Main points of Sudanese wealth-sharing accord

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 7 (AFP) — Sudan’s government and main southern rebel group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), on Wednesday signed an agreement on wealth-sharing and post-war development, a crucial step to reaching a comprehensive accord to end 20 years of civil war.

The agreement covers the distribution of revenues, notably from 300,000 daily barrels of oil, between the national government and an autonomous southern government (GOSS) to be run by the SPLA’s political wing for a six-year interim period due to come into effect after the signing of a comprehensive accord.

The two sides have already agreed that a 1956 demarcation line will be used to distinguish the north from the south.

Here are the key points:

– – Oil revenue from wells in the south, where most exploited petroleum is located, is to be split on a 50-50 basis between the southern and national governments, after at least two percent is given to the states where the oil is produced

– – Communities in areas of oil production, which are mostly found in the south, will have a say in extraction contracts

– – A National Petroleum Commission, comprising officials from both governments, is to be set up to formulate policy and negotiate exploitation contracts

– – Wealth is to be distributed without discrimination

– – Development of southern Sudan is to brought up to the level in the north

– – Half of the non-oil revenue, essentially taxes and levies, collected in the south by the national government is to be allocated to the GOSS, under the monitoring of a joint commission

– – The free flow of goods and services, capital, and labour within Sudan is guaranteed

– – A dual banking system is to be set up, an Islamic one (where charging interest is forbidden) in the north and a conventional one in the south, where a special branch of the central bank will be established

– – The central bank is to issue a new currency with a design reflecting Sudan’s cultural diversity

– – Special funds are to be set up to finance the development of the south and other war affected areas

– – A independent National Land Commission and Southern Land Commission will be set up to settle disputes and award compensation