4 The new Government of National Unity,
the north-south peace accord and the death of John Garang
12. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between
the GoS and the SPLM formally ended the conflict in southern Sudan.
By creating a new power-sharing Government of National Unity (GNU)
with John Garang, the leader of the SPLM, as its Vice-President,
the CPA raised the possibility that a new government in Khartoum
might signal a change in policy on Darfur. Garang was killed in
a helicopter crash in July. In public he had stressed his determination
to resolve the conflict in Darfur, but his ability to influence
government policy would have been limited, and his main focus
of concern would likely have been southern Sudan. Garang's successor,
Salva Kiir, is presumed to be less wedded to the idea of a united
Sudan but he nevertheless faces the same challenges as Garang
did. Kiir told Lord Triesman that having devoted so much energy
to the Government of National Unity his priorities now lay in
the formation of a government in the south.[25]
Speaking at Garang's funeral, he stated his resolve to find a
just solution for Darfur[26].
But despite his intentions, he is likely to be in a weaker position
to influence government policy than Garang, and in any case Darfur
is not his main priority.
25 Q24 Back
26
Crisis Group, Garang's death: Implications for peace in Sudan,
9 August 2005,p8 ff Back
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