Sudan federalism type and resource distribution are issues in negotiations
Sudan, Politics, 10/5/2000

Sudan has announced that negotiations which took place in Nairobi between the delegation of the Sudanese government and the rebellions led by John Garang has realized a relative progress and the two sides agreed to continue the dialogue until the end of the current month.

Sudanese minister of state Mutrif Saddiq said in a statement upon the return back of the negotiating governmental delegation from Nairobi on Tuesday evening that the fourth round of talks with the rebellions came as an extension to previous rounds and achieved a progress, adding this round is considered a success, due to the spirit which prevailed the discussions that increase the possibility of rapprochement in the view points between the two sides.

He explained, that not as usual, the Garang movement showed flexibility during this round of negotiations towards a comprehensive solution and that the Sudanese government delegation was more responsive.

Saddiq added that negotiations centered on the ruling system, the sharing of wealth, the question of religion and the state and " we have achieved a progress in certain aspects, and despite that it is not complete, but it was a step towards achieving peace and justice in Sudan."

An unresolved problem in the negotiations is the relationship to be established between the government to governorates where the government is refusing the idea of establishing a secular government and federation where the governorates will be able to establish religion as a source of legislation if they so choose. This idea was proposed by the IGAD. The government is insisting on Islam as a source of legislation.

A second Idea that is a source of contention is over who should own the resources inside each governorate with IGAD recommending that governorates keep these resources (oil in the south) instead of it being owned by the federal government.

In another development the Sudanese al- Ummah party decided to return back its leader, former prime minister al-Sadeq al-Mahdi to the country, in a way to complete the transfer of his opposition political activity to the country.

The official spokeswoman for the party Sarah Naqdullah said in a statement to the Sudanese daily al-Sahafa on Wednesday that the political bureau of the Ummah party which concluded its works on Tuesday evening had agreed unanimously on the return back of al-Mahdi according to three options: defining the date of his return back to comply with the national dialogue forum in the country or the convening of the general congress of the al-Ummah party which is scheduled on January 26 or in the coming celebrations of the national day.

Meantime, al-Ummah party has started preparations for convening its general congress in al-Khartoum and three preliminary committees were formed to this effect on the constitution, preparation and party programs.

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