Khartoum, southern rebels sign the last protocols; Sudan: the peace agreement is ready
Sudan, Politics, 5/27/2004

Negotiators of the Sudanese government and the southen rebels (the Sudan's people liberation army) yesterday removed the last obstacles before signing a historical peace agreement that end the conflict continuous since 21 years in southern Sudan.

This, however, was by signing three protocols pertaining to sharing authority and the three areas under conflict in al-Nouba mountains and the Blue Nile province and Eibi.

The Sudanese President first deputy Ali Othman Taha and commander of the people's army for the liberation of Sudan, John Garang, in the presence of Kenyan and foreign officials signed the three protocols. However, work will continue for certain procedural steps to end the longest conflict in Africa. But it might take months to decide whether the diplomatic solution will materialize peace on the ground, as there are several officers in the Sudanese army and certain rebel groups that can not be controlled by the two sides.

Before the signing ceremony, the spokesman for the US Department Of State, Richard Boucher, that the US secretary of state talked by telephone with Garang and got guarantees from him to eliminate the differences and sign the agreement.

Boucher said that signing the peace agreement will launch a process for normalizing relations with Khartoum if it will meet certain conditions. Main negotiator Lazaros Sombyo said that "this is not the final phase of the peace process but was one of the big steps."

One Sudanese official said that it was agreed that in Northern Sudan that the government and the northern groups will have 70% of the posts in the establishments and 30% for the southern, while in the south the principle is implemented the other way round, which means 70% for the southerners and 30% for the northerners.

John Doko one of the rebel leaders said that in the three areas under conflict, it was agreed that the government and the northern groups will get 55% of the posts and the others for the southern people. He continued that in the oil rich area the matter will be left for people who will decide affiliation to be for the north or the south. He added that Khartoum will implement the Islamic Sharia but with offering privileges for non Muslims.

The UN secretary general Kofi Annan welcomed " this development" and considered it as " a big stride forward." A spokesman for him said that the " UN is ready to contribute to the efforts to be made by the international group to help in reaching a peace agreement."

Previous Stories:
  Kenya announces removing of obstacles before an inter- Sudanese peace agreement   (5/26/2004)
  Sudanese, Egyptian intellectuals warn against north- south separation   (5/26/2004)
  Khartoum accuses Darfour rebellions of violating the cease fire   (5/25/2004)

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