Parties: Government of Sudan; South Sudan Independence Movement (SSIM/A); Sudan People Liberation Movement–Bahrel Ghazal Group (SPLM–BGG)
Type: Intra-state
The Parties to the 1996 Political Charter pledged to put an end to the ongoing civil war in the Sudan, and agreed on the following provisions: to resolve the conflict in the Sudan through peaceful and political means; to preserve the unity of Sudan; at the end of the interim period, to enable a referendum by the people of the southern Sudan to determine their political aspirations; to ensure participatory democracy and a federal system; to ensure citizenship as the basis for rights and duties; to enable Sharia and customary law as sources for legislation, but with states having complementary legislative powers; to recognise cultural diversity; to ensure freedom of religion and belief; to ensure social development; and to ensure equitable sharing of power and national wealth. The Parties agreed to the establishment of a coordinating council between the Southern States for better implementation of the Agreement, and to work together for improvement of living conditions in the war-affected areas. The Parties agreed that Sudanese in general and Southerners in particular would be mobilised to rally behind and support the subsequent peace agreement.
