• Country/entity

  Sudan
  Southern Kordofan - Blue Nile - Abyei
  

• Region

  Africa (excl MENA)
  Africa (excl MENA)
  

• Agreement name

  Agreement on the Provision of Humanitarian Assistance and Cessation of Hostilities For the Two Areas of Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains/South Kordofan

• Date

  17 Dec 2019

• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed

• Interim arrangement

  Yes

• Agreement/conflict level

  Intrastate/intrastate conflict ( Sudan Conflicts (1955 - ) )

• Stage

  Framework/substantive - partial

• Conflict nature

  Government/territory

• Peace process

  Kordofan - Blue Nile - Abyei process

• Parties

  General Mohamed Hamdan
  Head of the Transitional Government Negotiation Delegation
  
  Lieutenant General Dagalo Malik Agar Eyre
  Chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM–N) and Commander in Chief of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North (SPLM/A-N/SRF)

• Third parties

  Witnessed by Hon. Tut Galuak Manime Special Adviser to the President of the Republic on Security Affairs Chairman of the Mediation Committee On behalf of the President of the Republic of South Sudan

• Description

  The agreement provides for a ceasefire and delivery of humanitarian aid to the war-affected areas in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan states.

• Agreement document

  SD_191217_Agreement on the Provision of Humanitarian Assistance and Cessation of Hostilities For the Two Areas of Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains_South Kordofan.pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

AGREEMENT ON THE PROVISION OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

AND CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES

FOR THE TWO AREAS OF BLUE NILE AND NUBA MOUNTAINS/SOUTH

KORDOFAN

BETWEEN

THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN & THE SUDAN

PEOPLE’S LIBERATION MOVEMENT–NORTH (SPLM–N) / SUDAN

REVOLUTIONARY FRONT (SRF)

___________________________

Preamble

The Transitional Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North /

Sudan Revolutionary Front, referred to hereinafter as the Parties,

PURSUING the aspirations of the Sudanese people, and implementing the Juba Declaration

for confidence building measures paving the way for negotiation and the Political

Declaration between the Transitional Government of Sudan and the Sudan Revolutionary

Front signed on 21 October 2019;

AFFIRMING the two Parties’ willingness to achieve prompt, just, and comprehensive peace;

TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION that addressing the humanitarian plight of the civilians,

internally displaced persons (IDPs), and refugees is a priority, and that peace is one of the

pillars for change and an important step towards political, economic, and social

transformation;

INTENDING to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people who have suffered the

catastrophic result of the wars that have deprived them of their resources and brought them

nothing but death and destruction.

Hereby the two Parties agree on the following:

Objectives of the Agreement

1. This Agreement is considered to be a binding framework for the two Parties throughout

all forthcoming political negotiations for the Two Areas, leading to a comprehensive

peace agreement for Sudan.

2. This Agreement incorporates the cessation of hostilities, which will be developed

subsequently into a permanent ceasefire in accordance with final security arrangements,

which shall be agreed upon.

3. Providing for a path forward for achieving durable peace for the Two Areas in a manner

that promotes and complements the efforts for the successful completion of a just,

comprehensive, and durable peace for all of Sudan and a transition from the oppression

of the Former Regime to a democratic new Sudan, based on equal citizenship;

4. The cessation of hostilities provided for in this agreement aims at guaranteeing the

unhindered access to humanitarian assistance, which shall be developed into a permanent

ceasefire in accordance with final security arrangements.

5. Creating an environment conducive for the safe and voluntary return of internally

displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees to their homes.

6. Alleviating the suffering of the people in the Two Areas through immediate humanitarian

action to those who are in need, as well as through long-term political and social

transformation.

Principles of Humanitarian Action

7. The Parties confirm that all humanitarian actions for the Two Areas shall be undertaken

in accordance with the international humanitarian law and all applicable and relevant

standards, and best practices, as well as all relevant international mechanisms.

8. The Parties confirm that all humanitarian action for the affected civilians in the Two

Areas shall respect the dignity of beneficiaries, the guiding principles of UNGA Res.

46/182, and the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and

independence.

9. The Parties guarantee the free movement and safety of civilians to and from the areas

controlled by each party.

Humanitarian Access

10. In accordance with the above principles, the Parties shall permit and facilitate the

comprehensive provision of immediate, full, and unimpeded humanitarian access to all the conflict-

affected areas and persons of the Two Areas, without discrimination.

11. The Parties commit to respecting and protecting humanitarian relief personnel and

objects used for relief operations, and agree to refrain from attacking, harassing,

intimidating, or detaining personnel, as well as to refrain from attacking, destroying,

misappropriating, or looting relief supplies, installations, material, units, or vehicles

operating in the humanitarian action.

12. Humanitarian access shall be guaranteed throughout the conflict-affected areas controlled

by the SPLM/A-N/ SRF, without prejudice to national sovereignty, including through

safe and unhindered multiple access corridors for all humanitarian personnel, supplies,

and equipments.

