New peace talks open in Kenya between Sudan VP and rebel chief
NAIVASHA, Kenya, Oct 17 (AFP) — A new round of talks between Sudan’s Vice President Ali Osman Taha and southern rebel leader John Garang opened here Friday, aimed at ironing out issues barring the way to peace in Sudan.
The meeting between Taha and Garang kicked off at 11:00 am (0800 GMT) in this Kenya Rift Valley town, with Kenyan Foreign Minister Kalonzo Musyoka urging the parties not to lose the momentum for peace, as “the world was watching and waiting for the peace deal.”
“Allow me to congratulate you for the monumental achievement that you realised during the last session, when you made difficult decisions regarding the issue of security arrangements,” Musyoka told the opening session of the talks.
“This was a rare demonstration of courage by leaders of your calibre and this was even further evidenced by your willingness to return, to continue to debate the remaining issues,” Musyoka said.
War erupted in Sudan in 1983 and has since killed more than 1.5 million people and displaced four million others. Following the end of Angola’s civil war last year, the Sudan conflict gained the ignominious distinction of being Africa’s longest running war.
The war has pitted rebels from the mainly Christian and animist south against the predominantly Muslim government in Khartoum.
The last round of talks ended in late September when the two leaders signed a deal on security arrangements to be put in place during a six-year transition period during which the rebel-controlled south will enjoy self-rule.
After the test period of autonomy, an internationally supervised referendum will be held to allow the southern Sudanese to choose whether to remain part of Sudan or become independent.
Garang and Taha, both of whom arrived in Kenya Thursday for the fresh round of talks, have pledged that they will do everything possible to reach a final peace settlement.
“We have come, as we did last time, with the the same level of openness, commitment, determination and purpose to move on with the remaining issues so that we are able to reach a peace settlement,” Garang said.
“We are here with full dedication and determination to settle the remaining issues,” Taha added.
Taha and Garang are due to discuss power- and wealth-sharing between the north and oil-rich south, and the three disputed regions of Southern Blue Nile, the Nuba Mountains and Abyei.