South Sudan, Sudan bilateral agreement: A welcome milestone - Times of Zambia

Presidents Al Bashir (left) and Salva Kir (right)

By Noah Hassan Abbaker -

By all means and measures the September 27, 2012 signing of courageous mutual cooperation agreements, between South Sudan and Sudan in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, deserves a 21 welcoming gun salute by all peace-loving countries in Africa and beyond.

The agreements, which will see re-launching of oil flow from South Sudan oil fields, through Sudan owned pipeline, are a sign of new positive trend in the relationship between the neighbouring and brotherly nations.

They are a reflection of matured diplomacy and prudent decision of presidents Salva Kiir and Al Bashir as they have put the interests of their respective nations beyond speculations and mistrust which had been the order of the day.

The agreements shall enhance cooperation protocols on trade, economy, non-aggression and future border demarcation in a peaceful manner.

The agreements have witnessed the final body viewing of the decades of hatred and unholy wars.

The leaders of the two countries went astray in the desert of suspicions while searching for lasting solutions to their disputes.

Finally, they have realised that the station wagon of peace was approaching them at the time they ran out of water.

Actually, they were waiting for a plane to rescue them but the driver of the station wagon convinced them that it could be prudent for them to ride the station wagon as there would be no other car passing by for several days and no airstrip facilities for the plane to land safety.

They took the right decision after days of hesitation and jumped on the station wagon. If they had not ridden in the station wagon they would have experienced unpleasant moments.

It is good now that the two leaders have not only saved their lives but the lives of millions of their people in their respective nations, as they were carrying with them keys of security, stability and good neighbourhood.

The plane which I did mention here was a wishful thinking of solutions to the problems through wars while the station wagon which took them was the same station wagon of peace carried them to their destination of Mutual Cooperation Agreement.

The People of the two nations were very happy to receive them and showered them with words of blessings.

Now the two nations have divorced war and propaganda forever, they should preach peace through media and school syllabus so that the public opinion can be shaped positively and school children can appreciate peace.

A lesson can be drawn from the recent Agreements for the benefit of other African countries such as Ethiopia and Eretria from one side and Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Rwanda from the other side.

The Agreements should motivate Ethiopia and Eretria to forget about the dark past and cooperate for the mutual interests of their people.

Ethiopia could not be able to export or Import goods cheaply through Eritrea ports, while Eretria lost the most needed revenue which could see the economy flourishing.

In fact both countries have been lagging behind in terms of development due to unnecessary self driven embargo against each other.

With new prime minister at the helm of authority, one wishes both countries to revisit hey days and open borders for trade and reuniting of stranded families across borders of their countries.

DR Congo, Uganda and Rwanda have been negatively affected by the civil strife which has spread across their borders and retarded development.

It is advisable that they should analyse the South Sudan/Sudan cooperation agreement on how to solve political impasses among neighboring countries.

The African Union (AU) and the western countries must be commended for guiding South Sudan and Sudan towards peaceful settlement of disputes.

Bearing in mind the worst two World Wars during the last century which resulted in killing of millions and destruction of economies of Western countries as well as displacement of tens of millions of innocent people.

One must appreciate the Euro-American style of brushing aside their differences and concentrating on human development in all fields.

It seems that African countries are now mature enough to solve their own problems.

The situation in Sudan and South Sudan could not be solved through threats or civil wars but rather through cooperation.

The two nations have blood relations, common history, languages, economic and social Interests.

Now that the agreements have been signed, the two nations must not take everything for granted.

They should be mindful of challenges pertaining to the implementation and interpretation of the agreement.

Both countries have internal foes who may act as spoilers to the Agreements and blame one side of refueling and fanning civil wars in the other country.

Leaders of the two nations must apply maximum patience before issuing inflammatory statements which may derail the recent peace gains off the track.

Millions of people have died during the longest African civil wars in Sudan and South Sudan.

In order to build trust, which is the only thing that needs a separate agreement, the two nations must form joint military forces along the common border as soon as possible to avoid any recurrence of incursions, invasion and rumors caused by war-mongers of either side.

It is high time that they formed joint committees to oversee fast implementation of the agreements and assessment of the of progress made on a monthly basis to avoid any suspicions.

Regular meetings between the two top heads and their ministers shall build a solid block of cooperation.

It Is important that parliaments of the two countries sit thrice a year to discuss and promote a legislative framework which shall allow MPs to understand each other and explain the same to the grass roots.

In their constituencies. Sudan and South Sudan leaders deserve Nobel prizes for putting their differences aside.

If not, the AU’ must create its own African Nobel Prize for the distinguished leaders who make and maintain peace either within their countries or across borders. I make an appeal to Mo Ibrahim to spend a portion of his fortune towards dispute solutions in Africa to save millions of people trapped in civil wars rather than spend money on African presidents who leave power voluntarily through regular elections.

Back to South Sudan and Sudan, it Is believed that the debt burden, which is more than K40 billion, hinders genuine development.

International lending institutions and the donor community should rescue the two nations from the heavy burden of debt within the framework of the Highly Indebted Poor Countries initiative. Such approaches shall make the two countries stand on their own feet and walk towards development as they are now crippled due to a heavy debt burden.

It is also advised that all sanctions imposed on them by members of the international community be lifted immediately as a reward for signing the Agreements.

The two sister nations must be re-integrated in the International community to occupy their rightful positions in World affairs.

The task ahead Is a mammoth one and the two countries need to be more serious and put the Interest of their people first.

The leaders of the two countries are the custodians of the agreements and they must be above petty squabbles and should guide the two nations towards future unity as their respective countries shall continue to be neighbours until the end of the World.