Sudan talks fail but truce extended

21 November 2002

Talks between the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and the Sudanese government aimed at ending their civil war have failed to produce an agreement. The truce has been extended until March 2003, and discussions will resume in January. The key points of contention concern the details of power and wealth sharing between the north and south: in July it was agreed that the south would have six years of power-sharing followed by a referendum on secession (MEED 2:8:02). However the two sides could not decide on what proportion of civil servants and MPs each would have, and rebel officials reported that the Khartoum government was unwilling to accept a southern vice-president. The allocation of oil revenues is also an obstacle (link).

The SPLA has been fighting for greater autonomy for the predominantly Christian and animist south from the mainly Muslim north for 19 years. The current US administration has intensified pressure on the two sides to reach a settlement (MEED 2:8:02). Progress towards peace has aroused the interest of oil companies in the country. Clagary-based Talisman Energy recently sold its 25 per cent stake in the Greater Nile oil project (MEED 9:8:02).

A MEED Subscription...

Subscribe or upgrade your current MEED.com package to support your strategic planning with the MENA region’s best source of business information. Proceed to our online shop below to find out more about the features in each package.