On this day 20 years ago, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) then led by Dr. John Garang De Mabior and the Sudanese government of Omer El Bashir signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) to end 21 years of devastating civil war.

The SPLM, through former leader pledged to rebuild the war-devastated South Sudan using the abundant natural resources including oil wealth.

The southern guerilla movement had negotiated with the Sudanese government six protocols that formed the basis of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, or CPA.

These protocols promised to change the system of governance that marginalised parts of the country and provide basic services and improve lives across the Sudan.

It gave the government in the south the autonomous powers to control oil revenue produced in its territories and seek further external funding for development.

In his famous address in Nairobi, Kenya on January 9, 2005, Dr. John Garang pledged that the SPLM would use wealth in diversity as a source of national cohesion and strength.

He stressed that the SPLM would implement social, political, and economic development strategies and programs that include using oil money to strengthen agriculture as the engine of growth.

The ruling party also pledged to take towns to the people in the countryside through rural small-town planning and rural electrification.

Addressing Sudanese communities in Washington DC after signing the comprehensive peace agreement in 2005, the late Dr. Garang said SPLM would initiate development programs using the existing resources the country has to develop.

Dr. Garang added that the SPLM would not use the experience of other countries to “build consumer society”.

However, two years after the independence, South Sudan descended into a civil war.

On the 19th anniversary of the historic day, some South Sudanese citizens said the ruling class has failed to achieve any of the promises made in 2005.

They called on the transitional government to implement the vision of Dr. Garang to make agriculture an engine of the economy.

The CPA is built on and includes a collection of documents negotiated and signed over two years.