Egypt urges Sudan partners to implement peace agreement

October 22, 2007 (CAIRO) — Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aobul Gheit Monday urged all parties concerned in Sudan to adhere to responsibility and partnership to implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

In a statement issued by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Aboul Gheit called on all parties in Sudan to live up to their responsibilities towards their homeland and be quite aware of the dangers besetting the Sudanese government and people.

The Egyptian top diplomat said that Sudan’s unity and security would be endangered if those perils are not tackled seriously.

The Sudanese government signed the CPA with the former rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in 2005 to end a 21-year conflict, which has constituted the longest civil war in the African continent.

On Oct. 11, the SPLM decided to withhold the participation of its ministers in the central government, accusing the government of delaying the implementation of the CPA.

The SPLM asked Sudan’s central government to meet their demands before the ministers of the movement could return to the government.

Out of the 28 ministers in the Sudanese government, eight are from the SPLM, including the minister for cabinet affairs, the foreign minister, the minister of investment, the minister of foreign trade and the minister of health.

This is the most serious political crisis for the Sudanese government of national unity since it was established in September, 2005, when the political power was shared between the SPLM and NCP.

Last week, Aboul Gheit and Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman paid a short visit to Juba, capital of southern Sudan, where they held talks with Sudanese First Vice President and Chairman of the SPLM Salva Kiir Mayardit.

They expressed Egypt’s concern over the crisis in the Sudanese government aroused by the SPLM’s suspension of its participation in the government.

(Xinhua)