Sudan’s Taha attends Eritrea independence celebrations

May 24, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese Second Vice-President Ali Osman Taha headed Wednesday to Eritrea to attend independence celebrations and hold consultations on efforts to rekindle a peace process between Khartoum and Asmara-backed eastern rebels.

Taha was accompanied by Foriegn Minister Lam Akol, Minister of Federal government Abdelbasit Sabdarat, Chief of Sudan National Security Salah Gosh, and the leading member of the ruling National Congress Ibrahim Ahmed Omar.

Eritrea was holding celebrations Wednesday marking its independence, which it acquired from Ethiopia on May 24, 1993.

Sudanese-Eritrean relations have been strained since then, amid mutual accusations of supporting the other’s armed opposition groups.

Eastern Sudanese rebels who have bases in Eritrea control an area on the border called Hamesh Koreib and have been involved in low-intensity guerrilla activity against the Khartoum government for years.

Much like the rebel groups in the western region of Darfur, with whom they have links, the eastern rebels complain of economic marginalisation and want a bigger share of the country’s resources.

The release earlier this week of three members of the eastern opposition Beja Congress movement was seen as a conciliatory move that could pave the way for a resumption of peace talks.

The talks could resume on May 30 but there was no official confirmation.

Eritrea has said that it was ready to host such talks.

Libyan-hosted negotiations between Khartoum and the Eastern Front — comprised of the two main minority groups in east Sudan — have been scheduled and postponed several times since last year.

(ST)