Ruling party, eastern Sudan rebel group sign agreement
Dec 27, 2005 (TRIPOLI) — The Sudanese government and eastern Sudan Free Lions rebel group announced that an agreement to end hostilities following negotiations held under the auspices of the Libyan leader in Tripoli on 24-25 December.
Muammar Gadhafi who attended the sinning ceremonies received the minutes of the accord, said the official Libyan Jamahiriya Broadcasting Corporation (LJBC).
The source did not give further details about this agreement.
The Sudanese delegation led by, Kamal Abeid , secretary of external relations at the ruling National Congress and the Free Lions Movement led by, Salim Imbarak al-Mabrouk , head of the movement, the General Secretary of Eastern Sudan Front, accompanied by the two delegations of eastern Sudan Al-Rashayda tribe led by, Ahmed Hamid al-Berki, and al-Rashayda al-Barassa in Libya who participated in the negotiations as observers .
The Sudanese delegations underlined their trust in Gadhafi’s efforts to restore peace and stability to Eastern Sudan to be crowned in the upcoming meeting between the Sudanese government and Eastern Sudan Front due to be held under his auspices on the 17th of next January 2006 .
Like the rebels in Darfur and former insurgents in south Sudan, the Eastern Front also says it is fighting against neglect and discrimination against the outlying regions from central government in Khartoum.
The Beja Congress took up arms against Khartoum in 1994, citing years of marginalization and underdevelopment. It was followed into conflict by insurgent Free Lions group of Rashayda. The two groups merged in the Eastern Front last February 2005.
(LJBC/ST)