AFRICA/SUDAN - Points of peace agreement signed yesterday ending civil war in southern Sudan. Conflict in western region of Darfur still unsolved.

Thursday, 27 May 2004

Khartoum (Fides Service)- An agreement to end more than twenty years of civil war between the Sudanese government and SPLA Sudan Peoples Liberation Army was finally signed yesterday 26 May at Naivasha, some 70 km from the capital of Kenya, Nairobi. The agreement was signed by John Garang, SPLA leader and vice president of Sudan Ali Osman Mohamad Taha. Kenya, United States Britain, Italy and Norway played an important role in mediating the pact.
The peace treaty was signed in the late evening at 11pm, 10 hours later than scheduled. Up to the last minute the parties negotiated the difficult points: balance of power during a six years and six months transition period and special status for three regions, situated in the north but siding with the secessionists of the South, (Nuba Mountains, Abiey, Southern Blue Nile).
The central point of the agreement was the six years and six months transition period with elections half way through after three years. Once the transition period is over the peoples of the south will decide with a referendum to continue as a federal state or full independence.
The agreement stipulates that the president will be from the North and the vice-president from the South although the latter will not have full power in the President’s absence. A second vice president will represent the North. National charges will be distributed as follows: 70 per cent to the North, 30 per cent to the South. For the special regions the fundamental role of governor will go to three pro-SPLA leaders however 60 per cent of political responsibilities will go to Khartoum’s men.
Another much debated point was the application of Sharia (Islamic law). It was agreed that Sharia law will apply in the North but not in the South. With regard to Khartoum, where there are numerous Christians and Animists from the south, a compromise was reached: during the transition period Sharia will be applied in the capital but non Muslims will be protected and exempt from Koranic law’s radical punishments (amputation and stoning). With regard to oil, found mostly in the South, the parties agreed to halve the resources between the central government and the administration of the southern regions.
The agreement signed yesterday put an end to a war which cost Sudan at least 2 million lives and uprooted a large proportion of the population. Not included in the pact the western region Darfur bordering on Chad where since February last year the regular army flanked by local pro-government militia groups have fought to suppress two rebel groups demanding more attention from the central government for the development of the region. In Darfur tension has existed for years between Arab herdsmen and farming tribes descendants of the first peoples to populate this area. The conflict has no religious dimension; most people on both sides are Muslims. The toll of war in Darfur is 20,000 dead, 1 million internally displaced and 100,000 refugees in Chad. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 27/5/2004, righe 45 parole 603)


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