SPLM, Congress party recommit to peace agreement

The Sudan’s ruling parties have re-affirmed their commitment to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed more than a year ago, saying it holds the key to peace and prosperity in the vast East African country. "Our country is passing through a critical stage, but we will go ahead and build democratic systems where political violence will vanish in the history of Sudan," said Pagan Amum, Secretary-General of the southern Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM). He was speaking in the northern town of Omdurman on the first anniversary of the death of the former Sudanese Vice-President and SPLM leader, Garang de Mabior, on Sunday. Garang died in a helicopter crash on 30 July 2005 while returning to his base in southern Sudan from a meeting with Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni. The MI-72 Ugandan presidential helicopter carrying him and 13 other people came down in bad weather on the Sudan-Uganda border. "The SPLM is committed to the vision of the late Garang, the vision of a new Sudan of freedom, democracy, respect for human dignity and equality, and respect for human rights in order to transform the old Sudan into a new country," he added. Sudan’s second Vice-President and Deputy Chairman of the ruling National Congress party (NCP), Ali Osman Mohammed Taha, said the government of national unity and the party were determined to implement the CPA signed in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on 9 January 2005. "I would like to assure you in the name of the government and all its political components and would like to assure you in the name of my fellow compatriots in the National Congress party in particular, of the concern of all of us, party and government, for the implementation of the CPA," Taha said. After Garang's death, observers feared his vision of a united, reformed Sudan was in jeopardy. Some of his allies had been replaced by people favouring southern independence over national unity, they warned, and his death would weaken the SPLM’s position in the government of national unity. One year later, however, many of the key provisions of the peace deal have become reality, despite initial difficulties and delays in the implementation of the CPA. Also see: 'SUDAN: SPLM - a year after Garang' nm/mw/eo