All Nuba Conference, 2nd to 5th December 2002
Kauda, Nuba Mountains
“Towards a brighter future for the Nuba Mountains”
Resolutions of the All Nuba Conference
I: The conflict in Nuba Mountains: causes and implications
II: Values and principles of Nuba Civil Society
III: Recommendations for the IGAD peace process
IV: Recommendations and priorities for the international community
V: Recommendations for Follow-up dialogue over the next year
The first ever ‘All Nuba Conference’ was held in Kauda, an area of the Nuba Mountains Region controlled by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A). “It was for the first time the Nuba people meet in a liberated area since the fall of the Nubian kingdom of Merwoe, hundreds of years ago” one delegate remarked.
Approximately 400 representatives of the Nuba civil society from all shades of the Nuba political spectrum attended the conference. In unison between the people, the land and history the delegates met in a free atmosphere liberated from the fear of oppression and intimidation in order to discuss the future of the Nuba people. Over 160 of the participants traveled from Khartoum and other cities under the control of the Government of Sudan (GoS) to participate in the Conference, in addition to a further 15 Nuba from the Diaspora, from Europe, USA and Canada.
The conference discussed a number of issues fundamental to the future of the Nuba people. The topics discussed included: the root causes of the conflict in the Nuba Mountains, the IGAD peace process, the human rights violations, the land rights and natural resources, the internally displaced and their rights for voluntary return and settlement, Nuba political unity and issues related to policies such as religious freedom, women rights and education.
The resolutions and recommendations of the conference are presented in the following sections:
I: The conflict in Nuba Mountains: causes and implications
1. The underlying reasons for the conflict in the Nuba Mountains are primarily related to protracted discrimination, oppression and exploitation resulting in the social, economic and political marginalisation of the Nuba people by successive centralised governments in Khartoum.
2. Enforced arabisation, cultural and linguistic domination, the imposition of Sharia law and the GoS’s refusal to respect or even tolerate ethnic, cultural and religious diversity was also recognised as a core problem.
3. The lack of land security for the Nuba people, and the seizure of Nuba land and resources by northern elites.
4. The successive Government’s policies of genocide and human rights violations against the Nuba people, especially against women.
5. The conference recognises the similarities with the reasons for the wider conflict in Sudan, and especially with those in other marginalised areas such as Southern Blue Nile and Abyei.
6. Until all these underlying causes are resolved, the conflict will continue because the Nuba people will see no alternative to armed struggle to attain their rights.
7. Similarly, until the wider conflict in Sudan is addressed there will be no chance for a sustainable peace settlement in the Nuba Mountains.
8. In addition, the conference recognised that the previous lack of political unity among the Nuba people made them more vulnerable to exploitation by aggressive regimes and elites.
II: Values and principles of Nuba Civil Society
1. Nuba people see themselves as having a unique ethnic, cultural, linguistic and geographic identity, which distinguishes them from all other peoples in Sudan. However, the Nuba culture is essentially of African origin as opposed to the Arab culture.
2. The Nuba people demand self-determination and an autonomous, representative Government for the Nuba Mountains Region accountable to, and elected by, the Nuba people.
3. Oppressive practices of any sort, even if “traditional”, should be discontinued (e.g. female circumcision).
4. Appropriate legislation and the necessary administrative capacity are required for ensuring Regional control of economic concessions and land rights for all Nuba people.
5. Effective, sustainable development policy guidelines are required which focus on sustainable land management practices, protection and use of indigenous plant species and livestock breeds, use of renewable energies and appropriate technologies.
6. The language of tuition in schools should be English, with Arabic language being taught as a subject like any other Nuba language.
7. Education must be clearly separated from Religion.
8. Political unity and vision must be strengthened, while continuing to preach democracy and good governance.
9. Encourage the return and resettlement of the internally displaced Nuba to their original homelands.
10. Dialogue and previous agreements between the Nuba and the Baggara should be revived.
III: Recommendations for the IGAD peace process
1. The endorsement of the IGAD peace process as the only presently viable means to negotiate a just and a comprehensive settlement for the conflict in the Sudan.
2. The recognition that the three Regions of Nuba Mountains, Southern Blue Nile and Abyei are an integral part of the SPLM/A and that there can never be a comprehensive solution without including these Regions. They form the foundation of any peaceful solution that the SPLM could sign with the GoS.
