US urges full compliance with Danforth tests

The United States said on Monday that it considered both the Khartoum government and southern rebels responsible for continued progress on four key US-sponsored humanitarian agreements.

"We will hold the Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement strictly accountable for the implementation of the humanitarian agreements that have already been made, particularly the agreement banning intentional attacks against non-combatant civilians and the Nuba Mountains cease-fire," US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in a statement.

Head of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Andrew Natsios, would shortly be travelling to Sudan to evaluate humanitarian requirements, review compliance with the agreements, and to visit the Nuba Mountains region of Southern Kordofan, south-central Sudan, Boucher added.

"The parties must be prepared to comply fully and completely with all agreements reached," the statement said.

The statement followed a meeting between US President George W Bush and US Special Envoy to Sudan, John Danforth, to discuss prospects for peace in Sudan.

Danforth submitted to Bush a report entitled "The outlook for peace in Sudan" last month, in which he outlined the progress made on his four confidence-building measures and recommended that the US continue to serve as an intermediary between the warring parties in Sudan.

During trips to Sudan in November 2001 and January of this year, Danforth was instrumental in achieving a ceasefire in the Nuba Mountains; an undertaking from the government and SPLM to end the abduction of civilians; an agreement to allow international monitors to investigate attacks on civilians; and the establishment of zones and times of tranquility to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid in certain parts of the country.

Boucher said the US would "actively support" the efforts of of the regional Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), currently being led by Kenya, while saying that the US was also prepared to work closely with other, non-IGAD, regional neighbours, particularly Egypt.

Egypt and Libya have put forward proposals in a parallel peace initiative, dubbed the Joint Egyptian-Libyan Initiative, which - unlike the principles accepted by Khartoum and the SPLM/A under the IGAD initiative - does not include a provision for self-determination for south Sudan.

"We don't want to be so categorical about it, but IGAD definitely has the lead," said Walter Kansteiner, US Assistant Secretary of State for African affairs, quoted by AFP news agency on Monday.

In Danforth's report, released on 14 May, however, the US peace envoy said that while the view of self-determination contained within the IGAD declaration of principles was one which included the option of secession, a "preferable" and more "feasible" view would simply ensure the right of southern Sudanese to live under a government that respected their religion and culture.

"The next steps for the administration are focused on means for achieving a just and viable peace in Sudan, and we intend to actively support the efforts of the international community in doing that," AFP quoted Kansteiner as saying.

The US branches of four major aid agencies on Friday (17 May) commended progress made on Danforth's four confidence-building measures, but called for implementation of these measures to be accelerated, particularly regarding the achievement of full humanitarian access in the Nuba Mountains.

CARE, World Vision, International Rescue Committee and Save the Children Fund also called for progress on the four measures to "lead to an expanded but convergent peace process", which would address the conflict's underlying causes, including the right to self-determination for southern Sudan.

Meanwhile, Kansteiner said that Danforth had agreed to remain on as US special envoy to Sudan, a post he assumed on 6 September 2001, according to AFP.

"The considerable progress made to date needs to be pursued without any loss of momentum," Danforth said in his report.