Egypt welcomes Sudan’s security deal

CAIRO, Sept 27, 2003 (Xinhua) — Egypt on Saturday welcomed a framework agreement signed between the Sudanese government and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) two days ago, the official MENA news agency reported.

Egypt hails the agreement as a key step to security preparations, power sharing and providing guarantees for equality among all Sudanese, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher was quoted as saying.

Sudanese First Vice-President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha and SPLA leader John Garang have been holding peace talks in Kenya and on Thursday signed an agreement on security arrangements for a six- year transitional period.

Under the terms of the deal, the government and the SPLM agreed to the withdrawal of most government troops from the south of the country, the main theatre of the war, while SPLM’s military wing, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), would be incorporated into the regular army in the future.

The deal crowns Egyptian and international efforts to realize unity of the Arab African country to finally serve the interest of its people and of the whole region, Maher said, adding Egypt hopes the move would end the decades-long tragedy of the Sudanese people.

Highlighting good intentions from all Sudanese parties concerned, Maher urged for guarantees to put the deal into action.

Civil war has raged in Sudan since 1983 between government forces and the SPLA, leaving more than 2 million people dead, mainly through violence-induced famine and disease.

The newly-signed agreement has drawn a chorus of approval from world countries, amidst hopes it would end more than 20 years of grinding civil war.