Parties Agree On Merged Army

The Nation (Nairobi), on September 23, 2003

NAIROBI — Parties attending the Sudanese peace talks in Naivasha have agreed to merge their armies.

A source at the talks said yesterday the representatives of the SPLA and the Khartoum government were now discussing the modalities of implementing the agreement.

“We have to agree on where the central command will be located, among other issues,” the source said.

The Sudanese government’s delegation is led by first vice-president Ali Osman Taha while the Sudan People’s Liberation Army team is led by Dr John Garang and his deputy, Dr Riak Machar.

The parties have also extended the ceasefire pact by two months to create an enabling environment for the ongoing peace talks.

The deal was to expire at the end of the month.

Mr Taha and Dr Garang signed the ceasefire extension agreement on Saturday.

Foreign Affairs minister Kalonzo Musyoka said yesterday that the progress made at the talks in the past two weeks was encouraging.

Mr Musyoka told the Press at Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge, the venue of the talks, that the parties had received overwhelming support from the international community.

He said there was no deadline for the conclusion of talks, adding that the two groups were being encouraged to continue engaging in discussions on contentious issues “as Africa can do without the war in Sudan”.

“It is encouraging that during these talks, both groups are getting to understand each other more closely,” Mr Musyoka said.

The minister was with Dr Garang, Mr Taha and Dr Machar.