An historic treaty was signed on Friday 19th November 2004 when Sudan’s Khartoum government and southern rebels signed an agreement. The treaty set December 31st 2004 as the date which will be the deadline to end Sudan’s 21-year civil war. The pledge was signed with 15 UN Security Council ambassador witnesses, and was promoted as the “first step towards ending the longest civil war in Africa.”

However, Christian and humanitarian leaders gave a stark warning to politicians not to celebrate prematurely, and to remember the devastating genocide in Darfur which is still ongoing.

Tony Kireopoulos, associate general secretary for international affair and peace for the National Council of Churches said, “We hope that the treaty works, but we have concerns as well. Peace agreements have been initiated before; the Khartoum government and rebels have come together to say they will come to peace, but they never worked through before.”

Southern Sudan erupted into violence in 1983 when Sudan’s Khartoum government tried to impose Islamic laws over the entire country. Retaliation resulted from African and Christian rebels from the south, and the fighting has been continuous and brutal for the past 21 years. The consequences on the conflict have been that approximately 1.5 million Sudanese have died.

The small flickering light of peace came in 2002, when International peace-making bodies stepped forward. This led to the Khartoum government signing six preliminary protocols in coordination with the southern rebels to form a coalition government, which decentralised the power of the country, and ensured that oil revenues were shared.

The main negotiators of the two warring groups, Sudanese Vice-President, Ali Osman Taha, and southern rebel leader, John Garang made many similar failed “peace treaties” since that time. However, this time the outcome may be brighter, since the two groups signed the treaty before the Security Council.

In support of the agreement the UN Security Council adopted a resolution which promised that political and economic support would be given once the treaty is followed through with, and the war ended.

The resolution also stated that it would consider “appropriate” actions if Sudan did not follow the treaty and the commitments that it imposes to each party. Associated Press called this “an oblique threat of sanctions but weaker wording than in previous resolutions.”

American Ambassador to Sudan, John Danforth said to Taha and Garang: “It’s up to you to prove the naysayers and sceptics wrong. The violence and atrocities being perpetrated must end now. You have heard this message clearly from the Security Council – heed it.”

The speech by Danforth was also referring to the separate conflict taking place in western Sudan, where militias backed by the government have been slaughtering, raping and pillaging innocent Africans by the millions, in what has been labelled by US government officials and Christian humanitarian groups as “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing”.

The new treaty offers renewed hope to the devastated region of Africa, but Christian leaders have stated that it must be ensured that this is more then just a “trail of weak resolutions”.

Amnesty International regional director, Caroline Nursey said, “From New York to Nairobi, a trail of weak resolutions on Darfur has led to nowhere.”

Human Rights Watch representative, Jerema Rome said it was feared that Sudan “will take this resolution as a blank check to continue its persecution of the civilian population in Darfur.”

United Methodist Committee on Relief assistant general secretary, Kristin Sachen said, “I think the situation in Darfur is so serious and good faith has not been shown to date. The government just has not been responsive.”

Despite calling Darfur the “humanitarian crisis of the age”, Sachen said she hoped the treaty may open up an urgently needed window for peace in the region.

Sachen said, “My hope is that this is a real opportunity to step forward and do the right thing.”

Kireopoulos who met with UN General Secretary Kofi Annan said, “The NCC hopes that peace can finally be achieved.”

He continued, “There are many difficulties yet to be overcome, including the genocide in Darfur. But we hope that the parties will indeed make a final peace in the south because that’s central to peace in the entire country.”

He concluded, “As Christians we must have hope...and monitor the victims that are suffering. I think along with all people, we have great concerns that peace may not be achieved by the end of the year, but we should still try to work till the end.”

Many hope that if the current peace treaty is successful it could indeed act as a blueprint to bring peace to the devastated region of Darfur.

The peace treaty was signed at the extraordinary general meeting of the UN Security Council, which was held in Nairobi, Kenya, and signalled the first time that the Council had met outside its New York home for fourteen years.