Fighting in Darfur alone left around 300,000 people dead after rebels took up arms in the vast western region in 2003, according to the United Nations, with former government leaders accused of carrying out genocide and crimes against humanity. Conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile erupted in 2011, in the wake of South Sudan’s independence, resuming a war that had raged from 1983-2005.
“This is a truly historic day,” Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said as he called on holdout rebel groups to join the deal he said would build “peace and stability” in Sudan. “We are waiting for them,” Hamdok said.
Gibril Ibrahim, commander of one of the rebel groups, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), paid tribute to all those killed or affected by the long years of violence. “I congratulate all in Sudan on reaching a historic, comprehensive peace that addressed the roots of the problem and ended the war, God willing,” Ibrahim said.
Sudanese paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo – best known by his nickname “Hemeti”, and who commanded fighters in the war – signed the deal on behalf of Khartoum. “This deal represents... a new dawn,” he said.
Daglo and the leaders of the rebel movements grouped together and shook hands at the ceremony in Juba, the capital of neighbouring South Sudan which seceded from the north in 2011. Then the former enemies briefly danced together. South Sudanese President Salva Kiir – a former comrade to some of the rebels during Sudan’s earlier civil war – hosted and mediated the talks.
Officials said the deal was “initialled” and not signed, as a way to leave the door open for two key holdout rebel groups to join in a “final” agreement.
The Sudan Troika made up of the United States, Britain and Norway said the accord “lays a foundation for sustainable peace and stability in Darfur and other conflict-affected areas that is critical for Sudan’s democratic transition”.
But the deal “must be followed up with local peace and reconciliation efforts in the conflict-affected areas”, it added. The European Union’s diplomatic chief Josep Borrell said the deal “signifies an important milestone for the ongoing democratic and economic transition of Sudan”.
“The EU remains committed to supporting the historic Sudanese transition.”
Jonas Horner, from the International Crisis Group think-tank, called the agreement a “milestone” but said that implementation would be tough. “It is a hugely significant sign of progress for Sudan’s transition,” Horner said.
“But it... only represents a first step towards peace, while significant hurdles remain in the way of its implementation.”
