Sudan peace deal to be signed Sunday in Nairobi: spokesman

NAIROBI, Jan 7, 2005 (Xinhua) — The signing ceremony of a comprehensive Sudanese peace deal will be held on Sunday morning at a stadium in Nairobi to accommodate a large number of people expected to attend the historic event, according to a Kenyan government spokesman.

The signing is to be at the Nyayo Stadium in the Kenyan capital, starting from 9:00 a.m. (0600 GMT), Alfred Mutua, public communications secretary of the Kenyan government, said at a press conference here on Friday.

Previously, the Kenyan Foreign Affairs Ministry said the signing ceremony will be held at the State House in Nairobi.

“We expect the function to be attended by more than 15 heads of state and government,” Mutua said, refusing to go into detail as to who these leaders are.

“This is a great moment for the people of Sudan, for our country, and the whole of Africa. We are very proud of the achievements by our brothers and sisters of Sudan, ” Mutua said.

“Peace in Africa and the end of conflict through dialogue will be demonstrated when the eyes of the world focus on the signing of the comprehensive peace agreement,” he added.

The Sudanese government and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) had in May signed six protocols on key issues relating to the peace process, including power sharing arrangements and the administration of three contested areas during a six-year interim period.

The final two chapters of a peace deal signed on December 31 2004, between them are believed to pave the way for the comprehensive accord to be signed on Sunday to end the longest- running civil war in Africa.