13. Humanitarian access and delivery of aid shall be facilitated through both cross-line and

cross-border corridors, where it is appropriate.

14. The precise formula for cross-line and cross-border aid delivery shall be decided by the

tripartite Joint Humanitarian Committee (JHC).

15. The Parties shall seek protection and assistance from relevant third-parties, the Republic

of South Sudan, and international organizations or humanitarian organizations for the

purpose of facilitating both cross-line and cross-border aid delivery and access.

16. Humanitarian access will be subject to the control of the Parties for their respective areas

of control, but in no circumstance may humanitarian access be withheld or constrained.

Joint Humanitarian Committee (JHC)

17. Within a period of no later than seven (7) days of the signing of this Agreement, the

Parties shall establish a Joint Humanitarian Committee (JHC), which shall be facilitated

by the Mediator.

18. The Parties agreed upon a comprehensive mandate for the tripartite JHC, which must

include the following competencies:

a) Coordinating the delivery of humanitarian assistance in the affected areas in need

in the Two Areas, with each party having responsibility within their respective area

of control;

b) Monitoring, assessing, and reporting about the provision of humanitarian

assistance to the affected populations in the Two Areas, with each party having

responsibility within their respective area of control;

c) Undertaking humanitarian action necessary to support the resettlement and

rehabilitation of the IDPs and refugees;

d) Making humanitarian arrangements related to the security, livelihood, and safe

movement of nomads, particularly with regard to their presence in or movement

through conflict-affected areas;

e) Helping UN agencies and international and national organizations to develop a

plan for demining the Two Areas and removing explosive remnants of war in the

Two Areas each party in their respective areas of control.

f) Helping to alleviate competition over resources and pastoral pathways that could

help the humanitarian action, including promoting peaceful relations between

herders and farmers;

g) Developing programs for promoting rehabilitation, social integration, and

capacity-building in conflict-affected areas;

h) Coordinating, as appropriate and agreed upon by the Parties, with relevant entities

undertaking humanitarian action in other areas of Sudan.

i) Arranging for the provision of legal and psychological support to vulnerable and

conflict-affected persons;

j) Supporting the creation of a mechanism for transitional justice and healing

processes in the future that address the humanitarian challenges that have negatively

impacted the Two Areas;

k) Adopting a joint plan of action for providing humanitarian assistance and

implementing its mandate within seven (7) days of its establishment.

l) Conducting a Joint Assessment Mission (JAM) in the areas controlled by the two

parties to comprehensively assess the needs of the people in the conflict-affected

areas, and the JAM assessment shall be completed within fourteen (14) days of the

establishment of the tripartite JHC.

19. The Parties commit to updating the JHC’s mandate and plan of action, as necessary,

based on the outcomes and findings of the Joint Assessment Mission (JAM).

20. The Parties shall convene a humanitarian conference to be attended by national, regional

and international actors to develop long-term measures to improve the humanitarian

situation for all conflict-affected areas in Sudan.

Mechanism for Monitoring Cessation of Hostilities in the Two-Areas

21. The Parties shall form a mechanism for the cessation of hostilities in the Two-Areas

composed of three representatives from each Party chaired by the representative of the

Republic of South Sudan.

22. The monitoring mechanisms shall be flexible and in keeping with prevailing mood of

partnership and common purpose through the following measures:

a) The Mechanism for Monitoring Cessation of Hostilities will be composed of three

representatives from each Party and chaired by the Republic of South Sudan, and its

headquarters will be based in Khartoum with joint working teams in Kadugli and elDamazin.

b) The joint working teams are composed of a representative from each Party and

chaired by the third Party, and it will be based in Kadugli and el-Damazin.

c) The monitoring teams mentioned above shall be formed within seven (7) days

from the date of the signing of this Agreement;

d) In the instance of any violation of the cessation of hostilities, the monitoring

committee shall be informed and it shall investigate, and take necessary actions.

e) The Parties shall adopt the customary ground-rules for the cessation of hostilities

relating to the deployment of forces and operational supplies, etc.

Final provisions

23. This Agreement shall enter into force, and become binding upon its signature.

24. This Agreement shall come into force from the date of its signing, will remain in force

until a comprehensive peace agreement is reached, and it shall form an integral part of

that agreement.

This agreement is signed in Juba, Republic of South Sudan

On the 17th of December 2019.

__________________________ __________________________

General Lieutenant General

Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo Malik Agar Eyre

Head of the Transitional Government Chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation

Negotiation Delegation Movement–North (SPLM–N) and

Commander in Chief of the Sudan People’s

Liberation Army-North (SPLM/A-N/SRF)

__________________________

Witnessed by Hon.

Tut Galuak Manime

Special Adviser to the President of the Republic on Security Affairs

Chairman of the Mediation Committee

On behalf of the President of the Republic of South Sudan