For over five (5) decades; Sudan has been ravaged by civil wars. 2.5 million lives have been claimed only by the two decade civil war between the Southern Sudan military factions led by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement / Army (SPLM/A) and 4 million displaced, the 2 year conflict in the Western Sudan, Darfur region has claimed at least over 300,000 lives and displace over 2.5 internally and to neighboring countries since February 2003. Since February 2003, from one rebel movement, there are now over 9 different rebel movements with different demands which means in this region if the expected good becomes shadowed, what was termed by the United Nations as the 'world's worst humanitarian disaster' early 2004, and by the UN Secretary-General as 'Hell on Earth' for Dafurians could become more disastrous and the death and displacement of civilians will rise at a very high scale. All these rebel movements in then the south Sudan, now in western Sudan and eastern Sudan all fought and now fighting against Political, social, socio-economic, economic marginalization by centralized power by minority clique in Khartoum since 1955.

However; the international community (AU, UN, EU and the peace mediators) now in Abuja, Nigeria and Cairo, Egypt have been and are pressurizing both the government and the rebels and opposition parties to come to political settlements. In July 2002 the SPLM/A with the government of Sudan came around the table to sort out and compromise their differences, over 2 years later the GoS and the SPLM/A marked a historic moment in the Nyayo Stadium in Kenya on the 09^th January 2005 after signing/sealing the Comprehensive Peace Pact which was witnessed by at least 30 head of states, former head of states and other international bodies such as the UN, EU and the AU. This day was celebrated across the world by Sudanese and non Sudanese.

On Saturday 19^th February 2005, at Fountain Valley, Shelter-Willgers II Lapa, in Pretoria, South Africa, the Sudanese community in South Africa also marked this day in gathering, celebration and jubilation.

The gathering and celebration was sponsored and organized by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the Sudanese Refugee Association in South Africa, Sudanese in Gauteng and Youth Community Development Agency-South Sudan and was attended and opened by Sudanese Refugee Association in South Africa, Chairperson; Mr. V.M. Madut and Sudanese in Gauteng, Acting Chairperson; Dr. Bashir Osman after which the Sudan State Minister of Labor and Reform; Mr. Tajesir Mahguob made remarks on the negotiations in Naivahsa as he was very closely representing his government in the negotiations and also made remarks on current government efforts on devastated Darfur, Sudan State Ambassador to Ethiopia and African Union; Mr. Abuzeid El Hassan welcomed and supported all remarks made by the Mr. Mahguob, Sudan State Ambassador to South Africa; Mr. Kuol Alor made remarks on new approaches proposed by the SRASA, SG and YCDA-SS; to unite the two Sudanese communities (Southern Sudanese and Northern Sudanese communities) to a one unified "Sudanese Community", Sudan State Deputy Ambassador to South Africa also welcomed all remarks made and all diplomats of the Sudan mission to Republic of South Africa also attended this day, United Nation High Commission for Refugees, Regional Representative in South Africa; Ms. Bemma Donkoh made remarks on their program on voluntary repatriation of Sudanese Refugees registered with their offices in South Africa, and some members of the UNHCR, and the Lawyers for Human Rights were also present.

It was a day to remember in the history of war, peace, unity and reconciliation of Sudanese in Sudan and in exile. This day was a very unusual and unique day to Sudanese, in south Africa in particular as there has never in the history of the Sudanese (Southern and Northern Sudanese) in South Africa come together and share shelter, drink, food and laughter as one Sudanese people.

And that is why we wish to pass this massage to the local south African community and the world at large of this memorable day in the society of Sudanese that they also may understand what the Sudanese have been going through for all these decades that as Africans they may join hands with us in a successful implementation of the agreed upon protocols between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement / Army and GoS and agreements foreseen between the GoS and the other political movements in the western (SLM and JEM) and eastern (Beja Congress and NDA) of Sudan. We also would like to take this opportunity to join and support and second the proposal of the Human Rights First, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies and the Darfur Consortium (made of over 40 mainly Africa human rights NGOs which the SRASA is member), that 'the matter of Darfur be referred to the International Criminal Court-ICC immediately' should the situation in Darfur continue deteriorating.

Contact

ycda_ssudan@yahoo.com

SRWASA: +2772 273 0572. SG: +2773 203 0820. YCDA-SS: +2772 890 5680