Message to Sudan: What happened to Tony Blair's 5-point plan?

Today, in its first response to the British government linking the cancellation of Sudan's debts to the resolution of the Darfur crisis, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has termed the condition unjust, saying it would lead to further deterioration and suffering.

Sudanese officials habitually portray themselves as victims and everyone else the villain. Khartoum could do themselves and everyone else a favour if they reviewed what progress they have made on their promise to Tony Blair, to carry out the five-point plan he delivered to them in person on his historic visit to Khartoum last year.

Note this excerpt from the British Embassy's Public update No: 8 dated 11 October 2004:

"Prime Minister Tony Blair visited Khartoum on 6 October and gained the commitment of the Sudanese Government to a five point plan of action to address the immediate security and humanitarian situation in Darfur, as well as the political settlement to the conflict and swift progress towards a comprehensive peace agreement with the SPLM in southern Sudan. The five point action plan demanded:

Active co-operation with an expanded AU Mission
Identification of the location of GoS forces and militias in Darfur
Agree to confine GoS forces to barracks and the use of wholly civilian police for internal security
Commitment to conclude the comprehensive peace agreement by end of 2004
Immediate implementation of the Abuja humanitarian protocol"
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Sudan urges donors to meet pledges for peace

On 2 Oct 2005, Sudanese Vice-President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha called for International donors to fulfill pledges toward boosting the peace process in Sudan.

This came during his meeting Sunday at the premises of the Council of Ministers in Khartoum with the visiting Norwegian Minister of International Cooperation, Hilde Johnson.

Full report via Sudan Tribune 3 Oct 2005.



Photo: Sudan VP Ali Osman Taha (L) salutes SPLM leader John Garang as he sits next to Norwegian Minister of International development Hilde Johnson (R) during a UN Security Council meeting in Nairobi 2004 (ST)

Tags: Darfur Sudan Africa peace Tony Blair UK African Union British Government British Embassy Khartoum