Sudanese government and rebels agree on principle to wealth-sharing
By ANDREW ENGLAND Associated Press Writer
NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 23, 2003 (AP) — Peace talks between the Sudanese government and rebels fighting a 20-year civil moved forward Tuesday as the warring parties agreed in principle on how to share their nation’s wealth – one of three outstanding issues at the negotiations, the chief mediator said.
Lazaro Sumbeiywo told The Associated Press the two sides were still “fine-tuning” details of the agreement.
He said the talks would continue through the Christmas period in a bid to resolve the other outstanding issues, including the rebel group’s representation in a transitional government, National Assembly and civil service and the administration of three disputed areas in central Sudan during a six-year transition period.
The progress follows a breakthrough at the weekend when the Sudanese government and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army, or SPLA, agreed to a 50-50 split of the country’s oil revenue, one of the key aspects of wealth-sharing. Other wealth-sharing issues included what monetary system is adopted during the interim period and the sharing of non-oil revenue.
The talks are being held in Naivasha, 100 kilometers (60 miles) northwest of Nairobi.
Most of Sudan’s oil reserves are in the south. Africa’s largest country joined the ranks of oil exporters in 1999 and is currently producing some 250,000 barrels per day.
When Sudan began pumping oil, the rebels and international human rights groups accused the Sudanese government of forcing tens of thousands of southern villagers to flee the oil region.
The struggle for resources has been one of the main issues in Africa’s longest-running conflict, in which more than 2 million people have perished, mainly through war-induced famine.
The war erupted in 1983 when southern rebels from the mainly animist and Christian south took up arms against the predominantly Arab and Muslim north. The rebels say they are fighting for greater equality for the south and for southerners to have the right to choose whether to remain part of Sudan.
In July 2002, shortly after the peace process began, the parties agreed to a six-year transition period during which the south will have a regional administration.
The government also accepted the right of southerners to self-determination through a referendum after the six year transition. The rebels in turn accepted the maintenance of Islamic law in the north.