Sudanese president proposes partnership with southern rebel group

KHARTOUM, Oct 8, 2003 (Xinhua) — Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir on Wednesday proposed to form a partnership with the southern rebel group to end the 20-year civil war.

In a televised speech to the governing National Congress Party, the president invited the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) to enter “an effective political partnership for running the national affairs during the interim period.”

A partnership between the two sides would strengthen the foundations of peace, guarantee voluntary unity and give others opportunities to participate, el-Bashir said.

Sudan’s central government reached a breakthrough agreement with the SPLA last month on security and military arrangements, including integrating part of their separate forces.

The talks in Kenya were considered a big step toward reaching a final peace accord.

However, the two sides remain distant from reaching a comprehensive peace deal, with power sharing, wealth sharing and the status of three contested areas on the north-south border still at issue.

The Sudanese Islamic government forces have been fighting with the SPLA in the south since 1983, leaving more than 2 million people dead, mainly through violence-induced famine and disease.