USA suggests plan to overcome Sudanese talks’ deadlock

KHARTOUM, Feb 27, 2004 (Sudan Tribune) — Sources near to the peace talks have revealed that the USA has rejected the idea that the three disputed regions — Abyei, southern Blue Nile and the Nuba mountains — should belong to southern Sudan, in accordance with the Machakos protocol.

The same sources told Al-Sahafah daily newspaper that the US envoy who is responsible for the Sudanese peace talks in Nairobi, Jeff Millington, put forward a suggestion to the government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) delegations to overcome the deadlock over the three disputed regions, in particular Abyei.

The US proposal rejected the idea that the three regions should belong to the south, in accordance with the Machakos protocol and the demarcation of borders on 1 January 1956.

However, a suggestion was put forward that the three regions should have self-administration and the SPLM would have decisive influence on power and government .

The suggestion added that the two parties should take over the reconstruction of the three regions on an equal basis.

Abyei is proving more problematic. The SPLA wants a referendum there on whether it should join the south, while the government argues that it belongs to the north according to boundary lines drawn up at independence in 1956.