We welcome the stability brought by the East Sudan Peace Agreement (ESPA) of 14 October 2006 between the Government of Sudan and the Eastern Front. We urge both sides to speed up implementation to ensure lasting peace and security in eastern Sudan.
Although some of the deadlines in Appendix A of the ESP A have been missed, implementation is now progressing. The Government of Sudan has appointed Eastern Front representatives as Assistant to the President, Presidential Adviser and Minister of State, who should take up their positions shortly. In June 2006, eight government members of the National Parliament resigned to make way for the Eastern Front Members of Parliament. Eastern Front representatives have also been appointed to state government.
The State of Emergency in eastern Sudan has been lifted and the cease-fire holds. About 3,500 Eritrea-based Eastern Front troops have returned to eastern Sudan since June and registration to integrate 1,200-1,500 Eastern Front troops into the Sudanese armed forces and police is well under way. The UN Development Programme is working closely on this with the Government of Sudan on the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of all other Eastern Front troops.
The UK provides funding to the National Multi Donor Trust Fund for Sudan, which funds development activities in eastern Sudan, one of the poorest parts of the country.