Kenya welcomes progress in Sudan peace talks, asks Somalis to do more

NAIROBI, Dec 12 (AFP) — Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki on Friday welcomed the progress made in talks to end two decades of conflict in Sudan, but asked Somali leaders to make more effort to restore peace in their anarchic country.

“We are greatly encouraged by the progress made so far by the Sudanese leaders in seeking a durable peace formula for their country,” Kibaki said at the rally to mark 40 years of Kenyan independence from Britian.

The event was attended by Sudan’s First Vice President Ali Osman Taha and rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) leader John Garang.

“We shall work with the Sudanese leaders, the (mediating) Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) partners and the international community, to assist The Sudan to achieve lasting peace,” Kibaki said.

Taha and Garang are in the midst of talks in the Kenyan town of Naivasha, 80 kilometres (50 miles) northwest of Nairobi, to thrash out final details of a comprehensive accord to end a 20-year war in Sudan that has claimed at least 1.5 million people and displaced more than four million.

Both leaders have pledged to clinch a final deal by the end of the year.

Commenting on the flagging Somali peace talks, Kibaki said “substantial progress” had been made in efforts to restore a recognised government in Mogadishu, the last of which collapsed when dictator Mohamed Siad barre was toppled in 1991.

“More effort and accommodation is required among the Somali leaders” in efforts to reach peace, Kibaki said. “We urge them to utilize the current peace process to reclaim their nation.”

The current talks follow some 15 failed bids to negotiate durable peace in Somalia.