AFRICA/SUDAN - LANDMARK GOVERNMENT/REBEL AGREEMENT TO SHARE OIL WEALTH

Rome (Fides Service) – A history making agreement between the government of Sudan and the rebels, Southern Peoples Liberation Army, SPLA was signed on 7 January in the Kenyan town of Naivasha by vice president Ali Osman Mohammed Taha and SPLA rebel leader John Garang.
The agreement foresees the sharing of the country’s wealth, oil and other revenues; the management of oil fields and reconstruction of the south and other zones affected by twenty years of civil war.
They will also set up a presidential commission to oversee future exploration and the fair division of oil revenues. During a six-year transitional period, which will begin when a comprehensive agreement is signed, the south will have an autonomous administration.
It was agreed that at least 2% of oil wealth will go to the producing regions and states. The rest will be divided equally between government and rebels.
An agreement has yet to be reached over the administration of three half-way states between north and south, Abiey, Blue Nile state, and Nuba mountain state.
John Garang is confident that a peace pact could be signed before the end of this month.
The twenty year war began in 1983 when Sharia law was introduced and the southern Christian and Animist peoples revolted. Besides widespread devastation, the war left at least 2 million people dead, millions more displaced and homeless. (L.M.) (Fides Service 8/1/2004, lines 29 parole 344)