Southern Sudanese politicians slam government rejection of draft peace accord

KHARTOUM, Aug 11 (AFP) — Southern Sudanese politicians and religious figures Monday slammed a government campaign against an east African draft peace accord to end the country’s civil war, in a petition posted on the internet.

“The dramatic mobilisation campaign (is) throwing doubt on the neutrality and integrity of the mediators,” read the document, signed by 49 people, including Joseph Ukel, leader of the (southern) Union of Sudanese African Parties and secretary general of the domestic National Democratic Alliance.

Makuac Teny Yuok, of the pro-government United Democratic Salvation Front; former Vice President Abel Alier and leaders of the Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches were also among the signatories.

The petition refuted the government’s claim that the draft, drawn up by the east African body, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), paved the way for the secession of the south.

It claimed the draft did not provide an independent central bank and separate currencies for the south, but a branch of the Khartoum-based central bank.

The last round of talks in Nakuru, Kenya broke down in July when the government rejected a draft accord on outstanding issues such as power- and wealth-sharing and security arrangements during a six-year transition period, agreed last year.

On Saturday Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir slammed the IGAD draft as “aimed at dismantling not only the present regime but the whole of Sudan.”

Peace talks between the government and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) to end Africa’s longest civil war were due to resume in Kenya on Monday.

The SPLA has been fighting since 1983 to end domination of Sudan’s mainly Christian and animist south by the Arab Muslim government in Khartoum.

The conflict has claimed at least 1.5 million lives and displaced four million people.