Murder, Mayhem, and Chaos: Sudan's conflict continues

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) held a hearing on Sudan’s unravelling peace and the challenge that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) is facing as Sudan’s election draws closer. The CPA is an agreement between the People’s Liberation Movement and the government of Sudan. It was meant to end the second Sudanese Civil War, develop democratic governance countrywide, and share oil revenues. USCIRF is concerned that the CPA is in jeopardy and that Sudan could easily slip into its third North-South civil war since independence in 1956. “The CPA is the key to Sudan’s success and peace. If it fails so will Sudan,” said USCIRF chairwoman Felice Gaer.

Elections in Sudan are set to be completed no later than July of 2009 and a referendum be done sometime in 2011. Ambassador Richard Williamson said that the election can bring new identity to the south and the south will have the opportunity to have a self-identification. Williamson said that without the elections the referendum cannot happen, and it will hinder the peace between the south and north. “The referendum is the final and most important plank of the CPA. Without it Sudan will fall back into war,” Williamson said during the hearing.

Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for Africa (USAID) Earl Gast insisted that without a credible and loyal government in Sudan the elections will fail. “Despite of U.S. investments, preparations for Sudan’s elections are at an impasse and we are nearing a crossroads,” said Gast. Gast also said that at this point in time Sudan’s government is too deformed to be reformed and that Sudan and the U.S. need to come to a resolution before the 2009 elections.

Williamson said that the U.S. needs to call on its allies for support. Since the CPA was signed in 2005, five billion dollars have been distributed to Sudan’s relief fund. “The bulk of the five billion dollars has been spent on keeping people alive day to day. We have not been able to spend the money on helping the two million people that are still displaced, still after three years since the CPA was signed. With the help of U.S. allies, Sudan’s relief fund could help those that have been displaced, ” said Williamson during the hearing. The USCIRF is hoping that the elections will bring Sudan closer to a resolution and allow the Sudanese to live freely in their country.