Entebbe Declaration on the Operationalization of the Arusha Agreement on the Reunification of the SPLM

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Country/entity: South Sudan
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Entebbe Declaration on the Operationalization of the Arusha Agreement on the Reunification of the SPLM
Date: 27 Jul 2017
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Sudan Conflicts (1955 - )
Agreements relate to several distinct dyads, and also the negotiated independence of South Sudan, and subsequent internal conflict in South Sudan. Sudan-South Sudan. The long-standing conflict between the north and the south of the country dates back to colonial times, where the British introduced a so-called ‘Southern Policy’, severely hampering population movements between these big regions. Immediately after gaining independence in 1956, southern movements started to fight for independence; this fight became professionalised in 1983 with the foundation of the soon internationally supported Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). When the Islamic Front government introduced strict sharia laws in the south after it took over power in 1988 the war intensified. A decade later, the military situation reached a stalemate, enabling internationally facilitated peace negotiations to begin in 1997. After more fighting, a final negotiation push began in 2002, leading to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Areement (CPA) in January 2005.

Sudan-South Sudan post referendum. South Sudan became independent in July 2011; since then, relations between the two countries are complicated and violent conflict led by the SPLM (North) in the Sudanese Nuba mountains region has since intensified.

Darfur. Other long-standing violent conflicts are in the east and the west of the country. In the east, the Beja Congress, established in 1957, is the spearhead of a currently ‘peaceful’ opposition movement. In the west, the violent conflict in Darfur intensified in the early 2000s and rapidly gained international attention, even resulting in genocide charges against leading figures of the Sudanese government. The situation on the ground is complex, with over a dozen organisations (most notably the Sudanese Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement) fighting the Sudanese government and allied groups like the Janjaweed – although all parties have switched sides on numerous occasions. Several mediation attempts have not been successful, due to the shaky commitment of the Sudanese central government and the distrust among the armed opposition.

South Sudan - internal
In December 2013, after president Salva Kiir accused opposition leader Riek Machar of attempting a coup, violent conflict broke out between government forces of the SPLM/A and anti-governmental groups. In addition, several other political militias as well as communal militias have joined the conflict. In 2015 the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) was signed. Due to unsuccessful implementation the agreement was revitalized in 2018. In September 2019, Kiir and Machar agreed to establish a power-sharing government after struggles on forming a unity transitional government.
Stage: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: South Sudan post-secession process
Parties: 1. Cde. Sema (illegible) Kumba
Acting Secretary General SPLM

2. Cde. Dhleu Mathok (illegible)
Secretary General SPLM-IO

3. Cde. Deng Alor Kuol
Team Leader SPLM Leaders (FDs)
Third parties: Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
President of the Republic of Uganda

Chairman of (illegible)
Chairman of East African Community (EAC)

Hon. Betty Bigombe
Technical Support to the President of Uganda
Description: This short agreement establishes a working group to revitalize and operationalize the implementation of the Arusha SPLM Reunification Agreement.

Agreement document: SS_170727_Entebbe Agreement.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: Page 1, Preamble
Recalling the initiative taken by His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, in requesting H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveril President of the Republic of Uganda to mediate on the reconciliation and unity of the various SPLM Groups based on the Arusha SPLM Reunification and unity of the various SPLM Groups based on the Arusha Reunification Agreement, which resulted in the meeting hold on 25th May 2017, attended by three SPLM Groups namely; SPLM-IG, SPLM-IO and SPLM-FDs.

Page 1, Provision 3
Call upon the SPLM (IO) of Dr. Riek Machar to join the process of reconciliation and unity of the SPLM.

Page 1, Provision 4
Call upon other SPLM group and cadres who are not part of the Arusha Agreement to join this reconciliation and reunification process.

Page 2, Provision 5
Further call upon all SPLM cadres and the grassroots, countrywide and in the Diaspora, to embrace this new spirit of reconciliation and unity for the interest of our people and country.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: Page 3, Signatures
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
President of the Republic of Uganda

Chairman of (illegible)
Chairman of East African Community (EAC)
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: Page 1, Provision 2
The Working Group shall develop a matrix for the implementation of the Arusha Agreement with specific timelines and shall report to H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni after one week beginning from Monday 31st July.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: On file with author. Also available at: MinBane Blog (2017) South Sudan: Entebbe Declaration on the Operationalization of the Arusha Agreement on the Reunification of the SPLM (27.07.2017). https://minbane.wordpress.com/2017/07/28/httpwp-mep1xtjg-57q/ (Accessed 14 October 2020).

ENTEBBE DECLARATION ON THE OPERATIONALIZATIONOF THE ARUSHA

AGREEMENT ON THE REUNIFICATION OF THE SPLM

We the undersigned SPLM Groups

Recalling the initiative taken by His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, in requesting H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveril President of the Republic of Uganda to mediate on the reconciliation and unity of the various SPLM Groups based on the Arusha SPLM Reunification and unity of the various SPLM Groups based on the Arusha Reunification Agreement, which resulted in the meeting hold on 25th May 2017, attended by three SPLM Groups namely;

SPLM-IG, SPLM-IO and SPLM-FDs.

This was followed by another meeting hold on 20th July 2017 attended by SPLM-IG and SPLM-FDs in the presence of President Salva Kiir Mayardit and chaired by H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

Having today met in the State House Entebbe, Uganda, under the auspices of H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of Uganda, in furtherance of the objectives of the SPLM reconciliation and unity, we hereby resolve following:

Establishment of a working group to revitalize and operationalize the implementation of the Arusha SPLM Reunification Agreement.

The Working Group shall develop a matrix for the implementation of the Arusha Agreement with specific timelines and shall report to H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni after one week beginning from Monday 31st July.

Call upon the SPLM (IO) of Dr. Riek Machar to join the process of reconciliation and unity of the SPLM.

Call upon other SPLM groups and cadres who are not part of the Arusha Agreement to join this reconciliation and reunification process.

Further call upon all SPLM cadres and the grassroots, countrywide and in the Diaspora, to embrace this new spirit of reconciliation and unity for the interest of our people and country.

Membership of the Working Group:

a. SPLM-IG

Cde. Simon Kun Puoch

Cde. Rebecca Joshua Okwaci

Cde. Oliver Mori Benjamin

b. SPLM Leaders (FDs)

Cde. John Luk Jok

Cde. Kosti Manibe

Cde. Majak D’Agoot

c. SPLM (IO)

Cde. Richard K. Mulla

Cde. Tijwog H. Agwet

Cde. Lubna Abdelgani

In affirmation thereof, we the undersigned representatives of the above SPLM Groups do hereby append our signatures this 27th day of the month of July, 2017.

1. Cde.

Jema (illegible) Kumba

Acting Secretary General SPLM

2. Cde.

Dhleu Mathok (illegible)

Secretary General SPLM-IO

3. Cde.

Deng Alor Kuol

Team Leader of SPLM Leaders (FDs)

Guarantor:

Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

President of the Republic of Uganda

Chairman of (illegible)

Chairman of East African Community (EAC)

Witnessed by:

Hon. Betty Bigombe

Technical Support to the President of Uganda