Garang for forming a joint force during the transitional period
Sudan, Politics, 9/15/2003

A source close to the negotiations currently taking place in Kenya between the Sudanese authorities and the southern rebels said that the rebels proposed on Sunday to establish a joint armed forces -- beside their forces and the government's army -- during the transitional period which will last for 6 years, according to a previous agreement.

One of the participants which asked to be anonymous said that the "south persists to form a joint force to be a nucleus for the coming national army in case a peace agreement is reached and the country remains united."

The source added that the southern rebels also proposed that Khartoum is to keep its army in the north and the rebels in the south during the transitional period. The source added "only the joint force will be permitted to work simultaneously in the south and the north." News reports in Kenya said that the differences concentrate on issues relating to security arrangements, redeployment of the military forces in the south and the share of each side of these forces in these areas.

Khartoum and the rebels in July 2002 in Kenya signed an agreement to offer the southern areas a self rule period lasting for 6 years by the end of which a referendum is organized on self - determination will be held. However, this agreement has not come into efect and a final peace agreement was not reached although several rounds of negotiations were made.

On Sunday, the Sudanese Vice President Ali Othman Taha and the leader of the southern rebels John Garang started their 11 days of negotiations in Nivasha, 80 Km to the northern west of Nairobi.

Well-informed sources ruled out the failure of the current negotiations, noting that in case points of disagreement are not eliminated, it will be agreed to continue negotiations at the same representation level, in a later phase.

Previous Stories:
  Uganda accuses Sudan of supporting north's rebels   (9/13/2003)
  Inter- Sudanese talks stumble because of two sides' stubbornness   (9/13/2003)
  Security arrangements obstruct progress in Sudanese peace talks   (9/12/2003)

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