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Sudan: Breakthrough in peace talks
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You are posting a comment or a review on the topic "Sudan: Breakthrough in peace talks." Author information is available below. Scroll to the botton of the message to post your comment.
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Message and Author Information: IRIN.
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Posted on: 22 July 2002, 12:00, from , ,
In Category: Politics
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The Sudanese government and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) on Saturday said they had agreed on a framework deal for ending the country's 19-year civil war
Muhammad Ahmad Dirdiery, charge d'affaires at the Sudanese embassy in Nairobi, told IRIN on Monday that the parties had "agreed on a framework that addresses all the major issues".
In particular, agreement had been reached on two of the most contentious issues - the relation between church and the state, and self-determination for the south.
SPLM/A spokesman Samson Kwaje told IRIN on Monday both sides had agreed that southerners would be given the opportunity to vote in a referendum on self-determination after an interim period of six years. People of the south would be given two clear options - to maintain the unity of Sudan under the interim arrangements, or to vote for secession of the south, he said.
During the interim period, Sudan would be governed with a "federal set-up", under which south Sudan would be given special status, making it exempt from the imposition of Shari'ah (Islamic) law. A central, national constitution would also be established to guarantee freedom of belief, he said.
Implementation of the agreement would mean a large degree of devolution of power to the south, and the establishment of a bicameral legislature, which would include opposition parties from the north as well as the south, Kwaje said.
"We are talking of a new Sudan," Kwaje said. "There will be an overhaul of the central administration."
The agreement comes after five weeks of talks in the Kenyan town of Machakos, under the auspices of the regional Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
According to Kwaje, talks would resume on 12 August to work out details of the agreement. These would include discussions on wealth sharing, the precise forms of governance during the interim period, security, and a comprehensive ceasefire.
The peace deal would only come into effect after a comprehensive ceasefire had been agreed, Kwaje said. The SPLM/A has repeatedly rejected government offers of a comprehensive ceasefire, claiming Khartoum would take advantage of a cessation of hostilities to "further its war aims".
The contentious issue of the distribution of oil revenues would be included in discussion on wealth sharing, as well as how best to utilise the country's forests and to divide income from customs duties, Kwaje said.
The agreement has been favourably received by many in the humanitarian community.
"We are very encouraged by the news and hope that when negotiations resume in August that the parties will build on the accord," Will Day, Executive Director of CARE UK, said in a statement on Monday.
"Ultimately, humanitarian agencies look forward to a sustained and just peace, which brings an end to the human suffering which Sudanese have endured for nearly 20 years," he said.
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