Nuba Vision

Volume 2, Issue 3, April 2003

Nuba Survival Advocacy in North America

After the presentation at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre For Scholar on 28th February , Suleiman went to meet the Sub-Committee for Africa Affairs (The Black Caucus) at The House of Representatives and later the Senate Sub-Committee for Africa. He gave a short account about the situation in the Nuba Mountains after one-year Nuba cease-fire agreement. This cease-fire agreement had made some impact particularly as far as the security and the free movement of the civilians are concerned. There were discussions on IGAD peace talks and the issue of the Nuba Mountains. The position of the Nuba was stated with the emphasis on Nuba Mountains being administered separately form both GoS and SPLA during the six-year interim period, and the desire for the transformation of the Nuba cease-fire agreement into peace through development. This will allow Nuba displaced in the Northern and Southern parts of the country to return home and contribute in the development and peace resolution. Nuba demand the right to self-determination leading to self-governing. They demand strong representation at the peace talks in Kenya, as was recommended by the Nuba at the Kampala conference. Both meetings ended with some good understanding to the Nuba problems and the Congressmen showed their concern to the Nuba Issue and to Sudan’s conflict.

On 4th March 2003 we had a meeting with Ambassador Michael Runneberger, Special Advisor on Sudan and his team at the State Department. Suleiman Made a briefing on the latest situation in the Nuba Mountains. Among the issues discussed were the political future of the Nuba with reference to "Machakos Protocol" and the current talks in Kenya on the three contested areas. There were discussions on Burgenstock Cease-fire Agreement for the Nuba Mountains, the humanitarian assistance and the displaced Nuba in the Northern Sudan, who voluntarily would like to return home but need help. Ambassador Runneberger repeated what he had already said at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars that the Nuba are central to the resolution of the conflict and their issue must be resolved otherwise there can be no solution to the conflict in the Sudan. Any peace agreement reached whether in IGAD or outside IGAD for the three areas will be included in the final peace agreement.

On 6th March a meeting with Matthew McLean, National Security Staff, Director for African at The White House. It was a good meeting because Matthew has been with Senator Danforth on his most recent trips to Sudan and to the Nuba Mountains. The meeting started with a short briefing on the situation in the Nuba Mountains by Suleiman and followed by a discussion on the Sudan peace process in Kenya with emphasis on the Nuba issue and what the Nuba want form the Government of the United States in order to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Nuba Mountains as well as for the whole country. Mathew explained that their policy is to get peace for Sudan and that the peace agreement be signed. However, he was not so sure whether the parties have a desire for peace and he is also confused about their intentions. He recognized that the South will have the right to vote and be independent. However, he would rather see a unified country.  He is against independence for separate states and he believes that after the peace agreement is signed that the people at the election will be able to chose whom they want. The US Government asks what should they do and what provisions they can include to represent or protect the Nuba people?. There may be opportunities for the Nuba to represent themselves.

On 7th March there was a meeting with Roger Winter and his team at USAID Head Office. Suleiman started with briefing and explanation on the situation Nuba Mountains and then went on to discuss the current peace talks and the Nuba views and position. Also discussed was on the need for strong Nuba representation at the peace talks in Kenya there was discussion on humanitarian assistance and the need to help thousands of displaced Nuba living in the outskirts of Khartoum who want to return voluntarily to their homes in the Nuba Mountains.

On his arrival to Ottawa Airport on 9th March 2003 Suleiman was met by the members of NDA Executive Committee, who organized advocacy program for Nuba Survival in Ottawa.

On 9th March 2003 a meeting was arranged for Suleiman to meet Nuba community residing in Ottawa. He briefed them about the current political situation and his meetings at the USA. He also discussed with them many issues including the on-going peace talks in Kenya to settle the issue of the three areas central to the conflict (Nuba Mountains, Southern Blue Nile and Abyei.) and also about Nuba representation in the peace talks with reference to Kampala conference. Also we discussed other issues such as what Nuba in Disapora should do to help the people in the Nuba Mountains and the Nuba cause.

On 10th March 2003 a meeting was arranged with Professor Vern Neufeld Redekop, Dean Faculty of Human Science and Director of Program Development in Conflict Studies. Suleiman gave a brief account on the Nuba history and the conflict. Also made a briefing on his recent visit to U.S.A. There were discussions on issues, such as Nuba cease-fire agreement, current development on Sudan peace talks in Kenya and the Nuba issue. We appealed for their support for the Nuba people to achieve a just and lasting peace. We requested if the St. Paul University could grant Nuba scholars to attend courses in leadership, peace building and conflict resolution.

On 10th March 2003 meeting with Canadian (Ottawa) Diocese. Suleiman briefed them on the peace talks in Kenya, about his visit to the USA and humanitarian situation in the Nuba Mountains. Most of the discussions were about the peace talks in Kenya, particularly about the issue of the three contested areas. We asked for humanitarian assistance to the Nuba people and also for assisting in resettlement of tenth of thousands Nuba living in the outskirts of major cities in Northern Sudan, who are voluntary want to return to their homes in the Nuba Mountains. Further request was made to put pressure on the Sudanese Government to recognize the rights of the Nuba in the peace talks. The Diocese promise to do whatever they can to help the people of the Nuba Mountains.

On 11th March 2003 Suleiman met Southern Sudanese leaders living in Ottawa and he briefed them about his mission to US and also discussed with them the Nuba position as far as IGAD peace talks in Kenya are concerned. In fact we had a very constructive discussions, on many issues, a lot of questions were raised. We agreed on many issues, but differed on one issue, which was the interim period, where the Nuba wanted to be administered separately from the North and South. The Nuba and the people of Southern Sudan have had a good relation for many years, which we hope will continue.

On 12th March 2003 meeting with Sudanese community in Ottawa and before the talks a film made by Arthur Howes on Nuba, titled "Nuba Conversations" was shown. After the film Suleiman gave a briefing about his visit to US and about the current political development in the Sudan and IGAD peace process. He explained Nuba position as far as Machakos Protocol is concerned. This obviously generated a lot of debate among the participants and in fact many questions were raised. The communities were pleased with the meeting, they felt they had been presented with vital information, they would like to see other people, particularly from NDA to come to Canada to do the same.

On 14th Mach 2003 there was a meeting with Beja representative in Ottawa . We discussed many issues, including the relationship between marginalized areas. We believe that the people from the marginalised areas should come together to face the challenges. Machakos Protocol did not take on board the issues of the marginalised areas, who have suffered enormously from injustices, marginalisation and discrimination.