Washington's delegation withdraws from following Sudanese peace negotiations
Sudan-USA, Politics, 3/13/2004

The American administration has withdrawn its delegation in charge of following up the current negotiations in Nivasha to finalize a peace agreement between the Sudanese government and the southern rebels.

The delegation will brief the US President George W. Bush with latest developments of the negotiations before the meeting which will be held by the Congress, due yesterday Friday, on peace in Sudan.

This, however, came at a time when the US under secretary of state for African affairs, Charles Sender, stressed the need that the Sudanese government and the southern opposition should reach a peace agreement by the fall of next week.

Sender stressed during a special hearing session for the US congress that the Congress set next month as a final date to achieve peace in Sudan so as to avoid American sanctions against Khartoum.

On the other hand, the Sudanese governmental delegation chaired by the first deputy of the Sudanese president, Ali Othman Taha, postponed his travel which was due on Thursday for Nivasha, following the differences erupted in the Eibi area under disputes.

An official close to the Sudanese peace talks stressed that the government doubts that the rebels of southern Sudan would try to annex the oil rich Eibi area to the south in preparation to be split by the ultimate end from the north.

The official who asked to be anonymous said that the government suspects that the leadership of the people's government for the liberation of Sudan is exposed to pressures by its separatist members who raise questions on the need for a united Sudan.

He expressed his conviction that the persistence to win ( annex) the land underestimates the alleged seriousness showed by the southern rebels concerning the issue of unity.

The Sudanese official added that the government does not oppose a proposal by the rebels towards making a referendum in Eibi area, but considers that this should be made later so as not to invest oil revenues to boost the area and win the confidence of its population.

However, the Sudanese government stressed it had proposed to give Eibi a special status but with being under the Sudanese Presidency, but under the condition to make a referendum after several years, but the southern rebels refused this proposal.

According to an agreement reached earlier during the peace talks, the southern people of Sudan will be given the chance to vote in a referendum to be held within 6 years to define the future of their area. The two sides say they are committed to unity between the north and the south.

Previous Stories:
  Arab youth ministers council conclude meetings in Khartoum   (3/10/2004)
  Fighting erupts between Garang forces and al-Rabb party   (3/6/2004)
  Washington expects the conclusion of Sudan's talks before the end of the month   (3/4/2004)
  Washington expects the conclusion of Sudan's talks before the end of the month   (3/4/2004)
  Washington calls on Cairo, the AL to interfere; UN accuses Khartoum of obstructing Darfour relief aid   (2/20/2004)
  Inter- Sudanese peace talks resume; al-Turabi: US pressure does not guarantee peace   (2/18/2004)

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