Sudanese Peace Talks Frustrated

Africa’s longest war looks set to continue for the immediate future after peace talks between Sudan’s government and the main southern rebel group were adjourned without any ceasefire deal agreed.

"The talks have adjourned, but consultations with both sides will continue," said Lazaro Sumbeiywo, a Kenyan retired army general in charge of mediating the peace talks.

Peace talks began over a month ago now, on 21st June, and these have been mediated by east Africa’s regional Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

According to an anonymous mediator, ceasefire negotiations have, for the moment, been adjourned "without a deal, but mediators will continue shuttling between the Sudan's government and Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) for consultations and to fix the date of resumption."

Samson Kwaje, a rebel spokesman, reported that approximately 70% of the whole ceasefire deal was in agreed between the two sides. However, talks had been held up when discussions moved on to funding for the two armies, and positioning of integrated forces after the final peace deal is signed.

"What is remaining is around 30 percent, and it is because we disagreed on details of funding the two armies, the SPLA and government's, and whether or not the joint forces will be in eastern Sudan," which lies in the north, Kwaje said.

During September 2003, security agreements were generally laid out explaining how Khartoum would extract soldiers from the south of Sudan, and how the two sides of troops would create a new army. However, the agreements fell far short of a complete agreement as it did not describe at all how the separate forces would share cash from the government.

Disease and famine combined with the conflicts have seen more than 1.5 million people killed and another 4 million displaced from their homelands. In the Dafur region alone, where violence erupted in February 2003, the death toll is estimated at higher than 50,000 with more than 1.2 million people being displaced over the past 17 months. The United Nations have described this as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

Last week, UK international aid charities launched a joint national appeal for public help for the Sudan crisis. The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Sudan Emergency Appeal has since received the support of all the major UK TV and Radio stations. And on the first night of the appeal alone, £2.5 million was raised.

“The aid agencies are doing all that they can but they all need to scale up their work to reach as many people as quickly as possible. A million people are on the move in Darfur and Chad and conditions for them will only get worse as the rainy season continues and disease spreads. I urge the public to keep the donations coming in so that lives can be saved” said DEC Chief Executive Brendan Gormley.

The DEC charities who are joining together for the Sudan Emergency fund are: British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern, Help the Aged, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision.