Sudanese southerners plan dialogue to achieve consensus, reconciliation

NAIROBI, Mar 8, 2005 (Xinhua) — Southern Sudanese political parties, militia and armed groups are expected to meet in Kenya this week to draw up an agenda for the long awaited conference aimed at reconciling the southerners.

The conference, dubbed South-South Dialogue, organized by former Kenyan president Daniel Moi’s charitable organization, Moi African Institute (MAI) is aimed at achieving a consensus among the various southern forces on the final peace agreement that was signed early this year between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) and the Khartoum government, a statement from the SPLM/A said here Tuesday.

The statement said the meeting will discuss peace building efforts, inclusiveness, reconciliation, forgiveness and good governance.

SPLM/A spokesman Samson Kwaje said everyone has been invited to the South-South dialogue, adding that discussions will be with all parties based in the south.

“The meeting will be attended by all southern Sudanese forces and groupings including the SPLM/A, southern political parties in and outside Sudan, militia organizations, members of Southern Coordination Council, south Sudan civil society groups, senior citizens, church leaders and academics,” Kwaje said in a statement.

He said efforts will be made to create both a southern national consensus and an all-inclusive Sudanese consensus.

SPLM/A leader John Garang met Moi last week in Nairobi to prepare for the conference which is expected to take place later this month.

SPLM/A officials said their relations with the government are in accordance with the Nairobi peace agreement and that the South- South dialogue should be open to sides outside the bilateral agreement.

Southern Sudan has been embroiled in civil war for over two decades. The Nairobi peace deal ends the latest phase, in which about 2 million people died and more than 4 million fled their homes.