The peace process, which took place at a time of heightened tension, was critical to stabilizing East Africa. Sudan's government had been accused of supporting the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a rebel group waging an insurgency against Uganda.
Meanwhile, Uganda backed the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) in Sudan's ongoing civil war.
For Sudan, the peace talks were an opportunity to improve its international standing. After being designated a terrorist state by the U.S. in 1993, due to alleged ties to Osama bin Laden and the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, Sudan's leaders sought to repair their global reputation.
They turned to Jimmy Carter, hoping his influence could help alter U.S. policy toward Sudan.
On the Ugandan side, President Yoweri Museveni faced increasing military and economic pressures. His government was dealing with multiple insurgencies and struggling to meet World Bank demands to reduce military spending.
Museveni saw the peace process as an opportunity to stabilize the region and reallocate resources to other critical conflicts, including the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Carter's involvement was grounded in years of prior engagement with Sudan. As early as 1995, he had brokered a ceasefire between warring factions in Sudan to allow for humanitarian aid.
His deep understanding of the region's complexities positioned him as the ideal mediator for the Uganda-Sudan peace talks.
By 1999, both Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and Ugandan President Museveni agreed to invite Carter to mediate the negotiations. Despite the challenges posed by Museveni's support for the SPLA, Carter believed that improved relations between Sudan and Uganda could create a foundation for broader regional peace.
His strategy involved engaging not just the governments but also armed groups like the SPLA and LRA, aiming to address the root causes of the conflict.
A significant challenge was Joseph Kony, leader of the LRA. Carter's attempts to bring Kony to the table faltered, and efforts to arrange meetings between Kony and his parents as a trust-building gesture ended in failure.
Nevertheless, Carter's persistence and diplomacy proved effective. In December 1999, his efforts culminated in the Nairobi Agreement, signed by Bashir and Museveni in the presence of Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi.
The agreement called for both countries to cease support for each other's rebel groups, improve the treatment of refugees, and restore full diplomatic ties.
Carter's use of the 'single document approach,' which he had previously applied at Camp David, ensured that both parties felt ownership of the agreement. The success of the Nairobi Agreement was a rare moment of cooperation in a region plagued by mistrust and conflict.
Carter's work in Sudan and Uganda highlights his lifelong commitment to peace. His ability to bridge divides and foster trust between warring nations left a lasting legacy in East Africa.
He is survived by his four children, 11 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren, and his legacy continues to inspire those who work toward peace and human rights.
The world has paid tribute to Carter, with U.S. President Joe Biden praising him as a leader whose life was measured not by words, but by deeds.
Sam K Nkurunziza
