21st century
Sudan peace negotiations
The Machakos Protocol was signed on July 20, 2002, during negotiations between northern and southern Sudan. It reaffirmed unity as the preferred political status while granting the south the right of self-determination after a six-year period. The agreement was followed by a ceasefire between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in October 2002.
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The Story
The Machakos Protocol emerged from negotiations between the south and the north of Sudan after the September 11, 2001 attacks and the Sudanese government’s effort to improve relations with the United States. It was signed on July 20, 2002, as a major step in the peace process. The protocol addressed the constitutional future of Sudan rather than simply suspending military operations.
The agreement reaffirmed the priority status of unity, but it also granted the south a right of self-determination after a six-year period. This combination preserved a formal commitment to a united Sudan while acknowledging the southern population’s right to determine its political future. The arrangement created a timetable for continuing negotiations and political transition.
By October 2002, the Sudanese government and the SPLA, the armed wing of the SPLM, had agreed to a ceasefire while negotiations continued. The protocol therefore served as a foundation for a wider peace process that later produced a detailed 2005 peace agreement involving a permanent ceasefire and the sharing of wealth and power.
21st century
Sudan peace negotiations
The Machakos Protocol was signed on July 20, 2002, during negotiations between northern and southern Sudan. It reaffirmed unity as the preferred political status while granting the south the right of self-determination after a six-year period. The agreement was followed by a ceasefire between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in October 2002.
Continue exploring
The Story
The Machakos Protocol emerged from negotiations between the south and the north of Sudan after the September 11, 2001 attacks and the Sudanese government’s effort to improve relations with the United States. It was signed on July 20, 2002, as a major step in the peace process. The protocol addressed the constitutional future of Sudan rather than simply suspending military operations.
The agreement reaffirmed the priority status of unity, but it also granted the south a right of self-determination after a six-year period. This combination preserved a formal commitment to a united Sudan while acknowledging the southern population’s right to determine its political future. The arrangement created a timetable for continuing negotiations and political transition.
By October 2002, the Sudanese government and the SPLA, the armed wing of the SPLM, had agreed to a ceasefire while negotiations continued. The protocol therefore served as a foundation for a wider peace process that later produced a detailed 2005 peace agreement involving a permanent ceasefire and the sharing of wealth and power.