Southern Sudan leaders to hold reconciliation talks Monday
NAIROBI, Kenya, April 18, 2005 (PANA) — Former Southern Sudan rebel leaders, pro- Khartoum government militia and other armed groups are scheduled to meet here Monday for a three-day conference to solidify national reconciliation, officials confirmed here Sunday.
The 18-21 April conference, dubbed South-South Dialogue, is being convened by former Kenyan President Daniel Moi’s peace foundation, the Moi African Institute (MAI).
The conference will dwell on the implementation of the comprehensive peace pact signed last 9 January between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the Khartoum government, SPLM spokesman and information minister- designate Samson Kwaje said here Sunday.
Southern Sudan’s political elite, including Sudan’s Vice President-designate John Garang, are expected to attend the South-South Dialogue, seen as crucial in concretising the implementation of the January peace accord.
Over 200 delegates, including scholars and civil society representatives will attend the conference, according to Aaron Tuikong, an official of the Moi Foundation.
Southern Sudan officials said technical committees formed to harmonise various negotiating notes met in Nairobi last month to discuss representation for the meeting which has been postponed twice.
Kwaje said the political groups are expected to discuss peace building efforts, inclusiveness, reconciliation, forgiveness and good governance.
Sources said the South Sudan Defence Force, the biggest militia group based in the south, would not be represented at the talks to protest the “poor leadership” of SPLM leader Garang.
Moi, who is expected to jet back to the country after chairing a crucial session of former African leaders in Boston, USA, was instrumental in initiating the Sudan peace process, which culminated in the historic signing of the comprehensive peace deal between the SPLM and Khartoum government.
The meeting comes days after deputy US Secretary of State Robert Zoellick embarked on a series of consultations with Khartoum and the Southern Sudan leaders in a bid to press for the implementation of the peace pact, seen as slackening in its implementation.
Khartoum officials said the dialogue was critical in implementing the peace accord, as it would derive solid commitment from all political groups in the South to support the peace process.
Southern Sudan was embroiled in civil war for over two decades, leaving about two million people dead and over four million others uprooted from their homes.