Political Charter

• Country/entity

  South Sudan
  Sudan
  
• Region

  Africa (excl MENA)
  Africa (excl MENA)
  
• Agreement name

  Political Charter
• Date

  10 Apr 1996
• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

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

  Pre-negotiation/process
• Conflict nature

  Government/territory
• Peace process

  Sudanese (North-South) peace process
• Parties

  For the Sudan Government: MAJ. GEN. AL ZUBEAR MOHAMMED SALIH, First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan; For SSIM/A: CDR/DR RIEK MACHAR TENY DHURGON, Chairman of NLC SSIM & C-in-C of SSIA; For SPLM/A (BGG): CDR/ KERBINO KUANYIN, Chairman of SPLM/ (BGG)
• Third parties

  -
• Description

  An agreement by the Parties in that the unity of Sudan would be preserved and that a referendum would be held by the people of the southern Sudan to determine their political aspirations after the full establishment of peace and stability. Agreement also provides that the Sudanese people should be encouraged to freely express their different values; that freedom of religion and belief should be observed; and that power and national wealth should be shared equitably for the benefit of the citizens. Agreed that citizenship would further the values of justice, equity, freedom and human rights, and that the Shar’ia and custom would be the sources of legislation. A co-ordination council was to be formed between Southern States to implement the Agreement and the parties agreed to work together for stability and improvement of living conditions in war-affected areas.

• Agreement document

  SD_960410_Political Charter.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

1996 Political Charter

This Charter has been concluded between the:(1) The Government of Sudan.

(2) The South Sudan Independence Movement (SSIM/A).

(3) Sudan People Liberation Movement (Bahrel Ghazal Group SPLM (B. G.G.)

In recognition of the series of previous peace talks, the Parties have pledged to put an end to the ongoing civil war in the Sudan.

They agreed on the provisions mentioned below in this Charter:

1.To resolve the conflict in the Sudan through peaceful and political means.

2. The unity of the Sudan with its known boundaries shall be preserved, its entity shall be secured against all internal and external dangers.

The parties shall endeavour to keep peace, justice and supremacy of values of right, goodness and virtue.

3. After full establishment of peace, stability and a reasonable level of social development in the south, and at the end of the interim period, a referendum shall be conducted by the people of the southern Sudan to determine their political aspirations.

4. Recognizing the constitutional development, implementation of federal system and political practice based on the values of participatory democracy, the parties shall endeavour to boost the progress in these fields in the light of changing situations.

5. Citizenship shall be the basis of rights and duties in furtherance of the values of justice, equity, freedom and human rights.

6. Sharia and custom shall be the sources of legislation.

However, states may enact legislation complementary to the federal law in matters peculiar to those states.

7. Cultural diversity in the Sudan is recognized;

Sudanese people are encouraged to freely express its values.

8. Freedom of religion and belief shall be observed and a suitable atmosphere shall be maintained for practising worship, dawa, proselytization and preaching.

No citizen shall be coerced to embrace any faith or religion.

9. Social development is an extreme priority for the achievement of which the government shall plan for confidence building and expediting the process of alleviation of poverty, ignorance and illiteracy.

The states shall also cater for provision of knowledge and satisfaction.

10. Power and national wealth shall equitably be shared for the benefit of the citizens in the country.

The details shall be worked out by the parties.

11. A coordinating council shall be formed between the Southern States for better implementation of this Agreement.

12. The parties shall work together for the stability and improvement of living conditions in the war affected areas according to the provisions of the subsequent Peace Agreement.

They shall carry the duty of implementing the security arrangement, resettlement reconstruction, development and preservation of rights and duties.

13. The Sudan shall interact with African and Arab Nations and world community on the basis of the effective Sudanese identity for the benefit of the country.

14. Sudanese in general and Southerners in particular shall be mobilized to rally behind and support the subsequent peace agreement.

Khartoum, 10 April 1996.

(signed)

For the Sudan Government

MAJ. GEN.

AL ZUBEAR MOHAMMED SALIH, First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan

For SSIM/A

CDR/DR RIEK MACHAR TENY DHURGON, Chairman of NLC SSIM & C-in-C of SSIA

For SPLM/A (BGG)

CDR/ KERBINO KUANYIN, Chairman of SPLM/ (BGG)