Speech by His Excellency Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, First Vice-President of the Republic of the Sudan

Sudan Donors' Conference

Oslo, Norway, 11 April 2005

Mr Chairman, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen:

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in January 2005 was a historic event. It ended decades of conflict within Sudan, a conflict which essentially predated Sudan's independence in 1956. That we are gathered here today in Oslo is a reflection that Sudan would not be at peace today without the long-standing dedication of our many friends and partners within the international community. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Government of Norway in particular for hosting this vital meeting. Successful post-conflict peace-building has two crucial requirements, the financing of reconstruction within a framework of careful planning. This conference combines both.

The Government of Sudan reaffirms its total and absolute commitment to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. We hope that when future generations look back on this peace agreement they will be able to see it as doubly historic. We hope that the ending of Africa's longest-running civil war will be seen as a watershed not just for Sudan but for the African continent. We hope that the model of political devolution,   power-sharing and wealth-sharing at the heart of the peace agreement will assist others facing similar problems. We also hope that the post-war peace-building and reconstruction within Sudan will also serve as an example to other countries caught up in civil conflict.

The international community has a chance to lay the foundations for lasting prosperity and peace in Sudan.

Sudan is at a crossroads. Sudan has hitherto been caught up in a vicious circle. There can be no development without peace and there can be no peace without development. We must break this cycle once and for all. The reality is that Sudan began from a poor starting point in 1956. Several decades of conflict have further badly damaged our developmental and economic potential. Along with much of Africa, Sudan was also caught up in the politics of the Cold War.  

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement is a crucial and remarkable first step along the road towards a Sudan at peace with itself. A number of other steps have followed. The Joint Assessment Mission has developed into the Joint National Transition Team. Crucial commissions have been formed and are doing their work.

The framework of peace is in place. It has provided the Sudanese people and their many friends throughout the world with a blueprint for change and development in our country. The next phase is peace-building. Our challenge now is to add as quickly as possible to the architecture of peace in Sudan. The building materials are universal. They include political and economic empowerment and economic development - with a particular focus on technology, rural development, environmental issues, infrastructure projects, and access to health, education, affordable housing, water supply and sanitation.

Peace has brought with it many challenges in addition to demobilisation, disarmament and programs dealing with over a million refugees and displaced people. Our ultimate challenge is to meet the political aspirations and economic expectations of all Sudanese, north and south. The CPA has excited and focused these aspirations and expectations.

Some would say that the CPA is a fragile first step towards peace. We in Sudan disagree. Both the need and the will for peace are clear. Additionally, the close involvement of our friends and partners within the international community underpins the architecture of peace in our country.

The problems of Africa have been reflected in Sudan. Issues of governance, development, education, health all have their resonance. We believe, however, that the CPA provides us with the means of addressing these and other concerns. At the same time we must not underestimate the challenges that lie ahead of us.

Sudan reflects in microcosm many of Africa's trends and problems. Millions of Africans are leaving the countryside to live in towns and cities. Urbanisation, including "premature" urbanisation - that is to say urbanisation without the economic base to support it - is increasing rapidly. Some estimates state that by 2020 half of Africa's population will be living in cities. This will be reflected in Sudan. We must prepare for these realities.

A critical area in which Sudan will seek outside assistance will be in the field of capacity building. Political and economic development in Sudan is directly related to our human capital. Once again Sudan reflects African problems. The shortage of skilled professionals is an Africa-wide problem. Many of Africa's educated classes have left Africa altogether. Sudan has been particularly affected. Many tens of thousands of our best-educated sons and daughters have left Sudan to work abroad. There are thousands of Sudanese doctors and engineers working in North America, Europe, the Gulf and elsewhere. To sustain our peace and develop economically we must provide the conditions for our citizens to return back to work within their own country. A long-term programme of investment in education in Sudan, from primary school to university, is similarly essential. We must invest in teacher training, the retention of existing staff and professional development.

An educated and healthy workforce is the backbone of a successful economy. Economic growth is contingent on the quality of the national workforce.

Another significant challenge will be that of the environment and climate change. Poverty is clearly related to environmental problems such as desertification, deforestation and land degradation. Continuing warming across Africa is predicted. We have already seen the interaction between desertification and land degradation and social unrest in western Sudan. Donors must include climate change and related issues in project planning.

We are all here, at this time, in this city, at this meeting, to make a difference in history. We all have the opportunity to be party to peace not just in Sudan but throughout Africa. Sudan is Africa in microcosm. It is Africa's largest country and is situated at the very heart of the continent, astride one of Africa's most important arteries, the Nile. Sudan reflects Africa's ethnic, religious, historical, geographic and climatic diversity. It has nine neighbours, including Saudi Arabia across the Red Sea. To many this diversity has been seen as a problem. We, however, prefer to see this diversity as strengthening rather than weakening our country.

Sudan wishes to play as constructive a role as possible within our region and Africa as a whole. Sudan's economic potential is enormous. Sudan's agricultural possibilities are untapped: they have the potential of not only providing all of Sudan's food requirements but of providing for most if not the whole continent. Sudan's potential for generating energy, whether it be through oil reserves, natural gas or hydro-electricity, is equally vast. All these sectors will need considerable investment.

The importance of an innovative and growing economy is clear. The private sector will be the principle agent of this growth. Sudan provides foreign and domestic investors with the essentials for investment, including the rule of law and contract, stable economic policies and attractive and competitive investment laws.

The reality is that without economic growth Sudan will not be able to reduce poverty and poverty is a key ingredient of social discontent.

The Government of Sudan further commits itself to actively working for peace within our region and Africa. The CPA and this historic meeting come in the wake of an unprecedented interest in Africa and African issues.

The Africa Commission, chaired by Prime Minister Tony Blair, has pointed to many of the problems, opportunities and solutions for our continent. For too long now people have written Africa off as being irretrievably mired in civil war and conflict. Observers have long seen Africa as an undifferentiated whole, a continent best avoided by investors. This is the opportunity to prove them wrong.

We have a chance not only to change history in Sudan but to help change Africa and the image of Africa.

Every peace process is long-term and complex. Sudan's will be no exception. Trust cannot be forced. It must be earned, nurtured and developed. The international community's role in assisting in this is essential. You know the Sudanese well. We invite your continued advice, guidance and assistance as we move towards peace in our country.

Gathered at this meeting are those who have it in their gift to make history. Between us we have the will and the trust of the Sudanese people and the international community and the international resources needed to bring a lasting peace to Sudan and our part of Africa.

The alternative to a successful peace process in Sudan is unthinkable. The costs to Sudan and region would be enormous.

Investment in peace is not charity. It is investment in development and global security.