - leader of the Sudanese Nationalist Party, Mohamed Hammad Koi - Sudanese Nationalist Party (Collective Leadership), Youssef Abdullah Jibril - Leader of the General Union of the Nuba Mountains, Awad Sultans of Darfur (former police team), Baballah Barima Baballah (former governor of Kadugli State), Abdul Rasul Kujur (former parliamentary member), and Harun Idris (former parliamentary member).
Such personalities, who represent broad and active segments of the people of the Nuba Mountains, gathered to discuss their ideas and exchange views on vital issues for the Nuba Mountains and Sudan in an open and transparent forum, which was, in itself, a unique event of its kind that had never happened before in the Nuba Mountains.
The importance of this event was underlined by the visit of the Chairman of the SPLM/A, Dr. John Garang de Mabior, on the first day as well as some of the movement’s leading figures related to marginalized areas, including Malik Agar (Regional Secretary for Southern Blue Nile) and Edward Lino. International observers, supporters, and journalists were also present during the four days of the conference, including Dr. Kjell Hodenbs - Advisor to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in addition to the observer team in Machakos - and General Wilhelmsson, Chairman of the Joint Military Committee (JMC).
Among the important results reached by the conference
1- The commitment of the leadership of the SPLM/A to the centrality of the Nuba Mountains region (and southern Blue Nile and Abyei) in the entire ongoing peace negotiation process under the auspices of IGAD. As mentioned by Dr. John Garang in his speech to the conference: “I would like to reiterate the commitment of the SPLM/A towards those areas. We will not let you down. Whatever agreement we reach in IGAD, we will include you.”
2- Dissolving the four Nuba parties and establishing one new party, the “Sudan United National Party” (USNP), headed by Bishop Philip Abbas Ghabush and three of his deputies: Muhammad Hamid Kawa, Al-Amin Hamouda, and Youssef Abdullah Jibril.
3- Approving the IGAD process is a means to negotiate a just and lasting peace for the regions of the Nuba Mountains, southern Blue Nile, and Abyei, but only as part of a comprehensive settlement for all of Sudan.
4- The clear mandate given by the conference to the SPLM/A to negotiate on behalf of the Nuba people in the IGAD peace process, and to the Sudan United National Party to play an active role in all such negotiations.
5- A strong recommendation for the unequivocal alliance of the Nuba people with the SPLM/A during the transitional period as a means to create an opportunity to achieve an unhindered democratic self-determination process.
6- The strong commitment of all participants to the ongoing unification process among the Nuba people, which aims to further develop their common visions for a just future and their abilities to reach them in reality.
7- A wide series of resolutions were passed and aim to establish the conditions that are necessary to establish a just and lasting peace for the Nuba people and the means for achieving it. Among these it is worth mentioning the following:
- Self-determination and the formation of a self-government representing and responsible for the Nuba Mountains region, and elected by the Nuba people.
- Regional control over economic projects and land rights for all Nuba people combined with sustainable development and land exploitation activities.
- A society characterized by all civil liberties, including religious freedom and tolerance, cultural diversity, protection of human rights, equal rights for women, an independent judiciary, freedom of expression, and a central role for civil society.
- While the benefits of the ceasefire agreement and the monitoring role played by the Joint Military Committee are recognized, there is benefit in seeing it renewed (preferably for 12 months), but this is supplemented by a request from the Nuba friends to put more pressure on the government of Sudan to respect all aspects of the ceasefire agreement.
- The importance of initiating and supporting the dialogue process between the Nuba and other ethnic groups in the Nuba Mountains (such as the Baggara, Hawazma, and Misseriya) to develop possibilities for peaceful coexistence.
- The importance of appropriate international support to help deported Nuba return to their homeland by ensuring full freedom of movement, equality in basic services, and creating appropriate conditions for return.
- Focus all international aid on strengthening self-reliant development by building local capacity and adhering to the principles and coordination mechanisms identified in the Nuba Mountains Program for Developing Conflict Transformation (NMPACT).
- The importance of a complete and independent investigation into all human rights violations committed against the Nuba people and the means to ensure that criminals are brought to justice.
Due to the expressed sense of possible countermeasures by the Government of Sudan, a complete list of the names of participants, who will return to Khartoum and areas under the control of the Government of Sudan, has been distributed to the Joint Military Committee and international observers so that they can follow up on their situation after the conference.
A more detailed and comprehensive report will be distributed by the conference committee in the coming days.
For more information, you can contact via email
allnubaconference@yahoo.com
Monday, December 9, 2002
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Background painting: The ruins of the palace of the King of Sennar as painted by Caio in 1821