Communiqué of the 16th Extra-Ordinary Summit of IGAD Assembly of Heads
of States
Communiqué of the 16th Extra-Ordinary Summit of IGAD Assembly of Heads of States and Government on the Sudan
Addis Ababa, 23 Nov, 2010
The IGAD Assembly of Heads of States and Government held its 16th
Extra-Ordinary summit in Addis Ababa, on 23rd Nov. 2010, under the
Chairmanship of H.E Meles Zenawi, the Prime minister of the Federal
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Chairperson of IGAD to consider the
progress on the Implementation of the CPA in the country. The Assembly
also had on its Agenda an update of the situation in Somalia.
The Assembly was attended by leaders of the IGAD Countries among them are
H.E Mwai Kibaki, the President of Kenya, H.E Yuwere Musevini the
President of Uganda, H.E Isamael Omer Guelleh, the President of the
Republic of Djibouti , H.E Omer El-Bashir the President of the Republic
of Sudan, H.E Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit the First Vice President of the
Republic of Sudan and President of the Government of southern Sudan.
Besides the presence of H.E Thabu Mbeki the Chairperson on the AU High
level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), Sir Derek Plumbly the Chair person of
Assessment and Evaluation Commission (AEC) and others.
The Assembly was addressed by H.E Prime minister of Ethiopia Meles
Zinawi, and H.E President of Kenya Mwai Kibaki. The Assembly was also
briefed on the implementation of the CPA by the leaders of the two
parties H.E Omer El-Bashir of NCP and H.E Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit of
SPLM. In addition to that some observations made to the summit on the CPA
Implementation by the Deputy Chairperson on of the AU Commission Mr.
Erastus Mwencha, H.E Thabu Mbeki and Derek Plumbly.
After extensive deliberations on the progress of the CPA Implementation
in the country, the Assembly issued the following Communiqué:
1- Takes note that the summit comes at a critical juncture in the
history of Sudan, just less than two months before the Referendum and a
few days after the start of registration of voters for the Referendum .
This represents a significant milestone in the CPA implementation.
2- Reiterates commitment of IGAD to support the Sudan during the post
Referendum period for the sake of peace, stability and democracy,
irrespective of whether the people of southern Sudan choose unity or
secession.
3- Commends the efforts of AUHIP in facilitating the parties agreement
on the implementation of outstanding issues in the CPA and post
referendum arrangements. The Summit was particularly encouraged by the
parties’ commitment in achieving in the event of the secession of
southern Sudan, two viable States, living as peaceful and cooperative
neighbors that maintain common security as well as a “soft border”
between the North and South that forges cooperation without disruption to
the livelihood of the people.
4- Welcomes the decition of the parties to resolve the outstanding
issues in particular Abyei and called upon the parties to approach the
next round of negotiations with a spirit of compromise cognizant of the
need to guarantee the rights and livelihood of the affected
people.
5- Welcomes commitment of the parties to timely and credible conduct
of free and fair Referendum and the respect for its outcome; and notes in
particular the commitment by the parties to never return to war but
instead to seek peaceful resolution of issues that may divide them. \
6- Underlines the progress made towards reaching a Framework
Agreement, but at the same time expresses concern over pending issues
that continue to threaten the full implementation of the CPA and URGES
the parties to expeditiously resolve the remaining differences on the
issues of border demarcation, the Abyei Referendum and Post Referendum
arrangements.
7- Recognizes the steps undertaken to finalize the popular
consultaions in Blue Nile and south Kordufan states and URGES the parties
to agree on a practical timeline for completion of the exercise before
the end of the CPA Interim period.
8- Requests the AUHIP to keep IGAD update through its Chairperson on
the progress of negotiations including the ongoing discussions between
the two parties.
9- Mandates the Chairperson of IGAD Assembly to present IGAD position
to the AU Peace and Sec urity Council (AU- PSC) at its forthcoming
session due to be held in Tripoli, Libya and requests the summit to take
due note of its recommendations