The Politics of Implementing Peace Across the North-South Divide in Sudan.

In December 2004, under the auspices of IGAD and the international community, a negotiated settlement was signed in Sudan, putting what is hoped to be an end to nearly two decades of fighting. The bitter struggle over Sudan?s cultural identity has nearly destroyed the country and threatened to destabilize the region as southern Sudanese fought against the Arabized north for an equal stake in the political system and an equitable share of the nation?s resources. While the Sudan case appears to be an example of successful third party intervention, it is difficult at this stage to determine whether the recent negotiation process will result in the implementation of peace in Sudan. The parties and the IGAD Partners Forum have too much invested in the process to abandon it, but the crisis in Darfur as well as tensions among civil society are threatening to derail the implementation of the agreement. In order for long-term peace to result, there are many obstacles that still must be overcome. If the agreement is strong enough, then there will be sufficient guarantees to see it through. What will be crucial in determining whether the peace holds, and an issue which has not been a significant enough focus of the intervention strategy, will be the efficacy of an enforcement measure. But, doubts remain that the Sudanese government is seriously committed to peace. Given the history of conflict that has plagued post-independence Sudan, it would not take much to breed a renewal of violence in the country.The purpose of this paper is threefold: first, to systematically examine the strategic interaction between outside groups and local actors in negotiating peace; second, to conduct a detailed study of the challenges of implementing peace in a protracted conflict; and third, to consider the policy implications of my analysis for long-term peacebuilding in Sudan. My research draws on archival and primary source data, including interviews conducted in Kenya (the site of the negotiations) and Washington, D.C. with key participants in the negotiation and implementation processes. ..PAT.-Conference Proceeding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]