Sudan factions expect skeleton deal within weeks

NAIVASHA, Kenya, Dec 11 (Reuters) – Sudan’s warring factions expect to sign a framework peace deal in the next two weeks and a more comprehensive agreement early next year, sources at the peace talks said on Thursday.

The Khartoum government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), at war since 1983, are under considerable pressure to end the conflict.

They are currently holding what is supposed to be a final round of peace talks in Kenya, but have several key issues to resolve.

Sources at the talks said a skeleton deal should be signed before the talks’ scheduled end on December 19.

“Definitely a sort of memorandum of understanding, a loose framework of the main accord will be reached by the end of this session,” one source said.

“Both sides including the mediators expect a comprehensive peace agreement inclusive of implementation processes before the end of January 2004.”

The war broadly pits SPLA in the mainly Christian and animist south against the northern Islamic government.

The two sides have already signed deals on separating state and religion, exempting non-Muslim areas from Islamic shariah law and the formation of the army.

Issues still under discussion include splitting power and wealth and the status of three contested areas.