Peace talks reaching "decisive point"

The next phase of Sudanese talks, scheduled to begin in early January, must make substantial progress or risk collapsing under the pressure of hardline constituents and the domestic politics of the warring parties, an international think tank has warned. The latest phase of negotiations between the Khartoum government and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement /Army (SPLM/A) ended in the southern Kenyan town of Machakos on 18 November, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on power sharing. They also extended an earlier agreement on a countrywide ceasefire and agreed on unimpeded humanitarian access to affected populations. However, the Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG) has warned there are still many obstacles surrounding the issues of power and wealth-sharing which hardline elements on both sides could take advantage of. "The peace process is nearing the decisive point, and when the parties return to the table next month, it will be time for historic decisions, compromises, and political courage," ICG said in a new report released on Thursday. The report, entitled "Power and Wealth Sharing: Make or Break Time in Sudan's Peace Process" said the MOU was not indicative of how close the parties were to reaching a more comprehensive agreement on those issues. "This is not necessarily negative as both sides want to be certain of the implications of what they sign," the report said. However, it added that both parties must put forward realistic negotiating positions in order to sell agreements reached to their respective constituents. "The last days of the round [of talks] revealed hesitancy by both parties to tie themselves to a binding framework at this stage." "By putting forward unrealistic negotiating positions, holding onto dogmatic rhetoric and making rigid demands, the parties provide openings for the more extreme elements in the other camp thereby hardening positions and making the eventual implementation of an agreement more difficult," the report said. ICG however praised efforts by the regional Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for its recent successes in spearheading the Sudanese peace process. "The partnership between IGAD and the observer countries is solid and working. The chief mediator, Gen.Lazarus Sumbeywo, is indispensable - an excellent negotiator with good instincts about the parties' intentions and requirements," the report stated The ICG's comments follow reports this week to the effect that Sudan's ruling National Islamic Front (NIF) had proposed the formation of a political alliance with the SPLM/A, the AllAfrica.com website reported on Thursday. But the SPLM/A said it had not received the Khartoum proposal. Spokesman George Garang told IRIN that Khartoum's earlier objections to the concept of a political partnership had forced negotiators to remove the proposal from the MOU. "It would be interesting to see this new proposal and study it," he said. "There had earlier been a proposal on power sharing during the talks but they [Khartoum] rejected it. To us, there is no difference between a partnership, which was earlier proposed, and an alliance." David Mozersky of the ICG expressed caution over Khartoum's latest proposal. "I wouldn't put too much weight on it," he told IRIN. "The statement is not necessarily indicative of anything." However, he conceded that a "partnership of sorts" would emerge after the signing of a final peace agreement.