A Reinvigorated Commitment
For the past 18 years, Sudan has been embroiled in a complicated civil war. Recently, the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement met with the facilitation of the United States Government to start the work of the Joint Planning Mechanism (JPM). The JPM was created to assist both parties in assessing needs, developing priorities, and drawing up action plans for implementation during the pre-interim period. USAID has put over one billion dollars in humanitarian assistance into Sudan since 1989. Beginning in 1998, development assistance has also been provided in southern Sudan.
On May 3, 2001, President Bush appointed USAID Administrator, Andrew Natsios, as the U.S. Special Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan. In July the Administrator led a high-level USG delegation to both North and South Sudan, where he envisioned a reinvigorated commitment to Sudan and returned with three historic themes:
- Humanitarian Access
- Reinstitution of Humanitarian Neutrality
- Preparing Southern Sudan for the Transition to Peace
In September, former Senator Danforth was appointed the U.S. Special Envoy for Peace to Sudan. In the initial phase of U.S. engagement under the Special Envoy, the humanitarian and political agendas have intertwined. Building on the Administrator's efforts, Senator Danforth presented four measures that foster an environment of agreement among the parties and test their resolve for peace. USAID contributed to the first three of these:
- Access to the Nuba Mountains
- Eradication of slavery
- Periods of tranquility
- Cessation of bombardment of civilians
The success of these early tests and the serious and sustained U.S. engagement contributed to the signing of the Machakos Protocol on July 20 at the end of extensive peace talks between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement and the Government of Sudan.
Sudan Task Force
The Sudan Task Force, formed under the leadership of Assistant Administrator Roger Winter to support the Special Humanitarian Coordinator, has been an integral part of U.S. Special Envoy Danforth's missions to Sudan. USAID has played a special role in the recent negotiations and agreements, in addition to managing humanitarian and development programs in Sudan.
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