Kenyan chief mediators makes proposals to Sudanese vice president, rebel leader
NAIVASHA, April 29, 2004 (Sudan Tribune) — Kenyan Chief mediators Gen Lazarus Sumbeiywo yesterday presented in a meeting held with two heads of peace negotiators new proposals on the national capital status, the power sharing in the two disputed areas.
Sumbeiywo told the two parties there had been an agreement on three political issues: the national capital, the Nuba Mountains and southern Blue Nile, and the power sharing .
The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Secretariat suggested that the national capital should have full authority over religious laws for Muslims, with the exception of non-Muslims from Islamic legislation.
Khartoum has already rejected this proposal of one capital two penal systems, but it is the first time that IGAD make it in an official proposition.
As for the two regions of the Nuba mountains and southern Blue Nile, the Secretariat suggested that one region should be ruled by the SPLM and the other by the ruling National Congress (NC), provided there would be political participation between the two parties.
Regarding the power sharing, the secretariat suggested that 70 per cent should go to the north and 30 per cent to the south.
Sumbeiywo asked the two parties to give an answer to the proposals within two days, so that the date of direct talks between Garang and Taha could be fixed.
On the other hand, the National Assembly speaker Ibrahim Ahmed Omar has arrived this morning to Naivasha accompanied by Abdel Basit Sabdarat and I Zubayr Bashir Taha. They are expected to discuss the issue of political association with the SPLM delegation.
The talks are deadlocked on whether Islamic law should apply in Khartoum during a six-year transition period when the city will serve as joint capital for before a referendum on self-determination is held for the south.
The two parties have been in talks since January, but have made little progress. April 16, negotiators called in mediators to help break the deadlock, and the next day Taha returned to Khartoum to consult with President Omar el-Bashir. Garang left the talks last week, but returned Wednesday.