Powell hails signing of deals aimed at ending Sudan’s civil war
WASHINGTON, May 27 (AFP) — US Secretary of State Colin Powell praised both sides in Sudan’s 21-year civil war for signing accords that are crucial to ending the 21 years of devastating conflict in the south of the vast African country.
“These protocols, taken together with the agreements reached previously, resolve the outstanding substantive issues that were at the heart of Sudan’s civil war,” Powell said in a statement.
“We commend both sides for their commitment to peace and urge them to move quickly to work out details of a formal ceasefire and related security arrangements, as well as the means for implementing the agreements signed today.”
The three protocols signed by Khartoum and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army on power-sharing and the administration of three disputed regions cap two years of intense political negotiations in Kenya and leave only technical and military aspects of a ceasefire standing in the way of a comprehensive peace accord.
Kenyan chief mediator Lazarus Sumbeiywo said both sides had pledged to deliver this by late June or mid July.
The Kenyan talks, however, did not cover the western region of Darfur, where a separate conflict that began in February 2003 has created what the United Nations has described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, leaving hundreds of thousands of people at risk of starvation and about a million displaced.
“Sudan will not be at peace until the problem of Darfur is resolved,” Powell said, calling on Sudan’s government to rein in the militias blamed for the violence and to take steps to end the massive displacement of civilians.
Despite the concerns over Darfur, Powell said the latest deals meant “the people of Sudan can now hope for a new future of peace and prosperity.”
“The United States is deeply committed to assist in the implementation of the peace agreement and in the process of reconstruction and development. We intend to work closely with the international community to ensure that Sudan enjoys the full benefits of peace.
“We look forward to embarking on a new relationship with a peaceful Sudan, including beginning the process of normalization of bilateral relations once the problems of Darfur are also resolved,” he said.
Sudan’s war erupted in 1983 when the south, where most observe Christianity and numerous traditional religions, took up arms to end domination by the wealthier, Islamic and Arabized north.
Together with recurrent famine and disease, Africa’s longest conflict has claimed at least 1.5 million lives and displaced more than four million people, mostly in the impoverished south, according to aid agencies.