African Union welcomes Eastern Sudan peace deal

Oct 21, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — The chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission welcomes the signing of the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement (ESPA) which was signed between the government of Sudan and the Eastern Sudan Front, in Asmara, Eritrea.

The AU said on Friday 20 October the chairperson, Alpha Oumar Konare, commends the government of Eritrea for the efforts it deployed to assist the Sudanese parties, reported the Ethiopian ENA.

The chairperson is hopeful that the agreement will not only supplement but also accelerate the implementation of the peace process already initiated by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) to achieve lasting peace and stability in the Sudan.

On October 14 the Sudanese government and rebels from the Eastern Front signed a peace accord that was negotiated with Eritrean help and is aimed at ending a 12-year armed conflict.

(ST)