Sudan agreement with rebels after 19 years of conflict
Sudan, Politics, 7/22/2002

It might be early to talk about ultimate settlement of the crisis in southern Sudan. A crisis which was converted into a civil war that claimed the life of more than one million Sudanese. However, what was declared and achieved on Sunday was a very important agreement that expected to end 19 years of conflict and put an end to the question of rebellion in Southern Sudan as well as furnishing for solving all problems of this part of Sudan.

The Sudanese official radio which broadcast the news, stressed that the two delegations of the Sudanese government and the rebels reached an understanding concerning basic issues pertinent to the status of Islam and Southern Sudan's right to self- determination. This was in conclusion of talks started in Nairobi since five weeks with the aim of ending the civil war in Southern Sudan.

A high ranking Sudanese official who took part in the negotiations considered that the understanding will encourage the foundation of a united federal Sudan. A matter which was confirmed by rebel sources.

The main issue in the agreement ( or understanding ) which was directly sponsored by IGAD and won indirect support from the UN is to separate the religion from the state in Sudan, which means giving southern Sudan the right to self- determination to Sudan following a 6- year provisional period, according to Um Durman radio which for the first time described the rebels as the "People's Army For the Liberation of Sudan." Quite different from all previous negotiations held between al-Khartoum and the rebels since the launching of IGAD's initiative, nine years ago, the recent talks between Sudan and the rebels were held under the auspices of the USA.

As the Kenyan President Daniel Arab Moi asked to meet with the chairmen of the Sudanese government and the rebels delegations to get from them an official commitment to halt all acts of fighting, ultimately, Khartoum started to materialize the agreement and to this effect the Sudanese ruling National Congress party approved the agreement with the rebels in an extraordinary session chaired by President Omar Hassan al-Bashir. The Sudanese Party leadership council assigned the Sudanese negotiating team led by presidential advisor Qutbi al-Mahdi to discuss the implementation of the agreement.

Meantime, the Sudanese al-Anbaa ( news) official daily said that important decisions will be taken in the few coming days, including desolving all legislative councils in the 26 Sudanese states and asking the elections general commission to prepare for new elections in these states in October this year.

The paper added that a presidential decision will be taken shortly for the foundation of a Senate that enjoys large scale authorities and composed of the allied parties in the government, in addition to independent figures and that a limited ministerial reshuffle will be shortly made with the aim to permit the participation of the "separatist group" in the government. The agreement- understanding which was signed by the Bashir government with the rebels, following a bloody conflict, which fatigued the Sudanese economy and its infrastructure; is basically built on and inspired from the national program spirit which the Bashir government seems determinant to implement in collaboration with the group split from the Umma party in order to develop the country and modernize its establishments. A program, which in one of its components, states the foundation of a democratic state in which citizenship is the base for rights and duties.

Since the eruption of the conflict in 1983 because of the decision taken by the former Sudanese President Jaafar al-Numeiri to apply the rules of the Islamic Sharia on all parts of Sudan, the successive Sudanese governments signed several agreements which were not successful. However, this recent agreement seems to have the potentials for success because it has become aware of the real roots of the crisis and resulted in the context of a realistic policy, the Sudanese President al-Bashir tries to implement in the country in compliance with the higher interests of the Sudanese people, regardless to their affinities.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Anbaa: Sudan government and Umma separatists reach agreement   (7/19/2002)
  Sudanese army overtakes rebel base   (7/18/2002)
  Al-Bashir: Sudan's government to include opposition   (7/17/2002)

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