Sudan: John Garang says peace agreement Christmas, New Year gift

NAIVASHA, Kenya, Dec 31, 2004 (Sudan TV) — Garang: I great all of you. We have been asked by Gen [Lazarus] Sumbeiywo [Kenyan chief mediator] not talk [public laughter]. and I almost rebelled [more laughter]. And then I was told to be patient and wait until the 9th [of January for the grand peace ceremony], so that I can talk. After a short and intensive negotiations with Gen Sumbeiywo, I accepted [more public laughter].

Rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) John Garang (L) addresses the crowd next to Sudanese First Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha (R) at the signing ceremony for the last two of eight peace protocols in Naivasha on December 31, 2004. (Reuters).

We have an agreement, that I will talk on the 9th [January]. So, mine is only to great you and then all those who have contributed to this great occasion, beginning with Kenya, President Kibaki, the people of Kenya “Mjambo wote” [Swahili greetings; how are you all]. I also on this day January, tomorrow is 1 January, it happens to be independence day of Sudan; so, I want to take the occasion to pass my greetings and my congratulations to all the Sudanese people; from Nimuli to Juba to Costi to Khartoum [Sudanese cities], and to Kassala to Port Sudan; that on 19 November Ustadh Ali Uthman Muhammad Taha and myself signed a memorandum of understanding, promised the Sudanese people at large that we will conclude the comprehensive peace [word indistinct] with the Christmas and the new year present in the eve of the new year. And this is what we have done today. Congratulations to all of you.

I am being warned that I have ran out of time. But I will end my speech by thanking the people of the hotel, and my special thanks goes to the hippos here [hippopotamus in the lake] as we have been here for 16 months; There is a long [word indistinct] that male one there, that which comes here; we almost great one another whenever we meet [public laughter]. I am saying thanks for all those who had been making life conformable here.