Koka Dam Declaration
1. On the basis of experience of the past years making up the post-independence period, and
mindful of the heroic achievements of our people in their continuous mass political and armed
struggle against all forms of injustice, oppression and tyranny; a struggle which as expressed in
the course of two (2) decades through two (2) great revolutions,
And rejecting all forms of dictatorships and absolutely committed to the democratic option,
And out of the conviction that it is necessary to create a New Sudan in which the Sudanese
individual enjoys absolute freedom from the shackles of injustice, ignorance and disease in
addition to enjoying the benefits of real democratic life; a New Sudan that would be free from
racism, tribalism, sectarianism and all causes of discrimination and disparity,
And genuinely endeavouring to stop the bloodshed resulting from the war in Sudan,
And fully aware that the process leading to formation of a New Sudan should begin by the
convening of a National Constitutional Conference,
And in the firm belief that the propositions put forward and herein spelled out by the Sudan
People’s Liberation Movement and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLM/SPLA) and
the National Alliance for the National Salvation as essential prerequisites for convening the said
Constitutional Conference do constitute a sound basis for the launching of such a process.
2. The delegation of the National Alliance for National Salvation and that of the SPLM/SPLA,
both of whom shall herein-after be together referred to as “the two sides”, agree that essential
prerequisites which would foster an atmosphere conducive to the holding of the proposed
national Constitutional Conference are:
a) A declaration by all political forces and the government of the day of their commitment
to discuss the Basic Problems of Sudan and not the so-called problem of southern
Sudan and that shall he in accordance with the Agenda agreed upon in this Declaration.
b) The lifting of the State of Emergency.
c) Repeal of the “September 1983 Laws” and all other laws that are restrictive of
freedoms.
d) Adoption of the 1956 Constitution as amended in 1964 with incorporation of “Regional
Government” and all other such matters on which a consensus opinion of all the political
forces shall be reached.
e) The abrogation of the military pacts concluded between Sudan and other countries and
which impinge on Sudan’s National Sovereignty.
f) A continuous endeavour by the two sides to take the necessary steps and measures to
effect a cease-fire.
3. The SPLM/SPLA believes that a public commitment by all the political forces and the
government of the day, that the said government shall dissolve itself and to be replaced by a
New Interim government of National Unity representing all the political forces including the
SPLA/SPLM and the Armed Forces as shall be agreed upon at the proposed conference, is an
essential prerequisite for convening the proposed Constitutional Conference. Consequently the
two sides have agreed to defer the matter for further discussions in the near future.
4. The two sides have agreed that the proposed Constitutional Conference shall be held under
the banner of peace, justice, equality and democracy. They have further agreed that the agenda
for the conference should comprise the following:
i) a. The Nationalities Question. b. The Religious Question. c. Basic Human Rights. d. The
System of Rule. e. Development and Uneven-development. f. Natural Resources. g.
The Regular Forces and Security Arrangements. h. The Cultural Question, Education
and the Mass Media. i. Foreign Policy.
ii) The two sides have agreed that the above agenda does not in any way purport to be
exhaustive.
5. The two sides have provisionally agreed that the proposed Constitutional Conference shall be
held in Khartoum during the third week of June 1986, to be preceded by preliminary meetings,
and that the Conference shall actually be held after the government of the day provides and
declares the necessary security arrangements and the necessary conducive atmosphere.
6. Mindful of the need for regular consultations with one another, the two sides have agreed to
set up a joint liaison committee comprising five members from each side.
The two sides have further agreed that Wednesday, May 7, 1986 shall be the date for
conducting the committee’s first meeting which shall take place in Addis Ababa.
7. This “Declaration” is issued in both English and Arabic. The two sides have agreed that the
English text of the same shall be the “Original” and in the event of any discrepancy, it shall
prevail over its Arabic equivalent.
8. Having issued this “Declaration” the two sides appeal to the Sudanese people as represented
in their various political parties, Trade Unions and Associations to work earnestly for the
realisation of the objectives of this “Declaration”.
