Meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development in the Sudan – January 29, 2011 (Ethiopia)

In her capacity as Chairperson of African Union’s Ministerial Committee on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) in the Sudan, Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane presided over the meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development in the Sudan.

In her opening remarks, the Chairperson highlighted the seven top priorities facing Southern Sudan, as:

• A high-level peer learning on macroeconomic issues;
• Support to develop a core “package” of legislation to provide the necessary legal framework;
• Provision of training to new recruits at Dr Jon Garang United Police Training Academy in Rajaf;
• Contingency planning for currency options;
• Developing a strong customs function;
• Regulating and monitoring the oil sector; and
• Oil revenue management functions

On behalf of the Committee, the Chairperson commended the people and leadership of Sudan for ensuring that the referendum took place in an environment of peace. She called on the “friends” of Sudan to stand ready to assist both sides in the rebuilding of their country.

Other members of the Committee confirmed their readiness to support Sudan and stated their wishes to see relations between the South and North of Sudan remain “cordial”. They also commended the leadership of South Africa as chair.

Here-under is the official Communique as released by the AU Ministerial Committee on Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development in the Sudan on January 29, 2011.

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The African Union (AU) Ministerial Committee on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development in the Sudan (PCRD) met on 29 January 2011, in Addis Ababa, on the margins of the Ordinary Session of the AU policy organs. The meeting was opened by Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa and Chair of the Committee, and Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra, Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union.

The Committee reviewed developments in the Sudan since its last meeting, as they relate to the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), particularly with regards to the visit of the Ministerial Committee to the Sudan from 23 to 26 October 2010 prior to the momentous January 2011 referendum on self-determination for the Southern Sudan. 

In line with this mandate, and as follow-up to the report on its October 2010 visit, the Committee discussed the post conflict reconstruction and development efforts and needs in the Sudan in the wake of the historic referendum. In this regard, the Committee agreed to select and send a Technical Team to the Sudan in Mid-February 2011 to ascertain and assess core development needs and priority projects, in view of the organization of an African Solidarity Conference to mobilize support for reconstruction and development. In this regard, Egypt has offered to host the envisaged Conference to mobilize support for the reconstruction of the Sudan.

The Committee paid tribute to President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir, First Vice President Salva Kirr Mayardit and Vice President Ali Osman Taha for successfully leading their parties and the people of Sudan through the challenging period of the CPA implementation that has culminated in the historic referendum. The successful holding of the referendum, from 9 to 15 January 2011, is a reflection of the maturity of the leadership and the people of the Sudan as a whole. In like manner, the Committee commended the neighbouring countries of the Sudan, the Chairperson of the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD), the AU High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), and the Chairperson of the AU Commission, for the leadership role and demonstrated commitment in accompanying the Sudanese people in seeking lasting peace to the Sudan conflict.

The Committee stressed the need for the Sudanese parties to spare no efforts to overcome the challenges facing the implementation of the CPA, especially in the wake of the successful conduct of the referendum and the post post-referendum phase. The committee underscored that continued progress in this respect will go a long way in facilitating the implementation of its mandate, stressing that, whatever the final outcome of the January 2011 referendum; the post-referendum dialogue between Sudanese parties should be pursued relentlessly. The continuous support of the international community is critical to the consolidation of peace and reconstruction in the Sudan.

The Committee underscored its determination to fully support two viable states in the Sudan, as it likely that the result of the referendum would be in favour of separation, and expressed its willingness to deploy extra efforts in mobilizing support and resources for the reconstruction from within Africa and partners. In this regard, the Committee called on the international community to honour its pledge and commitments, namely: a) lift the sanctions on Sudan; b) remove Sudan from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism; c) come up with a debt relief package for the Sudan; and d) duly acknowledge the historically responsible role of President Omar Hassan Al Bashir and act accordingly on the AU’s reiterated call on the UN Security Council regarding the ICC procedure against him. These promises were made as conditional dividends of the successful organization of the referendum in Southern Sudan.

It should be recalled that the AU Ministerial Committee on Post-Conflict Reconstruction was established by the AU Summit held in Maputo, Mozambique, in July 2003, with the mandate: (a) to assess, in consultation with the Government of the Sudan (GoS) and the Sudan’s People’s Liberation Movement/Army (APLM/A), the needs and magnitude of the post-conflict challenges in the Sudan; (b) to mobilize, as broadly as possible, African support for post-conflict reconstruction efforts; and (c) to sensitize the international community about the magnitude of post-conflict challenges in the country. The Committee is chaired by the Republic of South Africa and comprises Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and the Sudan.

Since its establishment, the Committee has undertaken a number of missions to the Sudan to support the CPA implementation and encourage the parties to live up to their commitments. It has also strived to mobilize assistance both from within and outside Africa in support of post-conflict reconstruction efforts.

Close quotes

In her closing remarks, the Chairperson Minister Nkoana-Mashabane paid tribute to the leadership of the Sudan and in particular the late former President John Garang. She also paid tribute to Kenya, for playing the role of a “mid-wife” as it assisted in giving birth to peace and being its guarantor.

Tributes also went to the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD) Chair Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and the High-Level Implementation Panel on Sudan for being “true” Africans. The Chairperson also commended the people of Sudan for “disproving the doomsayers who said Sudan will simply go up in flames”. It was a true confirmation that Africans have the ability to solve their problems, the Chairperson concluded.

For further information, please contact Mr Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for DIRCO, on 082 884 5974.

Issued by:

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation
OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria

February 4, 2011