The Arusha Agreement on the SPLM Reunification Implementation Matrix, Entebbe, Uganda

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Country/entity: South Sudan
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: The Arusha Agreement on the SPLM Reunification Implementation Matrix, Entebbe, Uganda
Date: 15 Dec 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: Cde Kuol Manyang Juuk, SPLM-IG
Cde Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, SPLM-IO
Cde Deng ALor Kuol, SPLM-FDs
Third parties: Guarantor: HE Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda
Facilitators/ Witness: Hon Betty Bigombe , Uganda and Hon Mohamed ELamir, Egypt
Description: This short agreement deals with the re-unification of the SPLM in South Sudan. It discusses political, organizational, and leadership issues of a reunification.

Agreement document: SS_171215_Arusha 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: Governance→Political parties reform→Rebels transitioning to political parties
Page 2, 1. Political Issues

The reunified SPLM Agree to revisit the SPLM constitution and Manifesto to ensure that the SPLM redefines its ideological direction,
…

Page 3, 2. Leadership issues
The Reunified SPLM leadership shall develop party code of ethics and disciplinary procedures to be applicable and upheld by all the members irrespective of their positions.
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: Page 2, 1. Political Issues

Agree to ensure peace and security in the country and guarantee public safety and comprehensive security sector reforms and professionalization of all security sector institution to reflect national character

Page 3, 2. Leadership issues
…
Agree to convene a National Liberation Council (NLC) meeting in Juba for the purpose of endorsing the Arusha agreement on the SPLM Reunification implementation matric. HE Salva Kiir Mayardit, the president of the Republic of South Sudan working with the Guarantors will provide security for those who need it.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→General commitments
Page 2, 1. Political Issues
The tripartite group recommit themselves to the Cessation of Hostilities (COH) and further stress the need to consolidate their relationship and common endeavour.

Urge those fighting groups to observe and recommit themselves to the COH.
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: Page 2, 1. Political Issues

The reunified SPLM recommits to and supports the establishment of a comprehensive transitional justice mechanism.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: Page 4
Guarantor: HE Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda
Facilitators/ Witness: Hon Betty Bigombe , Uganda and Hon Mohamed ELamir, Egypt
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: Page 3, 2. Leadership issues
…
Agree to convene a National Liberation Council (NLC) meeting in Juba for the purpose of endorsing the Arusha agreement on the SPLM Reunification implementation matric. HE Salva Kiir Mayardit, the president of the Republic of South Sudan working with the Guarantors will provide security for those who need it.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: On file with author. Also available at: MinBane Blog (2017) South Sudan: The Arusha Agreement on the SPLM Reunification Implementation Matrix, Entebbe, Uganda (15.12.2017), https://minbane.wordpress.com/2017/12/17/https-wp-me-p1xtjg-65z/ (Accessed 31 January 2020).

The Arusha Agreement on the SPLM Reunification

Implementation Matrix

Entebbe, Uganda

Friday 15th December 2017

We, the delegations of SPLM tripartite group meeting in Entebbe, Uganda from 13th to 15th December 2017, under the auspices of HE Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda

Convinced that the reunification and reconciliation of the SPLM is key to the resolution of the current crisis;

Reaffirming our commitment to the reunification of the SPLM to bring peace to the Republic of South Sudan

Driven by our patriotic will and determination to restore peace and stability in order to rebuild our war-torn country

Appreciating the concrete efforts of CCM, ANC, NRM/Uganda and Egypt in supporting and facilitating the reunification of the SPLM

Resolve the following issues

Political Issues

The tripartite group recommit themselves to the Cessation of Hostilities (COH) and further stress the need to consolidate their relationship and common endeavour.

Urge those fighting groups to observe and recommit themselves to the COH.

The reunified SPLM Agree to revisit the SPLM constitution and Manifesto to ensure that the SPLM redefines its ideological direction,

Agree to ensure peace and security in the country and guarantee public safety and comprehensive security sector reforms and professionalization of all security sector institution to reflect national character

The reunified SPLM recommits to and supports the establishment of a comprehensive transitional justice mechanism.

Organizational Issues

Agrees that the National secretariat shall be restructured and reorganized in order to streamline its offices and functions to ensure efficiencies and effectiveness

The political bureau shall be restructured in a manner that ensures timely decision making and internal cohesion and collective decision making

Leadership issues

The Reunified SPLM leadership shall develop party code of ethics and disciplinary procedures to be applicable and upheld by all the members irrespective of their positions.

Agree to convene a National Liberation Council (NLC) meeting in Juba for the purpose of endorsing the Arusha agreement on the SPLM Reunification implementation matric.

HE Salva Kiir Mayardit, the president of the Republic of South Sudan working with the Guarantors will provide security for those who need it.

Signed by:

Cde Kuol Manyang Juuk Cde Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth Cde Deng ALor Kuol

SPLM-IG SPLM-IO SPLM-FDs

Guarantor

HE Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

President of the Republic of Uganda

Facilitators/ Witness

Hon Betty Bigombe Hon Mohamed ELamir

Uganda Egypt