Category: Africa

Mediation News in Africa.

Sudan, South Sudan Mediation Stalled

Mediation Signpost - Sudan, South Sudan Author: Stephen Alexander – The government teams from Sudan and South Sudan ended yet another mediation without agreeing on a geographical map for a buffer zone on their common border. The African Union mediation team did announce a continuation of talks in the first week of July.

With defense ministers from each nation leading their delegation earlier in June, the efforts did not establish agreement on a security line for the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ). In fact, both nations and the African Union mediation team put three different maps on the negotiation table.

With disagreement rampant on the border dispute, Pagan Amum, the South Sudanese lead negotiator told reporters that the two nations agreed to maintain a positive tone that prevailed in the round. The next round hopes to resolve all outstanding issues between the nations, according to negotiator Amum.

Those outstanding issues include: border demarcation, the Abyei Area, and oil transportation fees. The Abyei Area is approximately a four thousand (4,000) square mile area in Sudan granted ”special administrative status” by the 2004 Protocol on the Resolution of the Abyei Conflict in the peace agreement that ended the Second Sudanese War.

The need is urgent for the parties to speed up the negotiation process in order implement peace road-map which sets August 2, 2012 as the deadline for end of mediation.

The African Union mediation team said the talks will resume on July 5th so that the delegations can consult with the presidents of each nation, Salva Kiir Mayardit and Omar Al-Bashir.

Mediation Committee Urged for Egypt

Mediation Team Called for in Egypt Author: Stephen Alexander - Egyptian reformist and founder of the newly-formed Constitution Party, Mohamed ElBaradei, urged the establishment of a mediation committee to resolve the legal and political disputes in Egypt.

According to ElBaradei via Twitter, the current crisis in “Egypt is about ready to explode.” On Sunday evening, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) changed the interim Constitutional Declaration without a referendum.

The right to make laws remains in the hands of SCAF, until the election of a new parliament. That election is set to occur in December 2012.

On June 16-17, the second round of presidential elections in Egypt occurred. SCAF has delayed the announcement of the results until Saturday or Sunday until appeals by the finalists from the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Mursi, and former president Mubarak’s last prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq, have been heard.

African Union Mediation Team Accused

African Union Logo w Scandal - Question Mark Author: Stephen Alexander – An African Union (AU) mediation team stands accused of manipulating the proposed new map of the disputed regions in the Sudan – South Sudan border dispute. Specifically, the AU team allegedly added a new zone without Sudan’s agreement or informing their chairman of this addition, according to the president of Sudan, Omer Al-Bashir.

The president of Sudan said on Saturday that the nation rejects adding a buffer zone on the common border with South Sudan, unless it is based on the map agreed to when South Sudan got its independence.

The Sudanese President further stressed that some AU officials falsified the government’s position despite the objections by Sudan. He said that the two nations agree to four disputed areas on the map and this fifth area was added by the mediation team without their consent.

Prior to Al-Bashir’s statement, the South Sudan reportedly agreed to the mediation team’s proposed map. His statement included accusations of “treachery and treason.” He mentioned that the oil would not begin to flow from Sudan, until this issue was resolved.

AU Mediation Team Proposes New Sudan Map

AU Mediation team attempts to reconcile geographical map of Sudan and South Sudan.

Author: Stephen Alexander – The mediation team from the African Union has proposed a new geographical map to both Sudan and South Sudan. The delegations from both nations have been stuck in negotiations with their different maps.

The team from Sudan wants a map that includes disputed lands that are crucial for grazing animals of the Darfur tribes and Dinka Malual. The disputed area is between South Darfur and Northern Bahr al Ghazal.

The Sudanese delegation rejects South Sudan’s claim over Heglig because the South Sudanese did not contest the rule of the arbitration court over Abyei. Of course, this occurred before the independence of South Sudan.

On Wednesday, June 8, 2012, the mediation team gave a new geographical map to both African nations in order to reconcile each sides’ position.

The countries have previously agreed upon four disputed areas between the Upper Nile and the White Nile – a triangle on South Kordofan, Upper Nile and White Nile border – Kaka between South Kordofan and Upper Nile and the mineral rich Kafia Kinji area located between South Darfur and Western Bahr al Ghazal.

The countries need to reach an agreement within three months in order to comply with a road map prepared by the African Union and endorsed by the United Nations Security Council.

Sudanese Mediation With China’s Help

Sudan and South Sudan with oil barrels

Author: Stephen Alexander - Efforts by China to restart mediation between Sudan and South Sudan have paid off for all parties with Beijing’s role be labeled as “a significant coordinator” by South Sudan.

The two African countries are scheduled to mediate in Ethiopia on Tuesday with all issues being discussed between the parties “once and for all,” according to a South Sudan embassy official in Beijing, “Mondaysemaya Kumba.

When border fighting erupted in April 2012, negotiation efforts were suspended. The plan is for the two nations to discuss borders, oil transportation fees and division of national debt. South Sudan is landlocked and all oil pipelines from that nation travel through Sudan.

In 2011, South Sudan voted to separate from Sudan. However, the two countries did not reach an agreement on major issues. South Sudan has agreed to comply with all articles in the United Nations resolutions, while Sudan lacks resolve. However, Sudan desires to end hostilities with its neighbor.

South Sudan depends on oil for 98% of its income. Its oil production was shutdown after Sudan commenced detention of oil from the pipelines for compensation for unpaid debts. The international pressure and both nations’ desire for economic and safety have moved both countries back to mediation.