Agreement reached between the State of Eritrea and the Republic of the Sudan

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Country/entity: Eritrea
Sudan
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Agreement reached between the State of Eritrea and the Republic of the Sudan
Date: 1 May 1999
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Interstate/intrastate conflict(s)
Eritrean Border Conflicts (1998 - 2018)
Eritrean Border Conflicts (1998 - 2019)

Eritrea - Ethiopia (1998 - 2018)

In 1991, the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF) defeated the communist military junta (‘Derg’) in Ethiopia and proclaimed independence for Eritrea. At the same time, Derg itself was overthrown by the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Forces (EPRDF), which established a transitional government in Ethiopia. Eritrea was granted an independence referendum, which resulted in a 99.8 per cent pro-independence vote. However, border tensions and heavy disputes, in particular on minority rights and economic issues, between EPLF and EPRDF led to new fighting between the two countries in 1998. A mediation by the US administration led to a difficult truce and in 2000 a peace agreement was signed. The agreement established two commission, Border Commission and the Claims Commission. The delimitation ruling of the Border Commission was rejected by Ethiopia. The border continued to be heavily occupied by troops on both sides and border skirmishes continue into 2016. In June 2018, after a series of summits, the state of war was declared over in a Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship, as Ethiopia finally agreed to honour the ruling of the Border Commission. This followed by a series of steps to improve political, economic and diplomatic ties. Transport and telephone links have been re-established, and borders reopened. In July 2018, the countries have signed the ‘Agreement on Peace, Friendship and Comprehensive Cooperation’ reiterating their commitment to achieving long-lasting peace in the region.

Sudanese-Eritrean Relations (1994 - 1999)

Eritrea broke diplomatic contact with neighbouring Sudan after accusing the country of attempting to destabilize the Eritrean regime. At the time it was believed that Sudan trained and armed the Eritrean Islamic Jihad Group, which aimed to establish a caliphate in the Horn of Africa. After breaking diplomatic relations, Khartoum accused Eritrea of providing support for armed Sudanese opposition groups. Indeed, Eritrea help a conference for the Sudanese opposition in 1995 in an attempt to unite them. Relations were normalized in 1999. Sudan sent troops to its eastern border (region of Kassala) with Eritrea amid security concerns involving Egyptian troops deployed in Eritrea.
Stage: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Territory
Peace process: Eritrea-Sudan peace process
Parties: Issaias Afewerki, President of the State of Eritrea; Omar Hassan Al-Basheer, President of the Republic of the Sudan
Third parties: Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar
Description: A short agreement in which the two governments set out six provisions they agree to which include restorating diplomatic relations, respecting international laws and customs and political choices, and resolving the remaining differences between countries through peaceful means. It also establishes a joint committee to examine issues, especially security, and to implement agreement

Agreement document: SD_990501_Agmt between Eritrea and Sudan.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): 2. Respecting international laws and customs regulating peaceful co-existence
and good-neighbourly relations among countries and peoples.

3. Respecting the political choices of both countries and peoples, and refraining from adopting a policy of exporting ideologies and seeking to impose them.
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: Untitled Preamble
In response to the mediation by the State of Qatar aiming to establish security and stability in both countries and in the Horn of Africa, and in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries in Doha on 10 November 1998,

1. Restoring diplomatic relations between the two countries.

2. Respecting international laws and customs regulating peaceful co-existence
and good-neighbourly relations among countries and peoples.

3. Respecting the political choices of both countries and peoples, and refraining from adopting a policy of exporting ideologies and seeking to impose them.

4. Refraining from hosting or organizing regional or international conferences that aim to adopt policies or coordinate tasks posing a threat to the security and stability of neighbouring countries.

5. Working to resolve the remaining differences between the two countries through peaceful means.

6. Establishing joint committees between the two countries to examine the remaining issues, especially those related to security, and implement what has been agreed upon in this Agreement.

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: 3. Respecting the political choices of both countries and peoples, and refraining from adopting a policy of exporting ideologies and seeking to impose them.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: 2. Respecting international laws and customs regulating peaceful co-existence and good-neighbourly relations among countries and peoples.
Civil and political rights: Human rights and equality→Civil and political rights→Thought, opinion, conscience and religion
3. Respecting the political choices of both countries and peoples, and refraining from adopting a policy of exporting ideologies and seeking to impose them.
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: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Peacemaker.un.org,. 2015. 'UN Peacemaker'. http://peacemaker.un.org.

Annex

Agreement

As part of the good offices being made by the State of Qatar to reach a solution for the existing differences between the State of Eritrea and the Republic of the Sudan, and in keeping with the traditional ties and historical relations between the two neighbouring peoples;

and

In response to the mediation by the State of Qatar aiming to establish security and stability in both countries and in the Horn of Africa, and in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries in Doha on 10 November 1998,

A summit meeting was held in Doha on Sunday, 2 May 1999, between Issaias Afewerki, President of the State of Eritrea, Omar Hassan Al-Basheer, President of the Republic of the Sudan, and Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar.

Whereas they agreed to the following:

1. Restoring diplomatic relations between the two countries.

2. Respecting international laws and customs regulating peaceful co-existence and good-neighbourly relations among countries and peoples.

3. Respecting the political choices of both countries and peoples, and refraining from adopting a policy of exporting ideologies and seeking to impose them.

4. Refraining from hosting or organizing regional or international conferences that aim to adopt policies or coordinate tasks posing a threat to the security and stability of neighbouring countries.

5. Working to resolve the remaining differences between the two countries through peaceful means.

6. Establishing joint committees between the two countries to examine the remaining issues, especially those related to security, and implement what has been agreed upon in this Agreement.

Signed at Doha on 16/1/1420 H.Corresponding to 2/5/1999 G.

President of the State of Eritrea President of the Republic of the Sudan (Signed) Issaias AFEWERKI (Signed) Omar Hassan AL-BASHEER

Emir of the State of Qatar(Signed) Hamad bin Khalifa AL-THANI

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