Khartoum signs wealth-sharing agreement with the southern rebels
Sudan, Politics, 1/8/2004

The Sudanese government and the southern rebels signed yesterday, at Kenya's resort of Nivasha, an agreement on wealth sharing in Sudan.

The agreement was described as a new and important step to end two decades of civil war. A Sudanese official indicated that this matter requires drawing a complementary budget to execute the conditions of the new agreement.

Following the signing ceremony, the first Sudanese Vice President Ali Othman Muhammad Taha said that this agreement means the "end of the long chapter of the civil war," noting that the agreement confirms the sincere desire of the government to realize of a just and comprehensive peace in Sudan.

Taha stressed the determination of the government to proceed forward in the negotiations, until a just and comprehensive peace is achieved. He extended thanks to all sides which helped to achieve this agreement, and called on all sides to take part in rebuilding of Sudan as a whole, so as all the Sudanese would enjoy peace and prosperity.

The chairman of southern rebels (Sudan People Liberation Army), John Garang, welcomed the agreement, and said a new chapter in Sudan's history will start. He extended thanks to the international community, the UN, IGAD and the Kenyan government for the efforts made to facilitate reaching this agreement.

The signing ceremony was attended by the Sudanese finance minister, al-Zubeir Ahmad Hassan, and the minister of energy, Awad Ahmad al-Jaaz. It was also attended by the Kenyan foreign minister, Norway international coooperation minister, Hilda Johnson, and the Kenyan peace negotiator.

The agreement calls for sharing oil revenues of the south equally between the government of the southern region. Oil producing districts get 2% of oil revenues, while non-oil revenues from the south, like customs fees and taxation are shared at a rate of 50% for each side.

The spokesman for the Sudanese delegation, Sayed al- Khatib, said earlier in the day that it is agreed to have a unified monetary authority, noting that the central bank of Sudan will open a branch in the south to facilitate banking there. It was also agreed to found a fund for rebuilding the south, and another one to rebuild devastated areas.

Al-Khatib added that the two delegations intend to stay in Kenya to discuss the issue of sharing authority, and the fate of the three areas known as "margined area". They are Eibi, al-Nouba mountain and the south of the blue Nile, stressing that the wealth sharing agreement gave an impetus to other agreements.

Previous Stories:
  Sudanese agreement on wealth- sharing to be signed today   (1/7/2004)
  Khartoum deters attack rebells in Darfour;: Sudanese postpone wealth- share agreement   (1/6/2004)
  Sudanese peace talks resumed after a short suspension   (1/3/2004)

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