Sudan and the main rebel groups to formalize a peace agreement

JUBA (Reuters) – Sudan’s power-sharing government and several rebel groups are due to formalize a peace agreement on Saturday aimed at resolving decades of regional conflicts that left millions displaced and hundreds of thousands dead.

Three major groups signed a preliminary agreement in August, two factions from the western region of Darfur and one from the southern region, after months of peace talks organized by neighboring South Sudan.

Another powerful rebel group, the North Sudan People’s Liberation Movement led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, which had not participated in the initial peace negotiations, agreed last month to hold further talks organized by South Sudan.

Tut Gatluak, South Sudan’s chief mediator, told Reuters before Saturday’s ceremony in Juba that the goal is to sign agreements with all armed groups.

“The parties will sign their final agreement … and from there, we will continue to interact with the other resistance groups of General Al-Hilu and Al-Noor,” he told Reuters on Friday.

Leaders from Kenya, Ethiopia, Chad, Egypt, as well as the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister will also attend the event, he added.

Sudan has been rocked by latent conflict for decades. After the oil-rich South broke away in 2011, an economic crisis fueled protests that led to the ouster of veteran President Omar Hassan al-Bashir in 2019.

Sudan’s new civil and military leaders, who have shared power since then, say ending the conflicts is a priority to help bring democracy and peace to a country in crisis.

The agreement establishes terms for integrating the rebels into the security forces, being politically represented and having economic and territorial rights. A new fund will pay $ 750 million a year for 10 years to impoverished southern and western regions and the possibility of return of displaced people is also guaranteed.

Analysts have welcomed the agreement but have questioned its inclusiveness and comprehensiveness due to the important role of armed groups and the military.

Jack Mohamoud Jack, spokesman for the al-Hilu faction, said his group will not participate in the ceremony, but is ready to start separate negotiations with the Sudanese government.