3. The conference clearly mandates the SPLM/A to negotiate on behalf of the Nuba people in the IGAD peace process, and for the new USNP also to play an active role in all such negotiations.
4. The right to self-determination, multi-party democracy and respect of human rights are necessary conditions for any sustainable comprehensive peace settlement.
5. The Nuba people must be given the chance to decide their own future through a clear democratic process during an interim period in which Sharia laws will be replaced by new, appropriate legislation allowing religious freedom.
6. During the interim period, the Nuba Mountains should be part and parcel of the SPLM/A jurisdiction in order to create the opportunity for a democratic and unimpeded process of self-determination. The final outcome will be determined through the democratic mechanisms at the end of the interim period.
7. The need for a full and independent investigation into the human rights violations perpetrated against the Nuba people and a means to bring any criminals to justice. Special emphasis must be given to assisting women and children recover from the violations to which they were exposed in GoS displacement camps.
8. Land rights for the Nuba people are a key to any sustainable peace agreement. International agencies need to provide further support to displaced Nuba to assist them to return to their homes unimpeded and in safety, through appropriate interventions.
9. A clear message should be sent to other ethnic groups in the Nuba (e.g. Bagara, Hawaza, Misseriya) that the Nuba struggle for their right is not directed against them but rather against the injustices imposed by successive regimes in Khartoum.
10. The Conference recognised the importance of initiating and maintaining a process of dialogue between the Nuba and other ethnic groups in the Nuba Mountains to develop the opportunities for peaceful coexistence.
11. The conference strongly supports the amalgamation of the four political Nuba parties into one single party: the United Sudan National Party (USNP), which should also participate in the IGAD negotiations.
12. The traditional ‘native’ administration needs to strengthen unity among the Nuba people so that they are better able to achieve their rights.
13. The Conference adopted “Nuba Mountains Region”, as defined in the Cease-Fire Agreement of January 2001, as the official name instead of Southern Kordofan.
14. The conference called for the extension of the cease fire agreement as long as the humanitarian situation demands provided that pressure the Friends of Nuba put more pressure to bare on the GoS to honour all aspects of the CFA.
IV: Recommendations and priorities for the international community
1. Bring pressure to bare on the GoS to address its outstanding delays and violations to the current cease-fire agreement (including military redeployment, obstruction of civilian movement from remaining “peace camps” and restricted zones).
2. Disarm militias and any nomad groups previously armed by the GoS.
3. Provide human rights monitoring and oversee investigations into war crimes and compensation for those who have suffered and to bring those involved to justice.
4. Assist in ensuring that appropriated land is returned to the rightful Nuba owners.
5. Provide support for further events fostering civil society and political dialogue.
6. Ensure that all resolutions passed by the Conference are recognised and respected, particularly respecting the wishes of the Nuba people to be part of the SPLM/A for the interim period and acknowledge this position at IGAD.
7. Respect the strategy, principles and rules of engagement as defined by the Nuba Mountains Programme Advancing Conflict Transformation (NMPACT) such that all interventions “enhance the Nuba people’s capacity for self-reliance within a sustained process of conflict transformation guided by the aspirations, priorities and analyses of the Nuba people themselves”,
8. Respect and support the Strategic Framework developed to guide interventions in SPLM/A controlled areas.
9. The great majority of Nuba wish to return to their homes and many have done so since the cease-fire started. However additional assistance is needed from the international community to ensure freedom of movement, to clear mines, support transportation, rehabilitate local services and assist in ensuring that conditions conducive to return are created
10. Focus on building up local economic potential through developing capacities for processing and trading of local raw commodities, encourage international investment etc.
11. Refrain from any intervention that could create dependency or undermine local self-reliance.
V: Recommendations for Follow-up dialogue over the next year
1. Convene a workshop on voluntary return of internally displaced Nuba to their homeland before the next rainy season.
2. Convene another consultative all Nuba conference.
3. Convene a conference between the Nuba people and the Baggara (Hawazma and Messiriya).
4. Convene the general assembly of the United Sudan National Party.
5. Convene a conference to discuss the Nuba women issues.
6. Convene a conference for the Nuba Youth and Students.
7. Joint meeting between the Nuba NGOs, associations and Agencies.
8. Organizing a carnival for culture, arts and folklore.